packer build macOS Sequoia takes forever on step Accessibility?

[dataprolet]

I'm trying to build a macOS image using packer build, but after skipping the Accessibility option, the installation is loading forever. Does anybody have any idea what's causing this?

Here's the tamplate I'm using:

packer {
  required_plugins {
    tart = {
      version = ">= 1.12.0"
      source  = "github.com/cirruslabs/tart"
    }
  }
}

source "tart-cli" "tart" {
  from_ipsw    = "https://updates.cdn-apple.com/2024FallFCS/fullrestores/072-44245/E811A1B0-28A9-4FCD-AE32-322E796F0EB8/UniversalMac_15.2_24C101_Restore.ipsw"
  vm_name      = "sequoia-vanilla"
  cpu_count    = 4
  memory_gb    = 8
  disk_size_gb = 40
  ssh_password = "admin"
  ssh_username = "admin"
  ssh_timeout  = "300s"
  boot_command = [
    # hello, hola, bonjour, etc.
    "<wait60s><spacebar>",
    # Language
    "<wait20s>english<esc>deutsch<enter>",
    # Select Your Country and Region
    "<wait10s>deutschland<leftShiftOn><tab><lefShiftOff><spacebar>",
    # Choose Gender
    "<wait5s><leftShiftOn><tab><tab><leftShiftOff><spacebar>",
    # Written and Spoken Languages
    "<wait5s><leftShiftOn><tab><leftShiftOff><spacebar>",
    # Accessibility
    "<wait5s><leftShiftOn><tab><leftShiftOffb><spacebar>",
    # Data & Privacy
    "<wait20s><tabn><tab><tab><spacebar>",
    # Migration Assistant
    "<wait5s><tab><tab><tab><spacebar>",
    # Sign In with Your Apple ID
    "<wait5s><leftShiftOn><tab><tab><leftShiftOff><spacebar>",
    # Are you sure you want to skip signing in with an Apple ID?
    "<wait5s><tab><spacebar>",
    # Terms and Conditions
    "<wait10s><tab><tab><spacebar>",
    # I have read and agree to the macOS Software License Agreement
    "<wait5s><tab><spacebar>",
    # Create a Computer Account
    "<wait5s>admin<tab><tab>admin<tab>admin<tab><tab><tab><spacebar>",
    # Enable Location Services
    "<wait30s><tab><tab><tab><spacebar>",
    # Are you sure you don't want to use Location Services?
    "<wait5s><tab><spacebar>",
    # Select Your Time Zone
    "<wait5s><tab><tab>Berlin<enter><tab><tab><tab><tab><spacebar>",
    # Analytics
    "<wait10s><tab><spacebar><tab><tab><tab><spacebar>",
    # Screen Time
    "<wait5s><tab><spacebar>",
    # Siri
    "<wait5s><tab><spacebar><tab><tab><tab><spacebar>",
    # Choose Your Look
    "<wait5s><tab><tab><spacebar><tab><spacebar>",
    # Welcome to Mac
    "<wait10s><spacebar>",
    ]
      // A (hopefully) temporary workaround for Virtualization.Framework's
  // installation process not fully finishing in a timely manner
  create_grace_time = "30s"
}

The log is not showing anything useful:

    ...
    tart-cli.tart: 100%
==> tart-cli.tart: Waiting 30s to let the Virtualization.Framework's installation process to finish correctly...
==> tart-cli.tart: Pausing after run of step 'stepCreateVM'. Press enter to continue.
==> tart-cli.tart: Updating virtual machine resources...
==> tart-cli.tart: Pausing after run of step 'stepSetVM'. Press enter to continue.
==> tart-cli.tart: Inspecting machine disk image...
==> tart-cli.tart: Getting partition table...
==> tart-cli.tart: Found a recovery partition at GPT entry 3, let's remove it to save space and allow for resizing the main partition...
==> tart-cli.tart: Successfully updated partitions!
==> tart-cli.tart: Pausing after run of step 'stepDiskFilePrepare'. Press enter to continue.
==> tart-cli.tart: Starting the virtual machine...
==> tart-cli.tart: Successfully started the virtual machine...
==> tart-cli.tart: Typing boot commands over VNC...
==> tart-cli.tart: Waiting for the VNC server credentials from Tart...
==> tart-cli.tart: 2025-02-14 15:34:58.121 tart[2247:55910] +[IMKClient subclass]: chose IMKClient_Modern
==> tart-cli.tart: 2025-02-14 15:34:58.121 tart[2247:55910] +[IMKInputSession subclass]: chose IMKInputSession_Modern
==> tart-cli.tart: Retrieved VNC credentials, connecting...
    tart-cli.tart: If you want to view the screen of the VM, connect via VNC with the password "vivid-claw-rigid-brave" to
    tart-cli.tart: vnc://127.0.0.1:49662
==> tart-cli.tart: Connected to the VNC!
==> tart-cli.tart: Typing commands with key interval 0s...

[fkorotkov]

@dataprolet what do you observe? It is just spinning? What the host macOS version?

[dataprolet]

The host is macOS 15.3.
And I observe that the installer is at "Accessability" and selects "Later" as expected,then there is a small loading icon in the bottom left that takes very long. The windows also moves at some point as if it got updated by some background task. Then after the specified time the installer template executes the next keypresses, which then selects the wrong item because it hasn't moves to the next section of the installation.

[fkorotkov]

Interesting. Maybe it's because of a different language. Can only recommend to increase the wait and seem if it eventually passes.

[dataprolet]

Well, after increasing the wait the process is now stuck at "Screen time". I'm currently running a manual install and it's been well over 5 minutes now. This can't be right and won't be solved by an increased wait.

EDIT: Adding the following fixed the stuck installation process:

run_extra_args = [
  "--net-bridged=en0"
]

[edigaryev]

Adding the following fixed the stuck installation process

This could be due to https://tart.run/faq/#changing-the-default-dhcp-lease-time then.

Installation failed to acquire an IP address (or auto-assigned itself a non-routable 169.254.0.0/16) due to DHCP shortage on the host system, which caused the installation process to stuck.