Reopening this. I am seeing this problem, very consistently on a Karmic->Lucid upgrade I did today. I will include the previously requested information. Before I do however I want to note that I can consistently have this machine hang on startup after filesystems are mounted by simply booting the default kernel arguments. However! I can consistently get this machine to boot to full multi-users/desktop by simply adding "init=/bin/bash" to the kernel command line and then when the kernel boots and starts bash, simply exec(1)ing /sbin/init as such: # exec /sbin/init [ upstart starts and boots up normally ] So to further clarify, something about starting the kernel and having it start bash as it's init and then starting upstart from that bash, makes it all boot just fine. Here's "initctl list" when the boot has mounted filesystems but hung there: alsa-mixer-save stop/waiting avahi-daemon stop/waiting mountall-net stop/waiting qemu-kvm stop/waiting rc stop/waiting rpc_pipefs start/running tty4 stop/waiting udev start/running, process 639 upstart-udev-bridge start/running, process 621 ureadahead-other stop/waiting apport stop/waiting console-setup stop/waiting hwclock-save stop/waiting irqbalance stop/waiting plymouth-log stop/waiting tty5 stop/waiting debug_shell start/running, process 589 statd start/running, process 1583 atd stop/waiting dbus stop/waiting failsafe-x stop/waiting plymouth start/running, process 590 portmap start/running, process 1429 ssh stop/waiting autofs stop/waiting control-alt-delete stop/waiting hwclock stop/waiting network-manager stop/waiting usplash stop/waiting module-init-tools stop/waiting bridge-network-interface (lo) start/running bridge-network-interface (eth0) start/running cron stop/waiting gdm stop/waiting mountall start/running, process 594 acpid stop/waiting plymouth-stop stop/waiting rcS stop/waiting ufw start/running mounted-varrun stop/waiting rc-sysinit stop/waiting anacron stop/waiting tty2 stop/waiting udevtrigger stop/waiting mounted-dev stop/waiting tty3 stop/waiting udev-finish stop/waiting hostname stop/waiting mountall-reboot stop/waiting mythtv-backend stop/waiting gssd start/running, process 1579 mountall-shell stop/waiting mounted-tmp stop/waiting network-interface (lo) start/running network-interface (eth0) start/running plymouth-splash stop/waiting tty1 stop/waiting udevmonitor stop/waiting network-interface-security start/running networking stop/waiting procps stop/waiting tty6 stop/waiting bootchart start/running, process 87 idmapd stop/waiting ureadahead stop/waiting Here's the boot output with "--verbose" on the kernel command line: Begin: Running /scripts/local-bottom ... Done. Done. Begin: Running /scripts/init-bottom ... Done. udevd-work[98]: inotify_add_watch(6, /dev/md0, 10) failed: No such file or directory init: Handling startup event init: debug_shell goal changed from stop to start init: debug_shell state changed from waiting to starting init: mountall goal changed from stop to start init: mountall state changed from waiting to starting init: hostname goal changed from stop to start init: hostname state changed from waiting to starting init: Handling starting event init: debug_shell state changed from starting to pre-start init: debug_shell state changed from pre-start to spawned init: debug_shell main process (584) init: Handling starting event init: plymouth goal changed from stop to start init: plymouth state changed from waiting to starting init: hwclock goal changed from stop to start init: hwclock state changed from waiting to starting init: ureadahead goal changed from stop to start init: ureadahead state changed from waiting to starting init: Handling starting event init: hostname state changed from starting to pre-start init: hostname state changed from pre-start to spawned init: hostname main process (585) init: hostname state changed from spawned to post-start init: hostname state changed from post-start to running init: Handling starting event init: plymouth state changed from starting to pre-start init: plymouth state changed from pre-start to spawned init: plymouth main process (586) init: Handling starting event init: hwclock state changed from starting to pre-start init: hwclock state changed from pre-start to spawned init: hwclock main process (587) init: hwclock state changed from spawned to post-start init: hwclock state changed from post-start to running init: Handling starting event init: ureadahead state changed from starting to pre-start init: ureadahead state changed from pre-start to spawned init: ureadahead main process (588) init: Handling started event init: Handling started event init: debug_shell main process (584) became new process (589) init: debug_shell state changed from spawned to post-start init: debug_shell state changed from post-start to running init: Handling started event init: ureadahead main process (588) exited normally init: ureadahead goal changed from start to stop init: ureadahead state changed from spawned to stopping init: Handling stopping event init: