MacOS Mac Mini M4 qemu-system-aarch64: Property 'host-arm-cpu.sme' not found

[ruedigerp]

Workaround here.

---

Describe the bug
Instances not starting

launch failed: The following errors occurred: Unexpected error in object_property_find_err() at ../../../qom/object.c:1330: qemu-system-aarch64: Property 'host-arm-cpu.sme' not found

To Reproduce
How, and what happened?

1. multipass launch -c 2 -m 2G -n test

Logs
`[2024-12-13T22:36:53.298] [debug] [image vault] Verifying hash "fb39312ffd2b47b97eaef6ff197912eaa3e0a215eb3eecfbf2a24acd96ee1125"
[2024-12-13T22:36:55.982] [debug] [qemu-img] [3526] started: qemu-img info --output=json /var/root/Library/Caches/multipassd/qemu/vault/images/oracular-20241212/ubuntu-24.10-server-cloudimg-arm64.img
[2024-12-13T22:36:55.988] [debug] [qemu-img] [3527] started: qemu-img amend -o compat=1.1 /var/root/Library/Caches/multipassd/qemu/vault/images/oracular-20241212/ubuntu-24.10-server-cloudimg-arm64.img
[2024-12-13T22:36:55.993] [debug] [qemu-img] [3528] started: qemu-img info /var/root/Library/Caches/multipassd/qemu/vault/images/oracular-20241212/ubuntu-24.10-server-cloudimg-arm64.img
[2024-12-13T22:36:55.998] [debug] [qemu-img] [3529] started: qemu-img resize /var/root/Library/Application Support/multipassd/qemu/vault/instances/test/ubuntu-24.10-server-cloudimg-arm64.img 5368709120
[2024-12-13T22:36:56.003] [debug] [qemu-img] [3530] started: qemu-img snapshot -l /var/root/Library/Application Support/multipassd/qemu/vault/instances/test/ubuntu-24.10-server-cloudimg-arm64.img
[2024-12-13T22:36:56.007] [debug] [qemu-img] [3532] started: qemu-img amend -o compat=1.1 /var/root/Library/Application Support/multipassd/qemu/vault/instances/test/ubuntu-24.10-server-cloudimg-arm64.img
[2024-12-13T22:36:56.010] [debug] [test] process working dir ''
[2024-12-13T22:36:56.010] [info] [test] process program 'qemu-system-aarch64'
[2024-12-13T22:36:56.010] [info] [test] process arguments '-machine, virt,gic-version=3, -accel, hvf, -drive, file=/Library/Application Support/com.canonical.multipass/bin/../Resources/qemu/edk2-aarch64-code.fd,if=pflash,format=raw,readonly=on, -cpu, host, -nic, vmnet-shared,model=virtio-net-pci,mac=52:54:00:76:43:2d, -device, virtio-scsi-pci,id=scsi0, -drive, file=/var/root/Library/Application Support/multipassd/qemu/vault/instances/test/ubuntu-24.10-server-cloudimg-arm64.img,if=none,format=qcow2,discard=unmap,id=hda, -device, scsi-hd,drive=hda,bus=scsi0.0, -smp, 2, -m, 2048M, -qmp, stdio, -chardev, null,id=char0, -serial, chardev:char0, -nographic, -cdrom, /var/root/Library/Application Support/multipassd/qemu/vault/instances/test/cloud-init-config.iso'
[2024-12-13T22:36:56.011] [debug] [qemu-system-aarch64] [3533] started: qemu-system-aarch64 -machine virt,gic-version=3 -nographic -dump-vmstate /private/var/folders/zz/zyxvpxvq6csfxvn_n0000000000000/T/multipassd.bUfWeu
[2024-12-13T22:36:56.032] [info] [test] process state changed to Starting
[2024-12-13T22:36:56.034] [info] [test] process state changed to Running
[2024-12-13T22:36:56.034] [debug] [qemu-system-aarch64] [3534] started: qemu-system-aarch64 -machine virt,gic-version=3 -accel hvf -drive file=/Library/Application Support/com.canonical.multipass/bin/../Resources/qemu/edk2-aarch64-code.fd,if=pflash,format=raw,readonly=on -cpu host -nic vmnet-shared,model=virtio-net-pci,mac=52:54:00:76:43:2d -device virtio-scsi-pci,id=scsi0 -drive file=/var/root/Library/Application Support/multipassd/qemu/vault/instances/test/ubuntu-24.10-server-cloudimg-arm64.img,if=none,format=qcow2,discard=unmap,id=hda -device scsi-hd,drive=hda,bus=scsi0.0 -smp 2 -m 2048M -qmp stdio -chardev null,id=char0 -serial chardev:char0 -nographic -cdrom /var/root/Library/Application Support/multipassd/qemu/vault/instances/test/cloud-init-config.iso
[2024-12-13T22:36:56.034] [info] [test] process started
[2024-12-13T22:36:56.034] [debug] [test] Waiting for SSH to be up
[2024-12-13T22:36:56.035] [debug] [arp] [3535] started: arp -an
[2024-12-13T22:36:56.233] [debug] [test] QMP: {"QMP": {"version": {"qemu": {"micro": 1, "minor": 2, "major": 8}, "package": ""}, "capabilities": ["oob"]}}

