HVM + Kernel: None = distorted graphics

[a...@auspicacious.org]

Hi,

I've been trying to get Wireguard up and running following the instructions referenced from this issue:

https://github.com/QubesOS/qubes-issues/issues/3591

I've tried installation in both Fedora 29 and Debian 9-based templates. The problem is, I can switch to HVM mode, but as soon as I set the kernel to "(none)" in either template, any attempt to bring up a terminal gives me a window with distorted graphics inside. My impression is that kernel has to be none for the kernel modules to be loaded properly?

I'm not really sure why this is happening. Dom0 has a different DPI setting than the baseline templates, although that doesn't seem to cause problems usually. I would appreciate any help.

[Zbigniew Łukasiak]

How did you set the kernel? I have tried:
[zby@dom0 ~]$ qvm-prefs -s netvm-fedora-29-template kernel 'none'
qvm-prefs: error: Kernel 'none' not installed
[zby@dom0 ~]$ qvm-prefs -s netvm-fedora-29-template kernel none
qvm-prefs: error: Kernel 'none' not installed
[zby@dom0 ~]$ qvm-prefs -s netvm-fedora-29-template kernel '(none)'
qvm-prefs: error: Kernel '(none)' not installed
[zby@dom0 ~]$ qvm-prefs -s netvm-fedora-29-template kernel ''

The last one worked - but then the vm does not start anymore. I get an
error that it did not start for 60 seconds.

Maybe I should try running grub before changing the kernel - but that
does not work either:
bash-4.4# grub2-install /dev/xvda3
Installing for i386-pc platform.
grub2-install: warning: File system `ext2' doesn't support embedding.
grub2-install: warning: Embedding is not possible. GRUB can only be
installed in this setup by using blocklists. However, blocklists are
UNRELIABLE and their use is discouraged..
grub2-install: error: will not proceed with blocklists.

I don't quite understand that error - because it should be ext4:
/dev/xvda3 on / type ext4 (rw,noatime,discard,data=ordered)


ZŁ

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--
Zbigniew Lukasiak
https://medium.com/@zby
http://brudnopis.blogspot.com/

[Zbigniew Łukasiak]

I should add that
/var/log/xen/console/guest-netvm-fedora-29-template.log file is empty.

The grub install worked after I tried it on /dev/xvda instead of
/dev/xvda3 - but still it did not change anything.

ZŁ

[Chris Laprise]

I have the same issue which I've mentioned in #3591. My workaround in
Debian is to go back to pvh to install the 4.19 kernel from testing.
Then I can use the template in hvm mode.

--

Chris Laprise, tas...@posteo.net
https://github.com/tasket
https://twitter.com/ttaskett
PGP: BEE2 20C5 356E 764A 73EB 4AB3 1DC4 D106 F07F 1886

[Chris Laprise]

I've created an issue for this:

https://github.com/QubesOS/qubes-issues/issues/4920