X Server not starting when running Optimus laptop only on GPU

VanDavv · 2021-03-25 15:13:10

I'm using Dell XPS 15 9560, which has two graphic cards - one integrated and one dedicated

$ lspci -k | grep -A 2 -E "(VGA|3D)"
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation HD Graphics 630 (rev 04)
	DeviceName:  Onboard IGD
	Subsystem: Dell Device 07be
--
01:00.0 3D controller: NVIDIA Corporation GP107M [GeForce GTX 1050 Mobile] (rev a1)
	Subsystem: Dell Device 07be
	Kernel driver in use: nvidia

I wanted to follow Use NVIDIA graphics only tutorial, but it didn't work, X server didn't start and seems to freeze with just these two lines on the screen

Starting version 247.4-2-arch
/dev/nvme0n1p3: clean, 113619/3276800 files, 1605346/13107200 blocks

I tried various tutorials and troubleshooting pages, none of which made the X server show up.

Could anyone help me to start the X server using just the dedicated GPU?

Below, I'll list some of the relevant configurations/logs I have that may help solve this issue

/etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-nouveau.conf (I noticed that in "/usr/lib/modprobe.d/nvidia.conf" I also blacklist nouveau, but I guess these do not conflict)

blacklist nouveau
alias nouveau off

/etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/10-nvidia-drm-outputclass.conf

Section "OutputClass"
    Identifier "nvidia"
    MatchDriver "nvidia-drm"
    Driver "nvidia"
    Option "AllowEmptyInitialConfiguration"
    Option "PrimaryGPU" "yes"
    ModulePath "/usr/lib/nvidia/xorg"
    ModulePath "/usr/lib/xorg/modules"
EndSection

/etc/default/grub (added "nvidia-drm.modeset=1 i915.modeset=0 nouveau.modeset=0 nogpumanager pcie_aspm=off acpi_backlight=none acpi_osi=Linux acpi_osi=!")
/var/log/Xorg.0.log
/usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d/10-quirks.conf
/usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d/40-libinput.conf

seth · 2021-03-25 15:24:06

The nvidia chip has no crtc, you'll need the intel chip to feed some output and you want to use https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/PR … erse_PRIME

Edit, for clarification: you *cannot* disable the intel chip or disable its kms (modesetting) features.
(W/ the exception that the UEFI allows to turn off the IGP and re-wires the output/s to the nvidia chip)

Last edited by seth (2021-03-25 15:29:14)

V1del · 2021-03-25 15:24:55

Did you follow the instructions setting up the xrandr calls depending on whether you use .xinitrc or a display manager below the the config?

VanDavv · 2021-03-25 15:38:14

seth wrote:

The nvidia chip has no crtc, you'll need the intel chip to feed some output and you want to use https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/PR … erse_PRIME
Edit, for clarification: you *cannot* disable the intel chip or disable its kms (modesetting) features.
(W/ the exception that the UEFI allows to turn off the IGP and re-wires the output/s to the nvidia chip)

I followed the page you've linked, now the X server still didn't show up, but at least it's not frozen (the cursor blinks). Here is the updated log /var/log/Xorg.0.log (I don't want to mess anything on my own, so just linking the output. Have been stuck with this issue for 2 weeks now and I don't feel confident at all)

What I want to achieve is to use GPU as a default rendering output - I use my laptop mostly under AC and I want to use my dedicated GPU. I was using Bumblebee on my previous Arch installation and it would default to integrated GPU, and I would like my applications and X server to utilize the dedicated one

V1del wrote:

Did you follow the instructions setting up the xrandr calls depending on whether you use .xinitrc or a display manager below the the config?

Yes, this is what I had in ~/..xinitrc

xrandr --auto
xrandr --setprovideroutputsource modesetting NVIDIA-0
xrandr --auto

seth · 2021-03-25 15:50:21

Xorg log wrote:

i915.modeset=0

This does not work. Also please don't blindly copy the wiki - the reverse prime example uses the intel chip as main GPU and the nvidia one prviding the desired output.
The https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/NV … phics_only example is actually closer, but you *cannot* disable the intel chip.