[2024-12-13T22:36:56.259] [warning] [test] Unexpected error in object_property_find_err() at ../../../qom/object.c:1330:
qemu-system-aarch64: Property 'host-arm-cpu.sme' not found

[2024-12-13T22:36:56.259] [warning] [qemu-system-aarch64]
[2024-12-13T22:36:56.259] [info] [test] process state changed to NotRunning
[2024-12-13T22:36:56.259] [error] [test] process error occurred Crashed program: qemu-system-aarch64; error: Process crashed
[2024-12-13T22:36:56.260] [error] [test] error: program: qemu-system-aarch64; error: Process crashed
[2024-12-13T22:38:01.651] [debug] [async task] fetch manifest periodically
[2024-12-13T22:38:01.654] [info] [VMImageHost] Did not find any supported products in "appliance"`

Additional info

• OS: macOS 15.2
• multipass 1.15.0+mac
• multipassd 1.15.0+mac
• multipass info
  Name: test
  State: Unknown
  Snapshots: 0
  IPv4: --
  Release: --
  Image hash: fb39312ffd2b (Ubuntu 24.10)
  CPU(s): --
  Load: --
  Disk usage: --
  Memory usage: --
  Mounts: --
• multipass get local.driver
  qemu

Additional context
I also have an Apple M3, and it was updated to 15.2 today as well. On this machine, Multipass is still running without any issues. Before the update, Multipass also worked on the M4 Mac. Multipass, QEMU, and other related components were completely uninstalled and reinstalled.

[tasosz]

These 2 QEMU issues appear related:
https://gitlab.com/qemu-project/qemu/-/issues/2721
https://gitlab.com/qemu-project/qemu/-/issues/2665
and imply a QEMU issue causes 3842.

Hopefully it'll get fixed in QEMU soon.

[ricab]

Ooof, just what we needed before EOY. Thanks for the report and references!

[ricab]

Here's a package with the CPU type workaround mentioned in https://gitlab.com/qemu-project/qemu/-/issues/2721, i.e., such that on Apple Silicon the qemu command line includes -cpu cortex-a57 instead of host. This will make it emulate that other (older) CPU model, with fewer features, so it will be slower, but hopefully it will help some circumvent the issue.

Could you please try it out and let us know how it goes?

[cougarwww]

@ricab
I have a try this package, it can not work.
`
[2024-12-17T15:30:03.656] [info] [daemon] Starting Multipass 1.16.0-dev.3607.pr705+g7c2616e9e.mac
[2024-12-17T15:30:03.656] [info] [daemon] Daemon arguments: /Library/Application Support/com.canonical.multipass/bin/multipassd --verbosity debug
[2024-12-17T15:30:03.773] [debug] [kube] QMP: {"QMP": {"version": {"qemu": {"micro": 1, "minor": 2, "major": 8}, "package": ""}, "capabilities": ["oob"]}}

[2024-12-17T15:30:03.787] [warning] [kube] qemu-system-aarch64: VCPU supports less PA bits (36) than requested by the memory map (40)
`

[ricab]

That's unfortunate. @cougarwww, was that an existing VM? Do new launches have the same problem?

[cougarwww]

The VM is old，I launch a new one is still not work.
$ multipass launch -d 30G -m 4G -c 4 -n dev2 launch failed: The following errors occurred: qemu-system-aarch64: VCPU supports less PA bits (36) than requested by the memory map (40) dev2: shutdown called while starting

[cougarwww]

I use brew install qemu QEMU emulator version 9.2.0 and -cpu cortex-a57 can run the multipass vm old img

update: I use brew qemu-system-aarch64 run the multipass old vm img with -cpu cortex-a57 is worked.

[ruedigerp]

hi @ricab,

thx. installed and tested. No SME Error but another one:
❯ multipass launch -n test2 launch failed: The following errors occurred: qemu-system-aarch64: VCPU supports less PA bits (36) than requested by the memory map (40) test2: shutdown called while starting

[ruedigerp]

@ricab
Once again, a few more details.
I uninstalled QEMU again with:
brew uninstall qemu --zap
Then reinstalled it:
brew install qemu

Deleted all VMs with Multipass, ran a purge, and created a new one:
multipass delete --all
multipass purge
multipass launch -c 2 -m 1G --disk 10G

qemu-system-aarch64: VCPU supports less PA bits (36) than requested by the memory map (40)

[ricab]

Thanks for the feedback @ruedigerp, @cougarwww. Here's another shot at a workaround 🤞

Could you please try it out and let me know? Thanks!

[miconda]

@ricab: I faced the same issues earlier today after upgrading a macbook pro to macos 15.2, both of them: 'host-arm-cpu.sme' not found initially and VCPU supports less PA bits (36) than requested by the memory map (40) with the multipass build from two days ago.

Just tried the multipass build from the link provided in the previous comment and it works for me: after a few seconds in unknown state seen on multipass gui, it turned into running and I was able to connect to the instance with multipass shell. Fwiw, the instance is running ubuntu 24.04, it was created quite some time ago with 22.04, dist-upgraded a few months ago.