ureadahead state changed from stopping to killed init: ureadahead state changed from killed to post-stop init: ureadahead state changed from post-stop to waiting init: Handling stopped event init: hostname main process (585) exited normally init: hostname goal changed from start to stop init: hostname state changed from running to stopping init: Handling stopping event init: hostname state changed from stopping to killed init: hostname state changed from killed to post-stop init: hostname state changed from post-stop to waiting init: Handling stopped event init: hwclock main process (587) exited normally init: hwclock goal changed from start to stop init: hwclock state changed from running to stopping init: Handling stopping event init: hwclock state changed from stopping to killed init: hwclock state changed from killed to post-stop init: hwclock state changed from post-stop to waiting init: Handling stopped event init: plymouth main process (586) executable changed init: plymouth main process (586) became new process (590) init: plymouth state changed from spawned to post-start init: plymouth post-start process (591) init: plymouth post-start process (591) exited normally init: plymouth state changed from post-start to running init: mountall state changed from starting to pre-start init: mountall state changed from pre-start to spawned init: mountall main process (592) init: Handling started event [ 30.756362] Adding 3145720k swap on /dev/mapper/rootvol-swap. Priority:-1 extents:1 across:3145720k init: mountall main process (592) executable changed init: Connection from private client init: mountall main process (592) became new process (593) init: mountall main process (593) became new process (594) init: mountall state changed from spawned to post-start init: mountall state changed from post-start to running init: Handling started event init: Handling mounted event init: Handling mounted event init: Handling mounted event init: mounted-dev goal changed from stop to start init: mounted-dev state changed from waiting to starting init: Handling starting event init: mounted-dev state changed from starting to pre-start init: mounted-dev state changed from pre-start to spawned init: mounted-dev main process (596) init: mounted-dev state changed from spawned to post-start init: mounted-dev state changed from post-start to running init: Handling started event init: mounted-dev main process (596) exited normally init: mounted-dev goal changed from start to stop init: mounted-dev state changed from running to stopping init: Handling stopping event init: mounted-dev state changed from stopping to killed init: mounted-dev state changed from killed to post-stop init: mounted-dev state changed from post-stop to waiting init: Handling stopped event init: Handling mounted event init: Handling mounted event init: Handling mounting event init: Handling mounted event init: Handling mounting event init: Handling mounted event init: Handling mounting event init: Handling mounted event init: Handling mounting event init: Handling mounted event init: Handling mounting event init: Handling mounted event init: mounted-varrun goal changed from stop to start init: mounted-varrun state changed from waiting to starting init: Handling starting event init: mounted-varrun state changed from starting to pre-start init: mounted-varrun state changed from pre-start to spawned init: mounted-varrun main process (607) init: mounted-varrun state changed from spawned to post-start init: mounted-varrun state changed from post-start to running init: Handling started event init: mounted-varrun main process (607) exited normally init: mounted-varrun goal changed from start to stop init: mounted-varrun state changed from running to stopping init: Handling stopping event init: mounted-varrun state changed from stopping to killed init: mounted-varrun state changed from killed to post-stop init: mounted-varrun state changed from post-stop to waiting init: Handling stopped event init: Handling mounting event init: Handling mounted event init: Handling mounting event init: Handling mounted event init: Handling virtual-filesystems event init: udev goal changed from stop to start init: udev state changed from waiting to starting init: console-setup goal changed from stop to start init: console-setup state changed from waiting to starting init: procps goal changed from stop to start init: procps state changed from waiting to starting init: Handling starting event init: upstart-udev-bridge goal changed from stop to start init: upstart-udev-bridge state changed from waiting to starting init: Handling starting event init: console-setup state changed from starting to pre-start init: console-setup state changed from pre-start to spawned init: console-setup main process (613) init: console-setup state changed from spawned to post-start init: console-setup state changed from post-start to running init: Handling starting event init: procps state changed from starting to pre-start init: procps state changed from