x not starting in kvm with std vga

[KBios]

This happens with kubuntu jaunty desktop cd, at least with kvm-83 and kvm-84. If kvm is started with the "-vga std" parameter (which is needed for better graphics), xorg doesn't start. In /etc/X11/xorg.conf the Driver line is incorrectly set to "cirrus". Setting it to "vesa" solves the problem. This bug prevents a casual user from using kvm at all. I'm assigning this bug to xserver-xorg since the 20xconfig script in casper-bottom calls "casper-reconfigure /root xserver-xorg"

[KBios (kbios)]

Here is my xorg.0.log

[KBios (kbios)]

Update: another solution is simply to delete xorg.conf, but you'll get only 800x600.

[Bryce Harrington (bryce)]

probably an incorrect pci id. You need to attach lspci -vvnn output for these kinds of bugs. Make sure you read http://wiki.ubuntu.com/X/Reporting to learn how to report X bugs properly. Also see http://wiki.ubuntu.com/X/Troubleshooting.

[ 0.354226] (--) PCI:*(0@0:2:0) Technical Corp. unknown chipset (0x1111) rev 0, Mem @ 0xe0000000/16777216

[KBios (kbios)]

Ups, sorry for that.
Here is the result of lspci -vvnn.
Also, when kvm is started this way, usplash doesn't work. May it be related to this bug?
Thanks

[KBios (kbios)]

Today I tried qemu 0.10.1 (which has kvm support), as the changelog reported "kvm vga: fix screen corruption with Ubuntu installations (Glauber Costa)". However, it has exactly the same problems as kvm userspace. I tried running lspci and the result is the same as in my previous post.

[KBios (kbios)]

After diving deeply into X manainer scripts and other stuff, I found the problem. The livecd uses /usr/bin/dexconf to generate xorg.conf. If you look at line 191, you'll see

QEMU_KVM=$(grep "QEMU Virtual CPU" /proc/cpuinfo || true)
if [ -n "$QEMU_KVM" ]; then
    DEVICE_DRIVER="cirrus"
fi

So the script blindly uses the cirrus driver if it is started under qemu/kvm. I think it is not so difficult to fix it, and will post a patch if I can write one.

[KBios (kbios)]

Ok, here's my patch. It is as simple as possible, and may not be the best possible solution.

[KBios (kbios)]

Patch written

[Bryce Harrington (bryce)]

Thanks, looks good. Uploaded.

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

This bug was fixed in the package xorg - 1:7.4~5ubuntu18

---------------
xorg (1:7.4~5ubuntu18) jaunty; urgency=low

  * local/dexconf: Don't use cirrus on kvm (Technical Corp. Device 1111)
    (LP: #338219)

 -- Bryce Harrington <email address hidden> Fri, 03 Apr 2009 00:35:49 -0700

[pakraticus (pakraticus)]

Hi,
I'm seeing this breakage with xserver-xorg 1:7.4~5ubuntu18
I'm not seeing this breakage with xserver-xorg 1:7.4~ubuntu16

Attached is the lspci output from the VM with ubuntu 9.04 beta installed.

[Bryce Harrington (bryce)]

Reopening bug; this fix needs redone now that we're no longer using dexconf to generate default xorg.conf's. It needs reimplemented into the xserver itself.

[Bryce Harrington (bryce)]

This bug was fixed in the package xorg-server - 2:1.6.3-1ubuntu4

---------------
xorg-server (2:1.6.3-1ubuntu4) karmic; urgency=low

  * Add 184_virtual_devices_autodetect.patch: Automatic driver detection
    for vbox and kvm for non-cirrus devices.
    (LP: #338219, #348497)

 -- Bryce Harrington <email address hidden> Mon, 24 Aug 2009 14:58:22 -0700