CompactRIO Warning: Unable to Open an Initial Console

Issue Details

Whenever the CompactRIO controller is restarted, I receive the following kernel message:

2019-10-21T04:57:13.204-04:00 NI-cRIO-9046-01E5DD0D kernel: [ 0.578706] Warning: unable to open an initial console.
2019-10-21T04:57:13.205-04:00 NI-cRIO-9046-01E5DD0D kernel: [ 1.033911] EXT4-fs (sda4): couldn't mount as ext3 due to feature incompatibilities

What does this error mean and how do I fix it?

Solution

The first message is not so much an error but a warning that we can use as a starting point to determine if there's a more bigger problem or not. The warning is telling you that the system is trying to open a console but it fails to do so. In order to correct that warning, follow the steps below:
1. Connect your cRIO with your host PC by Ethernet cable.
2. Open NI-MAX and click on your target under Remote Systems. Navigate to the Systems Settings tab.
3. You should see several checkboxes. Check the box for Enable Console Out.
4. Click Save and Restart your target.
The second  message is related to the Linux partitioning of the hard drive. The device will try to mount the root filesystem as previous versions of EXT before trying EXT-4. To correct that warning you must fully reformat the controller and re-install the software.