pre-start to spawned init: procps main process (614) init: procps state changed from spawned to post-start init: procps state changed from post-start to running init: Handling starting event init: upstart-udev-bridge state changed from starting to pre-start init: upstart-udev-bridge state changed from pre-start to spawned init: upstart-udev-bridge main process (615) init: Handling started event init: Handling vc-device-added event init: Handling vc-device-added event init: Connection from private client init: mountall-net main process (1415) exited normally init: mountall-net goal changed from start to stop init: mountall-net state changed from running to stopping init: Handling stopping event init: mountall-net state changed from stopping to killed init: mountall-net state changed from killed to post-stop init: mountall-net state changed from post-stop to waiting init: Handling stopped event init: Handling mounting event init: Handling block-device-changed event init: Handling mounting event init: plymouth-splash main process (1406) exited normally init: plymouth-splash goal changed from start to stop init: plymouth-splash state changed from running to stopping init: Handling stopping event init: plymouth-splash state changed from stopping to killed init: plymouth-splash state changed from killed to post-stop init: plymouth-splash state changed from post-stop to waiting init: Handling stopped event init: portmap main process (1416) executable changed init: portmap main process (1416) became new process (1429) init: portmap state changed from spawned to post-start init: portmap post-start process (1430) init: portmap post-start process (1430) exited normally init: portmap state changed from post-start to running init: Handling started event init: gssd goal changed from stop to start init: gssd state changed from waiting to starting init: Handling starting event init: rpc_pipefs goal changed from stop to start init: rpc_pipefs state changed from waiting to starting init: Handling starting event init: rpc_pipefs state changed from starting to pre-start init: rpc_pipefs pre-start process (1434) init: Handling block-device-added event init: Handling module-device-added event init: Handling module-device-added event init: Handling module-device-added event init: Handling drivers-device-added event init: Handling module-device-added event init: Handling module-device-added event init: Handling drivers-device-added event init: Handling drivers-device-removed event init: Handling module-device-added event init: Handling slab-device-added event init: Handling drivers-device-added event init: Handling pci-device-added event init: Handling module-device-removed event init: module-init-tools main process (640) exited normally init: module-init-tools goal changed from start to stop init: module-init-tools state changed from running to stopping init: Handling stopping event init: module-init-tools state changed from stopping to killed init: module-init-tools state changed from killed to post-stop init: module-init-tools state changed from post-stop to waiting init: Handling stopped event init: Handling module-device-added event init: Handling module-device-added event init: rpc_pipefs pre-start process (1434) terminated with status 32 init: rpc_pipefs goal changed from start to stop init: rpc_pipefs state changed from pre-start to stopping init: gssd state changed from starting to pre-start init: gssd pre-start process (1463) init: Handling stopping event init: rpc_pipefs state changed from stopping to killed init: rpc_pipefs state changed from killed to post-stop init: rpc_pipefs post-stop process (1464) init: Handling starting/failed event init: rpc_pipefs post-stop process (1464) exited normally init: rpc_pipefs state changed from post-stop to waiting init: Handling stopped event init: Handling module-device-added event init: Handling sound-device-added event init: Handling sound-device-added event /dev/mapper/rootvol-ubuntu_var: clean, 26630/655360 files, 1150972/1306624 blocks init: Handling mounting event init: Handling module-device-added event init: Handling module-device-added event init: Handling module-device-added event init: Handling module-device-added event init: Handling drivers-device-added event init: Handling module-device-added event init: Handling module-device-added event init: Handling module-device-added event init: Handling module-device-added event init: Handling module-device-added event init: Handling drivers-device-added event init: Handling module-device-added event init: Handling mounted event init: ureadahead-other goal changed from stop to start init: ureadahead-other state changed from waiting to starting init: statd goal changed from stop to start init: statd state changed from waiting to starting init: Handling starting event init: ureadahead-other state changed from starting to pre-start init: ureadahead-other state changed from pre-start to spawned init: ureadahead-other main process (1506) init: Handling starting event init: statd state changed