Bumblebee not starting because X server is not starting

English Hardware
#1

In my /var/log/Xorg.8.log, I have the following error “no screens found” while using Bumblebee.

I have a Dell XPS L702X and the card is NVIDIA GeForce GT 550M 1GB graphics with Optimus.


10: PCI 02.0: 0300 VGA compatible controller (VGA)
  [Created at pci.319]
  Unique ID: _Znp.Bkct+e02NcF
  SysFS ID: /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:02.0
  SysFS BusID: 0000:00:02.0
  Hardware Class: graphics card
  Model: "Intel VGA compatible controller"
  Vendor: pci 0x8086 "Intel Corporation"
  Device: pci 0x0116 
  SubVendor: pci 0x1028 "Dell"
  SubDevice: pci 0x0571 
  Revision: 0x09
  Memory Range: 0xf2400000-0xf27fffff (rw,non-prefetchable)
  Memory Range: 0xe0000000-0xefffffff (ro,non-prefetchable)
  I/O Ports: 0x5000-0x503f (rw)
  IRQ: 52 (no events)
  Module Alias: "pci:v00008086d00000116sv00001028sd00000571bc03sc00i00"
  Driver Info #0:
    Driver Status: i915 is active
    Driver Activation Cmd: "modprobe i915"
  Config Status: cfg=no, avail=yes, need=no, active=unknown

23: PCI 100.0: 0300 VGA compatible controller (VGA)
  [Created at pci.319]
  Unique ID: VCu0.qnI6qoCQyc4
  Parent ID: vSkL.zG5hGKNZlz7
  SysFS ID: /devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:01.0/0000:01:00.0
  SysFS BusID: 0000:01:00.0
  Hardware Class: graphics card
  Model: "nVidia VGA compatible controller"
  Vendor: pci 0x10de "nVidia Corporation"
  Device: pci 0x1246 
  SubVendor: pci 0x1028 "Dell"
  SubDevice: pci 0x0571 
  Revision: 0xa1
  Driver: "nvidia"
  Driver Modules: "nvidia"
  Memory Range: 0xf0000000-0xf1ffffff (rw,non-prefetchable)
  Memory Range: 0xc0000000-0xcfffffff (ro,non-prefetchable)
  Memory Range: 0xd0000000-0xd3ffffff (ro,non-prefetchable)
  I/O Ports: 0x4000-0x4fff (rw)
  Memory Range: 0xf2000000-0xf207ffff (ro,non-prefetchable,disabled)
  IRQ: 16 (102 events)
  Module Alias: "pci:v000010DEd00001246sv00001028sd00000571bc03sc00i00"
  Driver Info #0:
    Driver Status: nvidiafb is not active
    Driver Activation Cmd: "modprobe nvidiafb"
  Driver Info #1:
    Driver Status: nouveau is not active
    Driver Activation Cmd: "modprobe nouveau"
  Driver Info #2:
    Driver Status: nvidia is active
    Driver Activation Cmd: "modprobe nvidia"
  Config Status: cfg=no, avail=yes, need=no, active=unknown
  Attached to: #9 (PCI bridge)

Primary display adapter: #10

The related RPMs installed are,


nvidia-computeG02-290.10-13.1.x86_64
nvidia-settings-270.41.06-1.27.x86_64
dkms-2.2.0.3-3.1.noarch
VirtualGL-2.3-2.1.x86_64
x11-video-nvidiaG02-290.10-13.1.x86_64
nvidia-texture-tools-2.0.6-13.1.2.x86_64
dkms-acpi_call-0.0.1git20110727-10.1.noarch
VirtualGL-devel-2.3-2.1.x86_64
libGLEW1_6-1.6.0-6.1.2.x86_64
bumblebee-2.4.1-1.1.x86_64
VirtualGL-32bit-2.3-2.1.x86_64
nvidia-gfxG02-kmp-desktop-290.10_k3.1.0_1.2-12.1.x86_64

Any ideas?


