Session crashes when monitor is disconnected

[J Folkesson]

The user session crashes when I disconnect the DVI cable from my computer (which I do to connect another monitor instead). A similar problem is described in two recent questions on AskUbuntu:

https://askubuntu.com/questions/969376/how-to-keep-graphical-session-running-in-17-10-when-external-screen-is-turned-of

https://askubuntu.com/questions/969510/ubuntu-17-10-logs-out-when-monitor-is-detached

I could not find a related bug report to subscribe to so here I am. I would except the session to be available as if nothing had happened when I reconnect the screen, or at most that the session is locked (but still running).

These are the system logs from when I tested it twice, at 00:26:50 and at 00:28:30. (I'm not sure if the rfkill message is related.)

00:28:46 kernel: rfkill: input handler disabled
00:28:30 kernel: gnome-shell[11544]: segfault at 18 ip 00007f3edabafe04 sp 00007ffcaf8c6c68 error 4 in libmutter-1.so.0.0.0[7f3edab11000+141000]
00:28:30 kernel: nouveau 0000:01:00.0: DRM: DDC responded, but no EDID for DVI-I-1
00:27:11 kernel: rfkill: input handler disabled
00:26:51 kernel: gnome-shell[10348]: segfault at 18 ip 00007f208bbfbe04 sp 00007fff247c7f98 error 4 in libmutter-1.so.0.0.0[7f208bb5d000+141000]
00:26:50 kernel: nouveau 0000:01:00.0: DRM: DDC responded, but no EDID for DVI-I-1

I'm using Ubuntu 17.10, gnome-shell is at 3.26.1-0ubuntu5.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 17.10
Package: gnome-shell 3.26.1-0ubuntu5
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 4.13.0-16.19-generic 4.13.4
Uname: Linux 4.13.0-16-generic x86_64
ApportVersion: 2.20.7-0ubuntu3.4
Architecture: amd64
CurrentDesktop: ubuntu:GNOME
Date: Sun Nov 19 00:31:34 2017
DisplayManager: gdm3
GsettingsChanges:
 b'org.gnome.shell' b'enable-hot-corners' b'true'
 b'org.gnome.shell' b'favorite-apps' b"['firefox.desktop', 'empathy.desktop', 'libreoffice-writer.desktop', 'rhythmbox.desktop', 'org.gnome.Nautilus.desktop', 'org.gnome.gedit.desktop', 'org.gnome.Terminal.desktop', 'shotwell.desktop', 'gnucash.desktop', 'transmission-gtk.desktop']"
 b'org.gnome.desktop.interface' b'gtk-im-module' b"'gtk-im-context-simple'"
InstallationDate: Installed on 2017-07-20 (121 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 17.04 "Zesty Zapus" - Release amd64 (20170412)
SourcePackage: gnome-shell
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to artful on 2017-11-14 (4 days ago)

[Launchpad Janitor (janitor)]

Status changed to 'Confirmed' because the bug affects multiple users.

[David laight (david-laight)]

Not only does the user get logged out, but any daemon processes they've created (that ought to
stay active even after logout) also get killed.

[Dave Knight (trippynet)]

This bug is causing me major issues as it makes it impossible to use Ubuntu 17.10 on a secondary system via a KVM. Every time I switch to my main PC on my KVM, my Ubuntu session is terminated and all apps are closed - including VirtualBox VMs which I have running. Needs either a quick fix, or I shall be forced to abandon 17.10 as it's currently unusable for me.

[David Buchanan (i-ke-8)]

I too have this issue, this affects anyone is is using Ubuntu with a TV if after watching something one line and you turn off the TV via remote, when the signal drops the Ubuntu sessions is terminated along with all running apps. My configuration is an Intel NUC with mini DVI to HDMI interface. This has only occured since upgrade from 17.04 to 17.10.

[Daniel van Vugt (vanvugt)]

Yes the gnome-shell crash seems to follow the nouveau kernel error:

nov 19 00:28:30 username-MS-7971 kernel: nouveau 0000:01:00.0: DRM: DDC responded, but no EDID for DVI-I-1
nov 19 00:28:31 username-MS-7971 org.gnome.Shell.desktop[11544]: (EE)
nov 19 00:28:31 username-MS-7971 org.gnome.Shell.desktop[11544]: Fatal server error:
nov 19 00:28:31 username-MS-7971 org.gnome.Shell.desktop[11544]: (EE) failed to read Wayland events: Broken pipe
nov 19 00:28:31 username-MS-7971 org.gnome.Shell.desktop[11544]: (EE)
nov 19 00:28:31 username-MS-7971 kerneloops-applet.desktop[11729]: kerneloops-applet: Fatal IO error 11 (Resource temporarily unavailable) on X server :0.
nov 19 00:28:31 username-MS-7971 gnome-session-binary[11513]: WARNING: Application 'org.gnome.Shell.desktop' killed by signal 11

Please look in /var/crash file .crash files and use the ubuntu-bug command to upload them. Do not attach them here, but please do mention the IDs of any new bugs created.

[Modestas (montvid)]

I have this bug too. Please fix ASAP because it is driving me insane! I turn off monitor to save electricity and ubuntu logs off terminating all my programs!!! How can you even release with such a big bug! I don't have this problem with other Linux distros.

[Nipun (2nipun)]

Same problem for me too. Using a Samsung monitor via Displayport on a NVIDIA 980 graphics card.

Its a major issue for me cause I just using a Samsung soundbar with a HDMI passthrough setup of Desktop <> Soundbar <> Monitor. The soundbar turns off after few minutes of inactivity (fixed time, cant change). This stops the HDMI passthrough as well (silly, cant get around it). This causes the system to logout and all my processes get killed.

[Michael Coote (cootemj)]

My session doesn't actually terminate when the monitor is switched off, but when power is cycled; switch HDMI monitor off --> can still hear application playing audio --> switch monitor on --> all applications terminate and logged off.

[Luís Pedro Carvalho (lpc+1000)]

According to last -x command my session also terminates only when turning the screen back on.
I also confirm that the session is not only logged out but every process created and all files in /run/shm/ are also killed.
It seemed like installing caffeine (disabling auto suspend and screensaver) had solved it, but after turning the screen on in the morning the session crashed at that moment.
In /var/crash there are files timestamped just after I turned the screen back on of: caffeine, Xwayland and gnome-shell.
It's been hard to figure out a way around this bug.
This was a fresh install of 17.10 on AMD cpu and AMD gfx card, HDMI monitor. Everything was updated before the latest crash occurred again.

[Andrzej Wojtaszewski (andrzej-wojtaszewski)]

I'm having the same issue on Intel NUC7 (NUC7i3BHN) with Ubuntu 17.10 and Intel i915 proprietary driver.

The NUC is set up as a Kodi HTPC and connected to a Samsung TV. When the TV is turned off and then turned on the session gets terminated and all applications are instantly killed.

When the TV is just turned off everything works in the background (eg. when I'm streaming music using Kore remote instead of TV) but crashes the moment the TV is turned on. Also random crashes occur with the TV turned off and long music playback.

This confirms that this bug is driver unrelated as it occurs on Nvidia, AMD and Intel.