from starting to pre-start init: statd pre-start process (1507) init: ureadahead-other main process (1506) executable changed init: Connection from private client init: Connection from private client init: ureadahead-other main process (1506) terminated with status 4 init: ureadahead-other goal changed from start to stop init: ureadahead-other state changed from spawned to stopping init: Handling stopping event init: ureadahead-other state changed from stopping to killed init: ureadahead-other state changed from killed to post-stop init: ureadahead-other state changed from post-stop to waiting init: Handling stopped event init: Handling module-device-added event init: Handling module-device-added event init: Handling drivers-device-added event init: Handling usb-device-added event init: Handling sound-device-added event init: Handling sound-device-added event init: Handling sound-device-added event init: Handling sound-device-added event init: Handling block-device-added event Using intrapositioned negation (`--option ! this`) is deprecated in favor of extrapositioned (`! --option this`). init: Handling module-device-added event init: Handling module-device-added event init: Handling bus-device-added event init: Handling sound-device-changed event init: Handling sound-device-added event init: Handling sound-device-added event init: Handling block-device-changed event init: Handling module-device-added event init: Handling module-device-added event init: Handling module-device-added event init: Handling module-device-added event init: Handling slab-device-added event init: Handling slab-device-added event init: Handling module-device-added event init: Handling module-device-added event init: Handling module-device-added event init: Handling module-device-added event init: Handling pci-device-added event init: Handling drivers-device-added event init: Handling i2c-device-added event init: Handling i2c-device-added event init: Handling i2c-device-added event init: Handling i2c-device-added event init: Handling module-device-added event init: Handling drivers-device-added event init: Handling module-device-added event init: Handling slab-device-added event init: Handling slab-device-added event init: Handling slab-device-added event init: statd pre-start process (1507) exited normally init: statd state changed from pre-start to spawned init: statd main process (1552) init: Handling module-device-added event init: gssd pre-start process (1463) exited normally init: gssd state changed from pre-start to spawned init: gssd main process (1554) init: Handling module-device-added event init: Handling module-device-added event init: Handling module-device-added event init: gssd main process (1554) became new process (1557) init: gssd state changed from spawned to post-start init: gssd state changed from post-start to running init: Handling started event init: gssd main process (1557) terminated with status 1 init: gssd main process ended, respawning init: gssd state changed from running to stopping init: Handling stopping event init: gssd state changed from stopping to killed init: gssd state changed from killed to post-stop init: gssd state changed from post-stop to starting init: Handling starting event init: rpc_pipefs goal changed from stop to start init: rpc_pipefs state changed from waiting to starting init: Handling starting event init: rpc_pipefs state changed from starting to pre-start init: rpc_pipefs pre-start process (1558) init: Handling module-device-added event init: Handling module-device-added event init: Handling module-device-added event init: rpc_pipefs pre-start process (1558) exited normally init: rpc_pipefs state changed from pre-start to spawned init: rpc_pipefs state changed from spawned to post-start init: rpc_pipefs state changed from post-start to running init: gssd state changed from starting to pre-start init: gssd pre-start process (1565) init: Handling started event init: Handling pci-device-added event init: Handling sound-device-added event init: Handling ac97-device-added event init: Handling sound-device-added event init: Handling sound-device-added event init: Handling sound-device-added event init: Handling sound-device-added event init: Handling sound-device-added event init: Handling sound-device-added event init: Handling sound-device-added event init: gssd pre-start process (1565) exited normally init: gssd state changed from pre-start to spawned init: gssd main process (1577) init: Handling sound-device-added event init: Handling sound-device-added event init: Handling sound-device-added event init: Handling sound-device-added event init: Handling sound-device-added event init: Handling sound-device-added event init: Handling sound-device-added event init: Handling sound-device-added event init: Handling sound-device-added event init: Handling sound-device-added event init: Handling sound-device-added event init: Handling sound-device-added event init: Handling module-device-added event init: Handling sound-device-added event