   149.938] (II) Open ACPI successful (/var/run/acpid.socket)                                                                                        
   149.938] (II) LoadModule: "extmod"                                                                                                                
   149.939] (II) Loading /usr/lib64/xorg/modules/extensions/libextmod.so                                                                             
   149.939] (II) Module extmod: vendor="X.Org Foundation"                                                                                            
   149.939]    compiled for 1.10.4, module version = 1.0.0                                                                                           
   149.939]    Module class: X.Org Server Extension                                                                                                  
   149.939]    ABI class: X.Org Server Extension, version 5.0                                                                                        
   149.939] (II) Loading extension MIT-SCREEN-SAVER                                                                                                  
   149.939] (II) Loading extension XFree86-VidModeExtension                                                                                          
   149.939] (II) Loading extension XFree86-DGA                                                                                                       
   149.939] (II) Loading extension DPMS                                                                                                              
   149.939] (II) Loading extension XVideo                                                                                                            
   149.939] (II) Loading extension XVideo-MotionCompensation                                                                                         
   149.939] (II) Loading extension X-Resource                                                                                                        
   149.939] (II) LoadModule: "dbe"                                                                                                                   
   149.939] (II) Loading /usr/lib64/xorg/modules/extensions/libdbe.so                                                                                
   149.939] (II) Module dbe: vendor="X.Org Foundation"                                                                                               
   149.939]    compiled for 1.10.4, module version = 1.0.0                                                                                           
   149.939]    Module class: X.Org Server Extension                                                                                                  
   149.939]    ABI class: X.Org Server Extension, version 5.0                                                                                        
   149.939] (II) Loading extension DOUBLE-BUFFER                                                                                                     
   149.939] (II) LoadModule: "glx"                                                                                                                   
   149.939] (II) Loading /usr/lib64/xorg/modules/updates/extensions/libglx.so                                                                        
   149.946] (II) Module glx: vendor="NVIDIA Corporation"                                                                                             
   149.946]    compiled for 4.0.2, module version = 1.0.0                                                                                            
   149.946]    Module class: X.Org Server Extension                                                                                                  
   149.946] (II) NVIDIA GLX Module  290.10  Wed Nov 16 18:01:24 PST 2011                                                                             
   149.946] (II) Loading extension GLX                                                                                                               
   149.946] (II) LoadModule: "record"                                                                                                                
   149.947] (II) Loading /usr/lib64/xorg/modules/extensions/librecord.so                                                                             
   149.947] (II) Module record: vendor="X.Org Foundation"                                                                                            
   149.947]    compiled for 1.10.4, module version = 1.13.0                                                                                          
   149.947]    Module class: X.Org Server Extension
   149.947]    ABI class: X.Org Server Extension, version 5.0
   149.947] (II) Loading extension RECORD
   149.947] (II) LoadModule: "dri"
   149.947] (II) Loading /usr/lib64/xorg/modules/extensions/libdri.so
   149.947] (II) Module dri: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
   149.947]    compiled for 1.10.4, module version = 1.0.0
   149.947]    ABI class: X.Org Server Extension, version 5.0
   149.947] (II) Loading extension XFree86-DRI
   149.947] (II) LoadModule: "dri2"
   149.948] (II) Loading /usr/lib64/xorg/modules/extensions/libdri2.so
   149.948] (II) Module dri2: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
   149.948]    compiled for 1.10.4, module version = 1.2.0
   149.948]    ABI class: X.Org Server Extension, version 5.0
   149.948] (II) Loading extension DRI2
   149.948] (II) LoadModule: "nouveau"
   149.948] (II) Loading /usr/lib64/xorg/modules/drivers/nouveau_drv.so
   149.976] (II) Module nouveau: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
   149.976]    compiled for 1.10.4, module version = 0.0.16
   149.976]    Module class: X.Org Video Driver
   149.976]    ABI class: X.Org Video Driver, version 10.0
   149.976] (II) LoadModule: "mouse"
   149.977] (II) Loading /usr/lib64/xorg/modules/input/mouse_drv.so
   149.979] (II) Module mouse: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
   149.979]    compiled for 1.10.4, module version = 1.7.1
   149.979]    Module class: X.Org XInput Driver
   149.979]    ABI class: X.Org XInput driver, version 12.2
   149.979] (II) LoadModule: "kbd"
   149.980] (II) Loading /usr/lib64/xorg/modules/input/kbd_drv.so
   149.987] (II) Module kbd: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
   149.987]    compiled for 1.10.4, module version = 1.6.0
   149.987]    Module class: X.Org XInput Driver
   149.987]    ABI class: X.Org XInput driver, version 12.2
   149.987] (II) NOUVEAU driver 
   149.987] (II) NOUVEAU driver for NVIDIA chipset families :
   149.987]    RIVA TNT        (NV04)
   149.987]    RIVA TNT2       (NV05)
   149.987]    GeForce 256     (NV10)
   149.987]    GeForce 2       (NV11, NV15)
   149.987]    GeForce 4MX     (NV17, NV18)
   149.987]    GeForce 3       (NV20)
   149.987]    GeForce 4Ti     (NV25, NV28)
   149.987]    GeForce FX      (NV3x)
   149.987]    GeForce 6       (NV4x)
   149.987]    GeForce 7       (G7x)
   149.987]    GeForce 8       (G8x)
   149.987]    GeForce GTX 200 (NVA0)
   149.987]    GeForce GTX 400 (NVC0)
   149.987] (--) using VT number 7

