Packer build fails cannot ssh to parallels vm when it has valid ip on host (we can ssh to it in terminal)

[aofldl]

Overview of the Issue

Packer build fails to ssh into parallels vm even though it gets a valid ip. Additionally we can ssh right into the packer vm on the host with the ip and key manually while this is going on.

This is the first time we have seen this and also the first time we have used it since upgrading to sequoia 15.4 and parallels 20.2.2

Reproduction Steps

Happens on every packer build

Plugin and Packer version

2025/04/11 16:10:10 [INFO] Packer version: 1.12.0 [go1.22.9 darwin amd64]

2025/04/11 16:10:11 [TRACE] Found the following "github.com/parallels/parallels" installations: [{/Users/gitlab-runner/.config/packer/plugins/github.com/parallels/parallels/packer-plugin-parallels_v1.2.5_x5.0_darwin_amd64 v1.2.5 x5.0}]

Simplified Packer Buildfile

source "parallels-pvm" "osx-vm" {
boot_wait = "1m30s"
vm_name = "${var.base_os}-${var.packer_dir}"
parallels_tools_mode = "disable"
source_path = "${var.base_path}/input/${var.base_image}${var.packer_dir}.pvm"
output_directory = "${var.base_path}/output/${var.base_os}${var.packer_dir}"
ssh_username = var.username
ssh_private_key_file = "~/.ssh/id_parallels"
ssh_timeout = "2m"
prlctl = [
["set", "{{.Name}}", "--memsize", "4096"],
["set", "{{.Name}}", "--cpus", "4"],
["set", "{{.Name}}", "--device-set", "net0", "--mac", "auto"]
]
prlctl_post = [
["set", "{{.Name}}", "--memsize", "16384"],
["set", "{{.Name}}", "--cpus", "12"],
["set", "{{.Name}}", "--description", "${var.base_os}-${var.packer_dir}-${local.timestamp}"]
]
shutdown_command = "echo '$(whoami)' | sudo -S shutdown -h now"
}

build {

Operating system and Environment details

Intel mac pro 2019
Sequoia 15.4
Parallels Desktop 20.2.2 (55879)

Log Fragments and crash.log files

The log below just repeats until it fails. Everything looks fine but packer just cant connect to the vm when we can literally ssh to the vm in another window on the host with the ip in the logs.