VanDavv · 2021-03-25 16:09:27

seth wrote:

Xorg log wrote:
i915.modeset=0
This does not work. Also please don't blindly copy the wiki - the reverse prime example uses the intel chip as main GPU and the nvidia one prviding the desired output.
The https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/NV … phics_only example is actually closer, but you *cannot* disable the intel chip.

I'm really sorry, I would like to be less "blind", but I feel like I am. I thought that following the Wiki as-is would make it work, but obviously it didn't.

I changed my /etc/X11/xorg.conf to the following

Section "ServerLayout"
        Identifier "layout"
        Screen 0 "nvidia"
        Inactive "intel"
        Option "AllowNVIDIAGPUScreens"
EndSection

Section "Device"
        Identifier "nvidia"
        Driver "nvidia"
        BusID "PCI:1:0:0"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
        Identifier "nvidia"
        Device "nvidia"
EndSection

Section "Device"
        Identifier "intel"
        Driver "modesetting"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
        Identifier "intel"
        Device "intel"
EndSection

And added an additional OutputClass to /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d/10-nvidia-drm-outputclass.conf

Section "OutputClass"
    Identifier "intel"
    MatchDriver "i915"
    Driver "modesetting"
EndSection

Section "OutputClass"
    Identifier "nvidia"
    MatchDriver "nvidia-drm"
    Driver "nvidia"
    Option "AllowEmptyInitialConfiguration"
    Option "PrimaryGPU" "yes"
    ModulePath "/usr/lib/nvidia/xorg"
    ModulePath "/usr/lib/xorg/modules"
EndSection

And removed i915.modeset=0 from grub config

Now, the screen looks like it tries to display something, but instead of meaningful content it just renders a black screen

Here is the /var/log/Xorg.0.log and my .xinitrc

xrandr --setprovideroutputsource radeon Intel
xrandr --output HDMI-1 --auto --above LVDS1

seth · 2021-03-25 16:14:27

The pastebin service doesn't load, but

xrandr --setprovideroutputsource radeon Intel

won't work because you don't have a radeon chip.
Refer to "xrandr --listproviders" for a meaning call

VanDavv · 2021-03-25 16:31:57

I uploaded now to a different pastebin server, updated log is here - /var/log/Xorg.0.log

I tried to also run the command, but I got

$ xrandr --listproviders
Can't open display

Tried to google it and set the DISPLAY env variable before the call (with various params, 0.0, :0, :1.0), but it still doesn't work and throws similar error

seth · 2021-03-25 16:34:57

log shows running X11 server w/ nvidia as main GPU and intel available on the modesetting driver, the correct output redirection is likely

xrandr --setprovideroutputsource modesetting NVIDIA-0
xrandr --auto

as in the wiki example.

xrandr requires an active X11 server (eg. if you had run X11 on the intel chip)

VanDavv · 2021-03-25 16:40:15

I set the .xinitrc to these lines and it didn't help, it is still displaying just a black screen - /var/log/Xorg.0.log

seth · 2021-03-25 17:20:37

Please post your complete xinitrc.
Also: how exactly do you start X11?

VanDavv · 2021-03-26 10:31:08

seth wrote:

Please post your complete xinitrc.

$ cat .xinitrc 
xrandr --setprovideroutputsource modesetting NVIDIA-0
xrandr --auto

seth wrote:

Also: how exactly do you start X11?

