[TPM2.0] Slowroll boot: Start job times out for /dev/tpmr0 - What is going on?

English Install/Boot/Login
1

TLDR

TPM2 module times out on boot: A start job is runnning for /dev/tpmr0…
Probably kernel issue, downgrade or wait for fix?

Long version

Hi,
new openSuse user here, got some experience with Debian based distros, but mainly in the server/containerized world. I freshly installed Slowroll on a Dell XPS 9560 Laptop after removing Windows and clearing the TPM Module in BIOS/UEFI.

My system waits during boot for 1.5 mins with the message
A start job is runnning for /dev/tpmr0…
which ultimately times out.

I use disk encryption. Boot logs log kinda conflicting to me:

BootLogs
BootLogs2413×575 194 KB

Can it import TPM credentials or not?

Related posts:

Related posts from other Distros forums mention this issues as well. They are all rather recent posts in forums of rolling distros. However the most recommended mitigation strategy is always to turn off or mask the tpm module. This is not really a satisfactory solution for me.

The Best one is from EndeavorOS:

They got it working by rolling back to an older Kernel.

Questions

  1. Does anyone know if this is just a temporary bug in a kernel version which will be adressed or has support been dropped for some modules?
  2. What are the consequences of downgrading my Kernel in Slowroll? What will break?

System:

Dell XPS 9560
CPU: Intel Core i7-7700HQ
Slowroll: 20251002
Kernel: 6.17.3 64-Bit
TPM Version: 2 (according to previous Windows installation & Bios)
Bootloader: Grub2 with BLS version: 2.12

Thank you for your insights, happy to supply additional information if required.

2

Your log quite clearly says “no TPM found”, you need to find out what requires /dev/tpmrm0.

3

Sorry maybe my Post was not clear. I do require TPM2 :slight_smile: I want to use it and not just turn it off. So it’s totally fine that systemd tries to launch it.

Maybe I need to rephrase my question: How much of a hassle is it to run Slowroll with a lower kernel version and is this a good idea?

4

If it really works with a earlier kernel you need to open bug report. You can check

/history - openSUSE Download

or

/repositories/home:/tiwai:/kernel: - openSUSE Download

5

@jul1an_s Hi and welcome to the Forum :smile:
As an aside, have you looked at firmware updates? The other thing I add is turning iommu on?

su -
update-bootloader --add-option intel_iommu=on
update-bootloader
fwupdmgr get-upgrades
fwupdmgr upgrade

I see (Dell Optiplex XE3);

journalctl -b | grep tpm

Oct 24 06:32:07 kernel: tpm_tis MSFT0101:00: 2.0 TPM (device-id 0xFC, rev-id 1)
Oct 24 06:32:13 systemd[1]: Condition check resulted in /dev/tpmrm0 being skipped.

systemd-analyze 

Startup finished in 8.867s (firmware) + 1.331s (loader) + 1.041s (kernel) + 5.534s (initrd) + 3.639s (userspace) = 20.414s 
graphical.target reached after 3.401s in userspace.

Edit: https://forums.opensuse.org/t/cannot-use-tpm-2-0-to-decrypt-luks-encrypted-root-filesystem-due-to-unmet-condition-checks/184868/2