init: Handling module-device-added event init: gssd main process (1577) became new process (1579) init: gssd state changed from spawned to post-start init: gssd state changed from post-start to running init: Handling started event init: Handling sound-device-changed event init: statd main process (1552) executable changed init: statd main process (1552) became new process (1583) init: statd state changed from spawned to post-start init: statd state changed from post-start to running init: Handling started event init: Handling mounted event init: Handling mounting event init: Handling mounting event init: Handling firmware-device-added event init: Handling firmware-device-removed event init: Handling module-device-added event init: Handling module-device-added event init: Handling firmware-device-added event init: Handling firmware-device-removed event init: Handling pci-device-added event init: Handling drivers-device-added event init: Handling input-device-added event init: Handling sound-device-added event init: Handling sound-device-added event init: Handling sound-device-added event init: Handling sound-device-added event init: Handling sound-device-added event init: Handling sound-device-added event init: Handling sound-device-added event init: Handling sound-device-added event init: Handling sound-device-added event init: Handling input-device-added event init: Handling sound-device-added event init: Handling sound-device-changed event init: Handling module-device-added event init: ufw pre-start process (810) exited normally init: ufw state changed from pre-start to spawned init: ufw state changed from spawned to post-start init: ufw state changed from post-start to running init: network-interface (eth0) state changed from starting to pre-start init: network-interface (eth0) pre-start process (1636) init: Handling started event /dev/mapper/rootvol-apt_cache: clean, 14/518160 files, 76858/2084864 blocks init: Handling mounting event init: Handling mounted event init: ureadahead-other goal changed from stop to start init: ureadahead-other state changed from waiting to starting init: Handling starting event init: ureadahead-other state changed from starting to pre-start init: ureadahead-other state changed from pre-start to spawned init: ureadahead-other main process (1690) init: ureadahead-other main process (1690) executable changed init: ureadahead-other main process (1690) terminated with status 4 init: ureadahead-other goal changed from start to stop init: ureadahead-other state changed from spawned to stopping init: Handling stopping event init: ureadahead-other state changed from stopping to killed init: ureadahead-other state changed from killed to post-stop init: ureadahead-other state changed from post-stop to waiting init: Handling stopped event init: Handling mounting event init: Handling mounting event init: Handling block-device-changed event /dev/mapper/rootvol-vms: clean, 402/4128768 files, 6981517/8254464 blocks init: Handling mounting event init: Connection from private client init: Handling net-device-up event init: mountall-net goal changed from stop to start init: mountall-net state changed from waiting to starting init: Handling starting event init: mountall-net state changed from starting to pre-start init: mountall-net state changed from pre-start to spawned init: mountall-net main process (1715) init: mountall-net state changed from spawned to post-start init: mountall-net state changed from post-start to running init: Handling started event init: network-interface (eth0) pre-start process (1636) exited normally init: network-interface (eth0) state changed from pre-start to spawned init: network-interface (eth0) state changed from spawned to post-start init: network-interface (eth0) state changed from post-start to running init: Handling started event init: Handling block-device-changed event init: Connection from private client init: mountall-net main process (1715) exited normally init: mountall-net goal changed from start to stop init: mountall-net state changed from running to stopping init: Handling stopping event init: mountall-net state changed from stopping to killed init: mountall-net state changed from killed to post-stop init: mountall-net state changed from post-stop to waiting init: Handling stopped event init: Handling mounted event init: ureadahead-other goal changed from stop to start init: ureadahead-other state changed from waiting to starting init: Handling starting event init: ureadahead-other state changed from starting to pre-start init: ureadahead-other state changed from pre-start to spawned init: ureadahead-other main process (1734) init: ureadahead-other main process (1734) executable changed init: ureadahead-other main process (1734) terminated with status 4 init: ureadahead-other goal changed from start to stop init: ureadahead-other state changed from spawned to stopping init: Handling stopping event init: ureadahead-other state changed from stopping to killed init: ureadahead-other state changed from killed