I enabled lightdm service, nothing more

seth · 2021-03-26 13:06:50

That doesn't involve xinitrc, use the display-setup-script config, https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/Li … ng_monitor

VanDavv · 2021-03-27 10:48:18

Sorry, I was wrong - I use LXDM instead of LightDM (so similar names, sorry for not checking it prior)

$ systemctl status lxdm
● lxdm.service - LXDE Display Manager
     Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/system/lxdm.service; enabled; vendor preset: disabled)
     Active: active (running) since Sat 2021-03-27 11:10:59 CET; 34min ago
   Main PID: 322 (lxdm-binary)
      Tasks: 8 (limit: 18977)
     Memory: 176.9M
     CGroup: /system.slice/lxdm.service
             ├─322 /usr/sbin/lxdm-binary
             ├─419 /usr/lib/Xorg -background none :0 vt01 -nolisten tcp -novtswitch -auth /var/run/lxdm/lxdm-:0.auth
             └─425 /usr/lib/lxdm/lxdm-greeter-gtk

And here is the config /etc/lxdm/lxdm.conf

[base]
## uncomment and set autologin username to enable autologin
# autologin=dgod

## uncomment and set timeout to enable timeout autologin,
## the value should >=5
# timeout=10

## default session or desktop used when no systemwide config
# session=/usr/bin/startlxde

## uncomment and set to set numlock on your keyboard
# numlock=0

## set this if you don't want to put xauth file at ~/.Xauthority
# xauth_path=/tmp

# not ask password for users who have empty password
# skip_password=1

## greeter used to welcome the user
greeter=/usr/lib/lxdm/lxdm-greeter-gtk

[server]
## arg used to start xserver, not fully function
arg=/usr/bin/X -background vt1
# uncomment this if you really want xserver listen to tcp
# tcp_listen=1
# uncoment this if you want reset the xserver after logou
# reset=1

[display]
## gtk theme used by greeter
gtk_theme=Adwaita

## background of the greeter
# bg=/usr/share/backgrounds/default.png

## if show bottom pane
bottom_pane=1

## if show language select control
lang=1

## if show keyboard layout select control
keyboard=0

## the theme of greeter
theme=Industrial

[input]

[userlist]
## if disable the user list control at greeter
disable=0

## whitelist user
white=

## blacklist user
black=

Should I install LightDM instead of LXDM?

seth · 2021-03-27 12:05:14

LXDM runs different scripts at different stages, you can put the required redirection there
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/LXDM#Configuration

VanDavv · 2021-03-27 22:34:16

Sorry, I tried googling, but I don't know still - what should I put in this configuration? What redirection?

seth · 2021-03-27 22:38:37

The output redirection - the xrandr calls this thread revolves around.

VanDavv · 2021-04-26 13:15:56

I added the required lines to /etc/lxdm/LoginReady and performed chmod +x on it. The file contents are now this

#!/bin/sh

xrandr --setprovideroutputsource modesetting NVIDIA-0
xrandr --auto

but the lxdm.log shows error

No protocol specified
Can't open display :0

The full logfile is here

$ sudo cat /var/log/lxdm.log
** Message: 15:09:43.870: find greeter (nil)

** Message: 15:09:43.870: find idle (nil)

** Message: 15:09:43.871: 1619442583: add xserver watch


X.Org X Server 1.20.10
X Protocol Version 11, Revision 0
Build Operating System: Linux Arch Linux
Current Operating System: Linux VanDavvPC-XPS-Arch 5.11.7-arch1-1 #1 SMP PREEMPT Wed, 17 Mar 2021 16:59:58 +0000 x86_64
Kernel command line: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-linux root=UUID=56882974-63ce-4e26-913f-734b08fd7dff rw loglevel=3 quiet nvidia-drm.modeset=1 nouveau.modeset=0 nogpumanager pcie_aspm=off acpi_backlight=none acpi_osi=Linux acpi_osi=!
Build Date: 14 December 2020  12:10:29PM
 