   149.989] drmOpenDevice: node name is /dev/dri/card0
   149.989] drmOpenDevice: open result is 10, (OK)
   149.989] drmOpenByBusid: Searching for BusID pci:0000:01:00.0
   149.989] drmOpenDevice: node name is /dev/dri/card0
   149.989] drmOpenDevice: open result is 10, (OK)
   149.989] drmOpenByBusid: drmOpenMinor returns 10
   149.989] drmOpenByBusid: drmGetBusid reports pci:0000:00:02.0
   149.989] drmOpenDevice: node name is /dev/dri/card1
   149.994] drmOpenByBusid: drmOpenMinor returns -1
   149.994] drmOpenDevice: node name is /dev/dri/card2
   149.998] drmOpenByBusid: drmOpenMinor returns -1
   149.998] drmOpenDevice: node name is /dev/dri/card3
   150.002] drmOpenByBusid: drmOpenMinor returns -1
   150.002] drmOpenDevice: node name is /dev/dri/card4
   150.006] drmOpenByBusid: drmOpenMinor returns -1
   150.006] drmOpenDevice: node name is /dev/dri/card5
   150.010] drmOpenByBusid: drmOpenMinor returns -1
   150.010] drmOpenDevice: node name is /dev/dri/card6
   150.014] drmOpenByBusid: drmOpenMinor returns -1
   150.014] drmOpenDevice: node name is /dev/dri/card7
   150.018] drmOpenByBusid: drmOpenMinor returns -1
   150.018] drmOpenDevice: node name is /dev/dri/card8
   150.021] drmOpenByBusid: drmOpenMinor returns -1
   150.021] drmOpenDevice: node name is /dev/dri/card9
   150.025] drmOpenByBusid: drmOpenMinor returns -1
   150.025] drmOpenDevice: node name is /dev/dri/card10
   150.030] drmOpenByBusid: drmOpenMinor returns -1
   150.030] drmOpenDevice: node name is /dev/dri/card11
   150.034] drmOpenByBusid: drmOpenMinor returns -1
   150.034] drmOpenDevice: node name is /dev/dri/card12
   150.038] drmOpenByBusid: drmOpenMinor returns -1
   150.038] drmOpenDevice: node name is /dev/dri/card13
   150.042] drmOpenByBusid: drmOpenMinor returns -1
   150.042] drmOpenDevice: node name is /dev/dri/card14
   150.046] drmOpenByBusid: drmOpenMinor returns -1
   150.046] drmOpenDevice: node name is /dev/dri/card15
   150.050] drmOpenByBusid: drmOpenMinor returns -1
   150.050] drmOpenDevice: node name is /dev/dri/card0
   150.050] drmOpenDevice: open result is 10, (OK)
   150.050] drmOpenDevice: node name is /dev/dri/card0
   150.050] drmOpenDevice: open result is 10, (OK)
   150.050] drmOpenDevice: node name is /dev/dri/card1
   150.054] drmOpenDevice: node name is /dev/dri/card2
   150.058] drmOpenDevice: node name is /dev/dri/card3
   150.062] drmOpenDevice: node name is /dev/dri/card4
   150.066] drmOpenDevice: node name is /dev/dri/card5
   150.070] drmOpenDevice: node name is /dev/dri/card6
   150.073] drmOpenDevice: node name is /dev/dri/card7
   150.077] drmOpenDevice: node name is /dev/dri/card8
   150.080] drmOpenDevice: node name is /dev/dri/card9
   150.084] drmOpenDevice: node name is /dev/dri/card10
   150.088] drmOpenDevice: node name is /dev/dri/card11
   150.091] drmOpenDevice: node name is /dev/dri/card12
   150.095] drmOpenDevice: node name is /dev/dri/card13
   150.099] drmOpenDevice: node name is /dev/dri/card14
   150.103] drmOpenDevice: node name is /dev/dri/card15
   150.107] (EE) [drm] failed to open device
   150.107] (EE) No devices detected.
   150.107] 
Fatal server error:
   150.107] no screens found
   150.107]
#2