Thanks for all your efforts!

[cougarwww]

hi @ricab

The new package is work find. and it use -cpu host, Perfect！

Thanks for all your efforts!

[ricab]

Good to know, thanks for the feedback!

I think we'll wait a while for QEMU to get this fixed properly. If it takes too long, we may include the workaround in a patch release in the new year.

[Fred78290]

Having the same issue.

Refering my previous issue: #3760 I think it's become urgent to migrate to Apple VZ.

[johncook59]

Your updated installer works for me too with my new M4 MBP

[sboutin44]

Same issue here, same fix: The installer above resolved my problem. Macbook Pro 2024 M4 Sequia 15.2 (24C101)

[Fred78290]

@ricab

The installer solve it but after reboot the MacMini M4 pro with running VM, VM start but don't boot.

[AlinGeorgescu]

hello! do you know when will the fix get into an official release?

[andrei-toterman]

Hey, @AlinGeorgescu! Our hope was that the root issue would be solved on the QEMU side sooner, but that does not appear to be the case yet. The next patch release will surely fix this issue either with our workaround or with a fixed QEMU, but a date is still unknown unfortunately.

[JustinASC21]

Hi, also facing a similar issue with my MacBook M4, it seems that all logs point to an error on QEMU, so wondering if anyone had any more leads on this issue? Or are there any workarounds? Thanks

Update: The workaround package works!

[Fred78290]

Hey, @AlinGeorgescu! Our hope was that the root issue would be solved on the QEMU side sooner, but that does not appear to be the case yet. The next patch release will surely fix this issue either with our workaround or with a fixed QEMU, but a date is still unknown unfortunately.

Alternative is to use VZ

rancher-sandbox/rancher-desktop#7968

Or replace multipass by another hypervisor.

[AlinGeorgescu]

Thanks @andrei-toterman for your fast response and to everyone involved for their contribution! Let's hope the fix in an official release will come soon.

@Fred78290, yes, Apple's VZ would be a nice addition.

[baldwinsung]

@ricab thanks for the new package. works great!

[tasosz]

Is this issue resolved now on M4 Pro + 15.3?

I had experienced it during installation of microk8s (it uses multipass and qemu) on M4 Pro + 15.2, but it has now worked on M4 Pro + 15.3!

[AlinGeorgescu]

it worked for me too

[Fred78290]

Looks fixed after 15.3 installed with multipass 1.15.0 vanilla

[rbg]

macos 15.3 and multipass 1.15.0 (after i had installed the dev 1.16 pkg) has left me in a very broken state; I have tried to remove multipass so i can re-install but my old config and broken-ness remains; If someone could help me nuke all things multipass i would be ever so grateful.

[baldwinsung]

macos 15.3 and multipass 1.15.0 (after i had installed the dev 1.16 pkg) has left me in a very broken state; I have tried to remove multipass so i can re-install but my old config and broken-ness remains; If someone could help me nuke all things multipass i would be ever so grateful.

I removed Multipass from the Application folder using Finder and then installed Multipass via brew.

brew install multipass

My multipass vms are just for testing. If you don't need to your multipass vms. Delete all of them, purge and launch new vms.

multipass delete --all
multipass purge
multipass launch --name test01 --cpus 2 --memory 2G --disk 10G --network en1 --cloud-init cloud-init.yaml

My cloud-init.yaml takes care of user auth.

users:
  - default
  - name: myuser
    sudo: ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD:ALL
    ssh_authorized_keys:
    - ssh-rsa PUBKEY

Hope this helps! Multipass is a great product!

[rbg]

macos 15.3 and multipass 1.15.0 (after i had installed the dev 1.16 pkg) has left me in a very broken state; I have tried to remove multipass so i can re-install but my old config and broken-ness remains; If someone could help me nuke all things multipass i would be ever so grateful.

I removed Multipass from the Application folder using Finder and then installed Multipass via brew.

brew install multipass

My multipass vms are just for testing. If you don't need to your multipass vms. Delete all of them, purge and launch new vms.

multipass delete --all
multipass purge
multipass launch --name test01 --cpus 2 --memory 2G --disk 10G --network en1 --cloud-init cloud-init.yaml

My cloud-init.yaml takes care of user auth.

users:
  - default
  - name: myuser
    sudo: ALL=(ALL) NOPASSWD:ALL
    ssh_authorized_keys:
    - ssh-rsa PUBKEY

Hope this helps! Multipass is a great product!

It is i am a fan but on a M4 w/128G.. issues (totally get not related to MP) ..
I also found /Library/Application Support/com.canonical.multipass/uninstall.sh which just did not hit me in the face at first look..

Appreciate the help.

[ricab]

Yep, you found the right script @rbg. Here's a paste from the docs:

To uninstall Multipass, run the script:

sudo sh "/Library/Application Support/com.canonical.multipass/uninstall.sh"

[ricab]

OK, it looks like this is no longer an issue with 15.3. @ruedigerp as OP, would you be able to confirm it too? Then I think we can close.