Current version of pixman: 0.40.0
	Before reporting problems, check http://wiki.x.org
	to make sure that you have the latest version.
Markers: (--) probed, (**) from config file, (==) default setting,
	(++) from command line, (!!) notice, (II) informational,
	(WW) warning, (EE) error, (NI) not implemented, (??) unknown.
(==) Log file: "/var/log/Xorg.0.log", Time: Mon Apr 26 15:09:44 2021
(==) Using config file: "/etc/X11/xorg.conf"
(==) Using config directory: "/etc/X11/xorg.conf.d"
(==) Using system config directory "/usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d"
** Message: 15:09:44.890: 1619442584: start xserver in 2 retry
** Message: 15:09:44.890: add 0x560890ed5910

** Message: 15:09:44.890: prepare greeter on /var/run/lxdm/lxdm-:0.auth

** Message: 15:09:44.892: start greeter on /var/run/lxdm/lxdm-:0.auth

No protocol specified
Can't open display :0
No protocol specified
Can't open display :0
** Message: 15:09:45.324: greeter 975 session 0x560890ed5910

** Message: 15:09:45.324: user 975 session 0x560890ed5910 cmd USER_LIST

Xorg: ../xserver/dix/privates.c:384: dixRegisterPrivateKey: Assertion `!global_keys[type].created' failed.
(EE) 
(EE) Backtrace:
(EE) 0: /usr/lib/Xorg (xorg_backtrace+0x53) [0x55ed8a376f63]
(EE) 1: /usr/lib/Xorg (0x55ed8a230000+0x151da5) [0x55ed8a381da5]
(EE) 2: /usr/lib/libc.so.6 (0x7f2699aec000+0x3cf80) [0x7f2699b28f80]
(EE) 3: /usr/lib/libc.so.6 (gsignal+0x145) [0x7f2699b28ef5]
(EE) 4: /usr/lib/libc.so.6 (abort+0x116) [0x7f2699b12862]
(EE) 5: /usr/lib/libc.so.6 (0x7f2699aec000+0x26747) [0x7f2699b12747]
(EE) 6: /usr/lib/libc.so.6 (0x7f2699aec000+0x35646) [0x7f2699b21646]
(EE) 7: /usr/lib/Xorg (dixRegisterPrivateKey+0x0) [0x55ed8a2c5870]
(EE) 8: /usr/lib/xorg/modules/libglamoregl.so (glamor_init+0xc9) [0x7f269398afb9]
(EE) 9: /usr/lib/xorg/modules/drivers/modesetting_drv.so (0x7f2694a78000+0x140fd) [0x7f2694a8c0fd]
(EE) 10: /usr/lib/Xorg (AddGPUScreen+0x10e) [0x55ed8a2a940e]
(EE) 11: /usr/lib/Xorg (0x55ed8a230000+0x185eb9) [0x55ed8a3b5eb9]
(EE) 12: /usr/lib/Xorg (0x55ed8a230000+0x1bb288) [0x55ed8a3eb288]
(EE) 13: /usr/lib/Xorg (0x55ed8a230000+0x1bbb12) [0x55ed8a3ebb12]
(EE) 14: /usr/lib/Xorg (0x55ed8a230000+0x14a331) [0x55ed8a37a331]
(EE) 15: /usr/lib/Xorg (WaitForSomething+0x250) [0x55ed8a375c00]
(EE) 16: /usr/lib/Xorg (0x55ed8a230000+0x39914) [0x55ed8a269914]
(EE) 17: /usr/lib/libc.so.6 (__libc_start_main+0xd5) [0x7f2699b13b25]
(EE) 18: /usr/lib/Xorg (_start+0x2e) [0x55ed8a26a5de]
(EE) 
(EE) 
Fatal server error:
(EE) Caught signal 6 (Aborted). Server aborting
(EE) 
(EE) 
Please consult the The X.Org Foundation support 
	 at http://wiki.x.org
 for help. 
(EE) Please also check the log file at "/var/log/Xorg.0.log" for additional information.
(EE) 
(EE) Server terminated with error (1). Closing log file.
lxdm-greeter-gtk: Fatal IO error 11 (Resource temporarily unavailable) on X server :0.