I wish I could help more directly, but I don’t have Optimus hardware unfortunately. As a start, I can point you at this:

https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/NVIDIA#No_screens_found_on_a_laptop_.2F_NVIDIA_Optimus

and read this too:

http://forums.opensuse.org/english/get-technical-help-here/how-faq-forums/unreviewed-how-faq/469419-opensuse-12-1-optimus-laptop.html

#3

I have not seen the first link until you referenced it. I am perusing it now.

Thank you …

#4

In addition to your other suggestions, you can try a few things more from terminal:

/sbin/modinfo nvidia

To see if the driver is loaded. Here is what I get…

filename:       /lib/modules/3.2.8-0.9-desktop/updates/nvidia.ko
alias:          char-major-195-*
version:        295.20                                                                                                                                        
supported:      external                                                                                                                                      
license:        NVIDIA                                                                                                                                        
alias:          pci:v000010DEd00000E00sv*sd*bc04sc80i00*                                                                                                      
alias:          pci:v000010DEd00000AA3sv*sd*bc0Bsc40i00*
alias:          pci:v000010DEd*sv*sd*bc03sc02i00*
alias:          pci:v000010DEd*sv*sd*bc03sc00i00*
depends:        
vermagic:       3.2.8-0.9-desktop SMP preempt mod_unload modversions 
parm:           NVreg_EnableVia4x:int
parm:           NVreg_EnableALiAGP:int
parm:           NVreg_ReqAGPRate:int
parm:           NVreg_EnableAGPSBA:int
parm:           NVreg_EnableAGPFW:int
parm:           NVreg_Mobile:int
parm:           NVreg_ResmanDebugLevel:int
parm:           NVreg_RmLogonRC:int
parm:           NVreg_ModifyDeviceFiles:int
parm:           NVreg_DeviceFileUID:int
parm:           NVreg_DeviceFileGID:int
parm:           NVreg_DeviceFileMode:int
parm:           NVreg_RemapLimit:int
parm:           NVreg_UpdateMemoryTypes:int
parm:           NVreg_InitializeSystemMemoryAllocations:int
parm:           NVreg_UseVBios:int
parm:           NVreg_RMEdgeIntrCheck:int
parm:           NVreg_UsePageAttributeTable:int
parm:           NVreg_EnableMSI:int
parm:           NVreg_MapRegistersEarly:int
parm:           NVreg_RegisterForACPIEvents:int
parm:           NVreg_RegistryDwords:charp
parm:           NVreg_RmMsg:charp
parm:           NVreg_NvAGP:int

If it does not load you get this:

ERROR: modinfo: could not find module nvidia

If the module is loaded, as root, you can run the terminal command:

su -
password:
startx

If this works, the nVIDIA driver was not loaded in time for the desktop to load which might happen with systemd. You need to tell us about the openSUSE you have loaded: openSUSE version and desktop and its version loaded …

Thank You,

#5

Here are the results of your inquiry … I did not have to load the nvidia module …