to post-stop init: ureadahead-other state changed from post-stop to waiting init: Handling stopped event init: Handling mounting event init: Handling mounting event init: Handling mounting event /dev/mapper/rootvol-XXX: clean, 197/4587520 files, 8074107/9175040 blocks init: Handling mounting event init: Handling block-device-changed event init: Handling mounted event init: ureadahead-other goal changed from stop to start init: ureadahead-other state changed from waiting to starting init: Handling starting event init: ureadahead-other state changed from starting to pre-start init: ureadahead-other state changed from pre-start to spawned init: ureadahead-other main process (1764) init: ureadahead-other main process (1764) executable changed init: ureadahead-other main process (1764) terminated with status 4 init: ureadahead-other goal changed from start to stop init: ureadahead-other state changed from spawned to stopping init: Handling stopping event init: ureadahead-other state changed from stopping to killed init: ureadahead-other state changed from killed to post-stop init: ureadahead-other state changed from post-stop to waiting init: Handling stopped event init: Handling mounting event init: Handling mounting event init: Handling video4linux-device-added event init: Handling video4linux-device-added event init: Handling video4linux-device-added event init: Handling video4linux-device-added event init: udevtrigger post-stop process (731) exited normally init: udevtrigger state changed from post-stop to waiting init: Handling stopped event init: udevmonitor goal changed from start to stop init: udevmonitor state changed from running to pre-stop init: udevmonitor state changed from pre-stop to stopping init: Handling stopping event init: udevmonitor state changed from stopping to killed init: Sending TERM signal to udevmonitor main process (641) init: udevmonitor main process (641) exited normally init: udevmonitor state changed from killed to post-stop init: udevmonitor state changed from post-stop to waiting init: Handling stopped event init: Handling input-device-added event init: Handling input-device-added event init: Connection from private client init: Connection from private client init: Handling control-alt-delete event init: control-alt-delete goal changed from stop to start init: control-alt-delete state changed from waiting to starting init: Handling starting event init: control-alt-delete state changed from starting to pre-start init: control-alt-delete state changed from pre-start to spawned init: control-alt-delete main process (1810) init: control-alt-delete state changed from spawned to post-start init: control-alt-delete state changed from post-start to running init: Handling started event init: Connection from private client init: Handling runlevel event init: rc goal changed from stop to start init: rc state changed from waiting to starting init: udev goal changed from start to stop init: udev state changed from running to pre-stop init: udev state changed from pre-stop to stopping init: hwclock-save goal changed from stop to start init: hwclock-save state changed from waiting to starting init: gssd goal changed from start to stop init: gssd state changed from running to pre-stop init: gssd state changed from pre-stop to stopping init: Handling starting event init: alsa-mixer-save goal changed from stop to start init: alsa-mixer-save state changed from waiting to starting init: Handling stopping event init: udev state changed from stopping to killed init: Sending TERM signal to udev main process (639) init: Handling starting event init: hwclock-save state changed from starting to pre-start init: hwclock-save state changed from pre-start to spawned init: hwclock-save main process (1812) init: hwclock-save state changed from spawned to post-start init: hwclock-save state changed from post-start to running init: Handling stopping event init: gssd state changed from stopping to killed init: Sending TERM signal to gssd main process (1579) init: Handling starting event init: alsa-mixer-save state changed from starting to pre-start init: alsa-mixer-save state changed from pre-start to spawned init: alsa-mixer-save main process (1813) init: alsa-mixer-save state changed from spawned to post-start init: alsa-mixer-save state changed from post-start to running init: Handling started event init: Handling started event init: gssd main process (1579) terminated with status 1 init: gssd state changed from killed to post-stop init: gssd state changed from post-stop to waiting init: control-alt-delete main process (1810) exited normally init: control-alt-delete goal changed from start to stop init: control-alt-delete state changed from running to stopping init: Handling stopped event init: Handling stopping event init: control-alt-delete state changed from stopping to killed init: control-alt-delete state changed from killed to post-stop init: control-alt-delete state changed from post-stop to waiting init: Handling stopped event init: alsa-mixer-save main