(process:327): GLib-CRITICAL **: 15:09:46.627: Source ID 3 was not found when attempting to remove it
** Message: 15:09:46.627: xserver stop, restart. return status 86

** Message: 15:09:46.627: 1619442586: add xserver watch


X.Org X Server 1.20.10
X Protocol Version 11, Revision 0
Build Operating System: Linux Arch Linux
Current Operating System: Linux VanDavvPC-XPS-Arch 5.11.7-arch1-1 #1 SMP PREEMPT Wed, 17 Mar 2021 16:59:58 +0000 x86_64
Kernel command line: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-linux root=UUID=56882974-63ce-4e26-913f-734b08fd7dff rw loglevel=3 quiet nvidia-drm.modeset=1 nouveau.modeset=0 nogpumanager pcie_aspm=off acpi_backlight=none acpi_osi=Linux acpi_osi=!
Build Date: 14 December 2020  12:10:29PM
 
Current version of pixman: 0.40.0
	Before reporting problems, check http://wiki.x.org
	to make sure that you have the latest version.
Markers: (--) probed, (**) from config file, (==) default setting,
	(++) from command line, (!!) notice, (II) informational,
	(WW) warning, (EE) error, (NI) not implemented, (??) unknown.
(==) Log file: "/var/log/Xorg.0.log", Time: Mon Apr 26 15:09:46 2021
(==) Using config file: "/etc/X11/xorg.conf"
(==) Using config directory: "/etc/X11/xorg.conf.d"
(==) Using system config directory "/usr/share/X11/xorg.conf.d"
(II) modeset(G0): Initializing kms color map for depth 24, 8 bpc.
** Message: 15:09:47.674: 1619442587: start xserver in 1 retry
** Message: 15:09:47.710: greeter 975 session 0x560890ed5910

** Message: 15:09:47.710: user 975 session 0x560890ed5910 cmd USER_LIST

VanDavv · 2021-04-26 13:36:50

I think my earlier attempts may messed something with the configuration (or some packages). Will follow your steps once again on a fresh arch install and check if it works

Arch Linux

#1 2021-03-25 15:13:10

X Server not starting when running Optimus laptop only on GPU

#2 2021-03-25 15:24:06

Re: X Server not starting when running Optimus laptop only on GPU

#3 2021-03-25 15:24:55

Re: X Server not starting when running Optimus laptop only on GPU

#4 2021-03-25 15:38:14

Re: X Server not starting when running Optimus laptop only on GPU

#5 2021-03-25 15:50:21

Re: X Server not starting when running Optimus laptop only on GPU

#6 2021-03-25 16:09:27

Re: X Server not starting when running Optimus laptop only on GPU

#7 2021-03-25 16:14:27

Re: X Server not starting when running Optimus laptop only on GPU

#8 2021-03-25 16:31:57

Re: X Server not starting when running Optimus laptop only on GPU

#9 2021-03-25 16:34:57

Re: X Server not starting when running Optimus laptop only on GPU

#10 2021-03-25 16:40:15

Re: X Server not starting when running Optimus laptop only on GPU

#11 2021-03-25 17:20:37

Re: X Server not starting when running Optimus laptop only on GPU

#12 2021-03-26 10:31:08

Re: X Server not starting when running Optimus laptop only on GPU

#13 2021-03-26 13:06:50

Re: X Server not starting when running Optimus laptop only on GPU

#14 2021-03-27 10:48:18

Re: X Server not starting when running Optimus laptop only on GPU

#15 2021-03-27 12:05:14

Re: X Server not starting when running Optimus laptop only on GPU

#16 2021-03-27 22:34:16

Re: X Server not starting when running Optimus laptop only on GPU

#17 2021-03-27 22:38:37

Re: X Server not starting when running Optimus laptop only on GPU

#18 2021-04-26 13:15:56

Re: X Server not starting when running Optimus laptop only on GPU

#19 2021-04-26 13:36:50

Re: X Server not starting when running Optimus laptop only on GPU

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