2025-04-11T16:34:52-07:00: ==> osx-unity-builder.parallels-pvm.osx-vm: Executing custom prlctl commands...
2025/04/11 16:34:52 packer-plugin-parallels_v1.2.5_x5.0_darwin_amd64 plugin: 2025/04/11 16:34:52 Executing prlctl: []string{"set", "sequoia-osx-unity-builder", "--memsize", "4096"}
2025-04-11T16:34:52-07:00: osx-unity-builder.parallels-pvm.osx-vm: Executing: prlctl set sequoia-osx-unity-builder --memsize 4096
2025/04/11 16:34:53 packer-plugin-parallels_v1.2.5_x5.0_darwin_amd64 plugin: 2025/04/11 16:34:53 stdout: The VM has been successfully configured.
2025/04/11 16:34:53 packer-plugin-parallels_v1.2.5_x5.0_darwin_amd64 plugin: 2025/04/11 16:34:53 stderr:
2025-04-11T16:34:53-07:00: osx-unity-builder.parallels-pvm.osx-vm: Executing: prlctl set sequoia-osx-unity-builder --cpus 4
2025/04/11 16:34:53 packer-plugin-parallels_v1.2.5_x5.0_darwin_amd64 plugin: 2025/04/11 16:34:53 Executing prlctl: []string{"set", "sequoia-osx-unity-builder", "--cpus", "4"}
2025/04/11 16:34:53 packer-plugin-parallels_v1.2.5_x5.0_darwin_amd64 plugin: 2025/04/11 16:34:53 stdout: The VM has been successfully configured.
2025/04/11 16:34:53 packer-plugin-parallels_v1.2.5_x5.0_darwin_amd64 plugin: 2025/04/11 16:34:53 stderr:
2025/04/11 16:34:53 packer-plugin-parallels_v1.2.5_x5.0_darwin_amd64 plugin: 2025/04/11 16:34:53 Executing prlctl: []string{"set", "sequoia-osx-unity-builder", "--device-set", "net0", "--mac", "auto"}
2025-04-11T16:34:53-07:00: osx-unity-builder.parallels-pvm.osx-vm: Executing: prlctl set sequoia-osx-unity-builder --device-set net0 --mac auto
2025/04/11 16:34:53 packer-plugin-parallels_v1.2.5_x5.0_darwin_amd64 plugin: 2025/04/11 16:34:53 stdout: Configure net0 (+) type=shared mac=001C422EFAD4 card=virtio
2025/04/11 16:34:53 packer-plugin-parallels_v1.2.5_x5.0_darwin_amd64 plugin:
2025/04/11 16:34:53 packer-plugin-parallels_v1.2.5_x5.0_darwin_amd64 plugin: Configured net0 (+) type=shared mac=001C422EFAD4 card=virtio
2025/04/11 16:34:53 packer-plugin-parallels_v1.2.5_x5.0_darwin_amd64 plugin:
2025/04/11 16:34:53 packer-plugin-parallels_v1.2.5_x5.0_darwin_amd64 plugin:
2025/04/11 16:34:53 packer-plugin-parallels_v1.2.5_x5.0_darwin_amd64 plugin: The VM has been successfully configured.
2025/04/11 16:34:53 packer-plugin-parallels_v1.2.5_x5.0_darwin_amd64 plugin: 2025/04/11 16:34:53 stderr:
2025/04/11 16:34:53 packer-plugin-parallels_v1.2.5_x5.0_darwin_amd64 plugin: 2025/04/11 16:34:53 Error asking for input: no available tty
2025-04-11T16:34:53-07:00: ==> osx-unity-builder.parallels-pvm.osx-vm: Starting the virtual machine...
2025/04/11 16:34:53 packer-plugin-parallels_v1.2.5_x5.0_darwin_amd64 plugin: 2025/04/11 16:34:53 Executing prlctl: []string{"start", "sequoia-osx-unity-builder"}
2025/04/11 16:34:54 packer-plugin-parallels_v1.2.5_x5.0_darwin_amd64 plugin: 2025/04/11 16:34:54 stdout: Starting the VM...
2025/04/11 16:34:54 packer-plugin-parallels_v1.2.5_x5.0_darwin_amd64 plugin: The VM has been successfully started.
2025/04/11 16:34:54 packer-plugin-parallels_v1.2.5_x5.0_darwin_amd64 plugin: 2025/04/11 16:34:54 stderr:
2025/04/11 16:34:54 packer-plugin-parallels_v1.2.5_x5.0_darwin_amd64 plugin: 2025/04/11 16:34:54 Error asking for input: no available tty
2025-04-11T16:34:54-07:00: ==> osx-unity-builder.parallels-pvm.osx-vm: Waiting 1m30s for boot...
2025-04-11T16:36:24-07:00: ==> osx-unity-builder.parallels-pvm.osx-vm: Host IP for the Parallels machine: 0.0.0.0
2025-04-11T16:36:24-07:00: ==> osx-unity-builder.parallels-pvm.osx-vm: Typing the boot command...
2025/04/11 16:36:24 packer-plugin-parallels_v1.2.5_x5.0_darwin_amd64 plugin: 2025/04/11 16:36:24 Error asking for input: no available tty
2025/04/11 16:36:24 packer-plugin-parallels_v1.2.5_x5.0_darwin_amd64 plugin: 2025/04/11 16:36:24 Error asking for input: no available tty
2025/04/11 16:36:24 packer-plugin-parallels_v1.2.5_x5.0_darwin_amd64 plugin: 2025/04/11 16:36:24 Found MAC address for NIC: net0 - 001C422EFAD4
2025/04/11 16:36:24 packer-plugin-parallels_v1.2.5_x5.0_darwin_amd64 plugin: 2025/04/11 16:36:24 IP lease not found for MAC address 001C422EFAD4 in: /Library/Preferences/Parallels/parallels_dhcp_leases
2025/04/11 16:36:24 packer-plugin-parallels_v1.2.5_x5.0_darwin_amd64 plugin: 2025/04/11 16:36:24 Found IP lease: 10.211.55.10 for MAC address 001C422EFAD4
2025-04-11T16:36:24-07:00: ==> osx-unity-builder.parallels-pvm.osx-vm: Using SSH communicator to connect: 10.211.55.10
2025/04/11 16:36:24 packer-plugin-parallels_v1.2.5_x5.0_darwin_amd64 plugin: 2025/04/11 16:36:24 [INFO] Waiting for SSH, up to timeout: 2m0s
2025-04-11T16:36:24-07:00: ==> osx-unity-builder.parallels-pvm.osx-vm: Waiting for SSH to become available...
2025/04/11 16:36:24 packer-plugin-parallels_v1.2.5_x5.0_darwin_amd64 plugin: 2025/04/11 16:36:24 Found MAC address for NIC: net0 - 001C422EFAD4
2025/04/11 16:36:24 packer-plugin-parallels_v1.2.5_x5.0_darwin_amd64 plugin: 2025/04/11 16:36:24 IP lease not found for MAC address 001C422EFAD4 in: /Library/Preferences/Parallels/parallels_dhcp_leases
2025/04/11 16:36:25 packer-plugin-parallels_v1.2.5_x5.0_darwin_amd64 plugin: 2025/04/11 16:36:25 Found IP lease: 10.211.55.10 for MAC address 001C422EFAD4
2025/04/11 16:36:25 packer-plugin-parallels_v1.2.5_x5.0_darwin_amd64 plugin: 2025/04/11 16:36:25 [DEBUG] TCP connection to SSH ip/port failed: dial tcp 10.211.55.10:22: connect: no route to host
2025/04/11 16:36:30 packer-plugin-parallels_v1.2.5_x5.0_darwin_amd64 plugin: 2025/04/11 16:36:30 Found MAC address for NIC: net0 - 001C422EFAD4
2025/04/11 16:36:30 packer-plugin-parallels_v1.2.5_x5.0_darwin_amd64 plugin: 2025/04/11 16:36:30 IP lease not found for MAC address 001C422EFAD4 in: /Library/Preferences/Parallels/parallels_dhcp_leases
2025/04/11 16:36:30 packer-plugin-parallels_v1.2.5_x5.0_darwin_amd64 plugin: 2025/04/11 16:36:30 Found IP lease: 10.211.55.10 for MAC address 001C422EFAD4