process (1813) exited normally init: alsa-mixer-save goal changed from start to stop init: alsa-mixer-save state changed from running to stopping init: Handling stopping event init: alsa-mixer-save state changed from stopping to killed init: alsa-mixer-save state changed from killed to post-stop init: alsa-mixer-save state changed from post-stop to waiting init: Handling stopped event init: rc state changed from starting to pre-start init: rc state changed from pre-start to spawned init: rc main process (1816) init: rc state changed from spawned to post-start init: rc state changed from post-start to running init: Handling started event init: udev main process (639) exited normally init: udev state changed from killed to post-stop init: udev state changed from post-stop to waiting init: Handling stopped event init: upstart-udev-bridge goal changed from start to stop init: upstart-udev-bridge state changed from running to pre-stop init: upstart-udev-bridge state changed from pre-stop to stopping init: Handling stopping event init: upstart-udev-bridge state changed from stopping to killed init: Sending TERM signal to upstart-udev-bridge main process (621) init: upstart-udev-bridge main process (621) exited normally init: upstart-udev-bridge state changed from killed to post-stop init: upstart-udev-bridge state changed from post-stop to waiting init: Handling stopped event init: hwclock-save main process (1812) exited normally init: hwclock-save goal changed from start to stop init: hwclock-save state changed from running to stopping init: Handling stopping event init: hwclock-save state changed from stopping to killed init: hwclock-save state changed from killed to post-stop init: hwclock-save state changed from post-stop to waiting init: Handling stopped event Checking for running unattended-upgrades: init: Connection from private client * Asking all remaining processes to terminate...  init: plymouth main process (590) stopped by STOP signal init: bootchart main process (87) stopped by STOP signal init: mountall main process (594) stopped by STOP signal init: portmap main process (1429) stopped by STOP signal init: statd main process (1583) stopped by STOP signal init: rc main process (1816) stopped by STOP signal init: bootchart main process (87) continued by CONT signal init: plymouth main process (590) continued by CONT signal init: mountall main process (594) continued by CONT signal init: portmap main process (1429) continued by CONT signal init: statd main process (1583) continued by CONT signal init: rc main process (1816) continued by CONT signal [ OK ] init: Connection from private client init: plymouth main process (590) stopped by STOP signal init: bootchart main process (87) stopped by STOP signal init: mountall main process (594) stopped by STOP signal init: portmap main process (1429) stopped by STOP signal init: statd main process (1583) stopped by STOP signal init: rc main process (1816) stopped by STOP signal init: bootchart main process (87) continued by CONT signal init: plymouth main process (590) continued by CONT signal init: mountall main process (594) continued by CONT signal init: portmap main process (1429) continued by CONT signal init: statd main process (1583) continued by CONT signal init: rc main process (1816) continued by CONT signal init: Connection from private client killall5: omit pid buffer size 16 exceeded! * All processes ended within 2 seconds....  [ OK ] * Deconfiguring network interfaces...  init: Connection from private client init: Handling net-device-down event [ OK ] * Deactivating swap...  [ OK ] * Unmounting weak filesystems...  [ OK ] * Unmounting local filesystems...  umount2: Device or resource busy umount: /dev/mapper/rootvol-ubuntu_var busy - remounted read-only ...done. * Will now restart The above was bootup through to restart via an Now, here is the output from --verbose when I have started /bin/bash as the kernel's init and then exec()ed /sbin/init from that shell: Begin: Running /scripts/init-premount ... Done. Begin: Mounting root file system... ... Begin: Running /scripts/local-top ... Done. Begin: Running /scripts/local-premount ... Done. [ 26.831209] kjournald starting. Commit interval 5 seconds Begin: Running /[ 26.831221] EXT3-fs: mounted filesystem with ordered data mode. scripts/local-bottom ... Done. Done. Begin: Running /scripts/init-bottom ... Done. udevd-work[95]: inotify_add_watch(6, /dev/md0, 10) failed: No such file or directory bash: cannot set terminal process group (-1): Inappropriate ioctl for device bash: no job control in this shell bash: groups: command not found root@(none):/# exec /sbin/init plymouthd: ply-keyboard.c:384: ply_keyboard_watch_for_input: Assertion `keyboard != ((void *)0)' failed. mountall: Plymouth command failed mountall: Disconnected from Plymouth init: plymouth main process (592) killed by ABRT signal init: plymouth-splash main process (1464) terminated with status 2 /dev/sda1: clean, 54/48192 files, 64687/96356 blocks Using intrapositioned negation (`--option ! this`) is deprecated in favor of extrapositioned (`! --option this`). mountall: Skipping mounting /proc/bus/usb since Plymouth is not available init: ureadahead-other main process (1552) terminated with status 4 /dev/mapper/rootvol-ubuntu_usr: clean, 299547/1048576 files, 1808529/2097152 blocks /dev/mapper/rootvol-ubuntu_var: clean, 26631/655360 files, 1150975/1306624 blocks init: rpc_pipefs pre-start process (1737) terminated with status 32 init: ureadahead-other main process (1760) terminated with status 4 init: gssd main process (1791) terminated with status 1 init: gssd main process ended, respawning /dev/mapper/rootvol-apt_cache: clean, 14/518160 files, 76858/2084864 blocks init: ureadahead-other main process (1808) terminated with status 4 /dev/mapper/rootvol-vms: clean, 402/4128768 files, 6981517/8254464 blocks init: ureadahead-other main process (1824) terminated with status 4 /dev/mapper/rootvol-XXX: clean, 197/4587520 files, 8074107/9175040 blocks init: ureadahead-other main process (1843) terminated with status 4 init: plymouth-log main process (1857) terminated with status 1 * Preparing restricted drivers...  [ OK ] * Setting up resolvconf...  [ OK ] * Setting up resolvconf...  [ OK ] * Starting AppArmor profiles  Skipping profile in /etc/apparmor.d/disable: usr.bin.firefox Warning: found usr.sbin.ntpd in /etc/apparmor.d/force-complain, forcing complain mode [ OK ] * Applying Ksplice Uptrack updates...  modem-manager: Loaded plugin Longcheer modem-manager: Loaded plugin Generic modem-manager: Loaded plugin MotoC modem-manager: Loaded plugin Gobi modem-manager: Loaded plugin Huawei modem-manager: Loaded plugin Option High-Speed modem-manager: Loaded plugin Option modem-manager: Loaded plugin Sierra modem-manager: Loaded plugin Novatel modem-manager: Loaded plugin Nokia modem-manager: Loaded plugin ZTE modem-manager: Loaded plugin Ericsson MBM modem-manager: Loaded plugin AnyData [ OK ] #### WARNING #### The firewall won't be started/stopped unless it is configured Please read about Debian specific customization in /usr/share/doc/shorewall/README.Debian.gz. ################# #### WARNING #### The firewall won't be started/stopped unless it is configured Please read about Debian specific customization in /usr/share/doc/shorewall6/README.Debian.gz. ################# Loading the saved-state of the serial devices... /dev/ttyS0 at 0x03f8 (irq = 4) is a 16550A /dev/ttyS1 at 0x02f8 (irq = 3) is a 16550A * Setting sensors limits  [ OK ] acpid: starting up with proc fs init: apport pre-start process (2286) terminated with status 1 init: apport post-stop process (2306) terminated with status 1 acpid: 36 rules loaded acpid: waiting for events: event logging is off * Starting system log daemon...  acpid: client connected from 2190[0:0] acpid: 1 client rule loaded acpid: client connected from 2190[0:0] acpid: 1 client rule loaded [ OK ] * Doing Wacom setup...  [ OK ] * Starting kernel log daemon...  [ OK ] * Starting ClamAV virus database updater freshclam  [ OK ] * Starting Distributed Compiler Daemon: distccd  [ OK ] * Starting disk temperature monitoring daemon hddtemp:  [ OK ] * Exporting directories for NFS kernel daemon...  [ OK ] * Starting NFS kernel daemon  [ OK ] Not starting nstx client, disabled via /etc/default/nstx Starting nstxd: ssh stop/waiting ssh start/running, process 2797 nstxd. * Starting Postfix Mail Transport Agent postfix  [ OK ] Loading capability module if not yet done. Starting Quagga daemons (prio:10): zebra ospfd. * Starting sensor daemon sensord  [ OK ] * Starting S.M.A.R.T. daemon smartd  [ OK ] * Speech-dispatcher configured for user sessions SSL tunnels disabled, see /etc/default/stunnel4 * Starting bittorrent daemon transmission-daemon  [ OK ] * Starting VirtualBox kernel module  [ 147.435961] vboxdrv: Warning: 2.6.31+ kernel detected. Most likely the hardware performance [ 147.435963] vboxdrv: counter framework which can generate NMIs is active. You have to prevent [ 147.435965] vboxdrv: the usage of hardware performance counters by [ 147.435966] vboxdrv: echo 2 > /proc/sys/kernel/perf_counter_paranoid * done. * Starting VirtualBox host networking  * done. * Starting the Winbind daemon winbind  [ OK ] * Starting internet superserver xinetd  [ OK ] * Starting NTP server ntpd  [ OK ] * Starting DHCP D-Bus daemon dhcdbd  [ OK ] * Starting MD monitoring service mdadm --monitor  [ OK ] * Starting Common Unix Printing System: cupsd  [ OK ] * PulseAudio configured for per-user sessions Starting SANE network scanner server: saned. * Not starting motion daemon, disabled via /etc/default/motion * Enabling additional executable binary formats binfmt-support  [ OK ] No apache MPM package installed * Checking battery state...  [ OK ] Now, I will admit that the above does not look like "--verbose" output, but I can assure you that I did use --verbose on the kernel command line: $ cat /proc/cmdline root=/dev/mapper/rootvol-ubuntu_root ro resume=/dev/rootvol/swap console=tty0 console=ttyS0,115200 --verbose init=/bin/bash Is any of that helpful?