Cannot creat Linux VM: Could not open '/efi_vars.fd': No such file or directory

[fegue]

Describe the issue
UTM always shows an error in a pop-up when trying to start the VM for the first time with the following message:

QEMU exited with the following error: qemu-aarch64-softmmu: -drive if=pflash,unit=1,file=/efi_vars.fd: Could not open '/efi_vars.fd': No such file or directory

This happened with all Linux Distros I have tried so far:

• Fedora-Workstation-Live-aarch64-37-1.7.iso
• ubuntu-22.04.2-live-server-arm64.iso
• debian-12.0.0-arm64-netinst.iso

I followed the instructions when creating a VM and didn't touch the defaults.

I tried both the .dmg and the App-Store version

Configuration

• UTM Version: 4.2.5 (81)
• macOS Version: 13.4.1 (22F82)
• Mac Chip: M1 Pro

Crash log
No crash log exists

Debug log
The export Log button is greyed out

[osy]

Can you share your config.plist inside the .utm package?

[fegue]

Well, there is no folder and no config.plist because the VM was never created. When I restart UTM, the VM in the sidebar is greyed out and clicking on it shows the following message:
This virtual machine cannot be found at: /Users/ME/Library/Containers/com.utmapp.UTM/Data/Documents/fedora_workstation.utm

[osy]

That’s really bizarre. Can you try v4.3.1 beta and see if that makes a difference?

[umjammer]

so do i

host

• UTM Version: 4.2.5
• macOS Version: 13.4.1
• Mac Chip: M2 Ultra

guest

• ubuntu-22.04.2-live-server-arm64.iso

---

i tried UTM v4.3.1, it said
"You do not have permission to save the file "XXXXX.utm" in the folder "UTM" (like that because my locale is Japanese).

next i did chmod og+rwx ~/Documents/UTM, but i got the same message.
(~/Library/Containers/com.utmapp.UTM/Data/Documents is symbolic linked to ~/Documents/UTM)

in my ~/Documents/UTM directory there is Windows11.utm and it works.

[osy]

~/Library/Containers/com.utmapp.UTM/Data/Documents is symbolic linked to ~/Documents/UTM

There's your problem.

[umjammer]

oh that's it. my linux virtual machine is created successfully.

do you mean UTM doesn't support symbolic linked directory?

[osy]

UTM is an macOS sandboxed app. This is the case for every app that use Containers.

@fegue does this apply to you as well?

[fegue]

I have tried version 4.3.1 and it's failing even faster.
When I click on 'Save' on the last page 'summary', I immediately get an error pop-up saying
The file 'NAME_OF_VM.utm' does not exist.
Nothing in the sidebar after that.

[osy]

You did not make any symlinks?

[fegue]

No, I just used the app as intended (at least I think I did).
There is no folder ~/Documents/UTM

[osy]

Can you make sure ~/Library/Containers/com.utmapp.UTM/Data/Documents exists and is accessible? If not, at least ~/Library/Containers/com.utmapp.UTM/Data should exist.

[fegue]

The folder ~/Library/Containers/com.utmapp.UTM/Data exists but it does not contain a folder Documents.
I only found that folder via the terminal. In Finder it shows up as ~/Library/Containers/UTM.
Should it symlink to ~/Documents ?

[osy]

No, why don’t you try deleting the container and then open the app again? It should recreate the container

[fegue]

Deleting ~/Library/Containers/UTM did the trick!

Thank you so much for your great help and quick response!
Buying the app was definitely worth it!

[osy]

I will make sure Documents is created automatically in the future.

[startergo]

The app downloaded from the Appstore creates the folder automatically (Intel Processor):