[sai-kumar-peddireddy]

@aofldl will check and get back to you soon

[sai-kumar-peddireddy]

@aofldl I tried with your config

Packer config

`packer {
required_version = ">= 1.7.0"

required_plugins {
parallels = {
version = "= 1.2.5"
source = "github.com/Parallels/parallels"
}
}
}

source "parallels-pvm" "osx-vm" {
boot_wait = "30s"
vm_name = "createdFromPacker"
parallels_tools_mode = "disable"
source_path = "/Users/test/Parallels/Ubuntu 22.04.2.pvm"
output_directory = "/Users/test/Parallels/out"
ssh_username = "parallels"
ssh_private_key_file = "~/.ssh/id_parallels"
ssh_timeout = "2m"

prlctl = [
["set", "{{.Name}}", "--memsize", "4096"],
["set", "{{.Name}}", "--cpus", "4"],
["set", "{{.Name}}", "--device-set", "net0", "--mac", "auto"]
]

prlctl_post = [
["set", "{{.Name}}", "--memsize", "16384"],
["set", "{{.Name}}", "--cpus", "4"],
["set", "{{.Name}}", "--description", "some random description"],
]

shutdown_command = "echo parallels | sudo -S shutdown -h now"
}

build {
sources = ["source.parallels-pvm.osx-vm"]
}
`

I observed that ssh login is failing only if you don't copy the public key to the guest machine. But as you said, still you can log into guest using ssh in host terminal. Packer will fail because you might not have copied pub key into the guest machine.

Try the following method and see.

Steps I followed, and I was able to build a machine using Packer

1. Create a Ubuntu machine from the control centre from Parallels / using *.iso
2. Install or verify ssh in guest machine
3. Genrate a ssh key in host
   ssh-keygen -t rsa -b 2048 -f ~/.ssh/id_parallels -N ""
4. Copy pub key to the guest
   sh-copy-id -i ~/.ssh/id_parallels.pub parallels@10.211.55.233

[aofldl]

so i checked and we only had the host machine key in authorized_keys in the guest vm which had always worked before but per this update i also copied the pub key in to ~/.ssh. revalidated manually i could ssh from the host to the guest vm when manually started via parallels.

reran the packer job and the same thing occurs. everything looks fine but it sfill fails immediately with:

2025/04/17 10:38:35 packer-plugin-parallels_v1.2.5_x5.0_darwin_amd64 plugin: 2025/04/17 10:38:35 [DEBUG] TCP connection to SSH ip/port failed: dial tcp 10.211.55.11:22: connect: no route to host

This is instant when watching the logs its not like it hangs trying to connect which would be normal if no connectivity/no route to host was occuring. Also same thing occurs I can literally ssh to the guest vm on the host while packer is running.

We also tried skipping the key and using the user/password approach and it does the same thing in packer. Very confusing.

Going to spend more time messing with options later today but I am at a loss right now.

[sai-kumar-peddireddy]

@aofldl can you send a technical report by following this and enable Use detailed log messages

[aofldl]

@sai-kumar-peddireddy sure will try to do this afternoon.

to be clear i should do this at the point the vm is up and running via packer and hitting the repeating ssh cant connect errors right? if so i will probably increase the ssh time so i have more time to pop around on the screen and do all this

[sai-kumar-peddireddy]

@sai-kumar-peddireddy sure will try to do this afternoon.

to be clear i should do this at the point the vm is up and running via packer and hitting the repeating ssh cant connect errors right? if so i will probably increase the ssh time so i have more time to pop around on the screen and do all this

Yes, you are right. Try the latest release 20.3.0 (55895) if you can.

[aofldl]

@sai-kumar-peddireddy
488556226 report was generated from parallels just now using this procedure.

also we are using the latest version we updated friday.

[sai-kumar-peddireddy]

ok will, check it

[aofldl]

just curious if there was anything in that report? have been tied up with other projects so not really a rush

[sai-kumar-peddireddy]

@aofldl, Not checked it fully, as of now