kernel: 3.1.9-1.4-desktop
opensuse: 12.1


filename:       /lib/modules/3.1.9-1.4-desktop/weak-updates/updates/nvidia.ko
alias:          char-major-195-*
version:        290.10
supported:      external
license:        NVIDIA
alias:          pci:v000010DEd00000E00sv*sd*bc04sc80i00*
alias:          pci:v000010DEd00000AA3sv*sd*bc0Bsc40i00*
alias:          pci:v000010DEd*sv*sd*bc03sc02i00*
alias:          pci:v000010DEd*sv*sd*bc03sc00i00*
depends:        
vermagic:       3.1.0-1.2-desktop SMP preempt mod_unload modversions 
parm:           NVreg_EnableVia4x:int
parm:           NVreg_EnableALiAGP:int
parm:           NVreg_ReqAGPRate:int
parm:           NVreg_EnableAGPSBA:int
parm:           NVreg_EnableAGPFW:int
parm:           NVreg_Mobile:int
parm:           NVreg_ResmanDebugLevel:int
parm:           NVreg_RmLogonRC:int
parm:           NVreg_ModifyDeviceFiles:int
parm:           NVreg_DeviceFileUID:int
parm:           NVreg_DeviceFileGID:int
parm:           NVreg_DeviceFileMode:int
parm:           NVreg_RemapLimit:int
parm:           NVreg_UpdateMemoryTypes:int
parm:           NVreg_InitializeSystemMemoryAllocations:int
parm:           NVreg_UseVBios:int
parm:           NVreg_RMEdgeIntrCheck:int
parm:           NVreg_UsePageAttributeTable:int
parm:           NVreg_EnableMSI:int
parm:           NVreg_MapRegistersEarly:int
parm:           NVreg_RegisterForACPIEvents:int
parm:           NVreg_RegistryDwords:charp
parm:           NVreg_RmMsg:charp
parm:           NVreg_NvAGP:int




xauth:  file /root/.serverauth.5653 does not exist


X.Org X Server 1.10.4
Release Date: 2011-08-19
X Protocol Version 11, Revision 0
Build Operating System: openSUSE SUSE LINUX
Current Operating System: Linux mystery 3.1.9-1.4-desktop #1 SMP PREEMPT Fri Jan 27 08:55:10 UTC 2012 (efb5ff4) x86_64
Kernel command line: root=/dev/system/root nomodeset resume=/dev/system/swap splash=silent quiet vga=0x317 modeset.nouveau=0
Build Date: 10 November 2011  03:34:36PM
 
Current version of pixman: 0.24.0
        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: Fri Mar  2 08:29:14 2012
(==) 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"
(EE) No devices detected.

Fatal server error:
no screens found

Please consult the The X.Org Foundation support 
         at http://wiki.x.org
 for help. 
Please also check the log file at "/var/log/Xorg.0.log" for additional information.
#6

So the module is loaded. Startx should work as root. You can also try using the init 5 command as root.

su -
password:
init 5

Might want to check your runlevel with the command:

/sbin/runlevel

If it says N 5, then the desktop tried to load too soon for the nVIDIA driver. Are you using the default systemd setup and if so, have tried switch to System V (F5 in the grub boot menu)?

Thank You,

#7

Same results using system V.

It always reaches N 5.

#8

The only thing one can say is that the nVIDIA driver is not there or will not start when the desktop starts. I have had the same issue trying to get DKMS to work with openSUSE which compiles the nVIDIA driver against the loaded kernel if the kernel should change. I really do not know what is wrong, but you could uninstall the nVIDIA driver from YaST and once it is gone, you could first try to install it the hard way using this bash script:

LNVHW - Load NVIDIA (driver the) Hard Way from runlevel 3 - Version 1.40 - Blogs - openSUSE Forums

You can find the latest driver here in this blog:

Installing the nVIDIA Video Driver the Hard Way - Blogs - openSUSE Forums

And if you get it to install the hard way, I have another script that allows you to use DKMS to auto install the driver for you here:

S.A.N.D.I. - SuSE Automated NVIDIA Driver Installer - Version 1.32 - Blogs - openSUSE Forums

But, you must remove it from YaST and installing the driver the hard way must work.

Thank You,

#9

Thank you… I will try these once I get a chance.

Is it better to use the OpenSUSE RPM version of nVidia or the shell archive from nVidia?

#10

So better is not the right word. The repository method of loading the nVIDIA driver is easier to use normally as the driver will, among other things, reinstall on a kernel update. It works fine for standard updates, but with unusual setups such as yours, it might not work properly. One must say that once the driver is loaded, it works the same no matter how it was loaded. So being better is just not the right word for it. Loading it the hard way using LNVHW is way less convenient, but allows you to have the very most recent version, now up to 295.20 and higher than the one you have now that does not work and is more likely to work with odd setups. But its operation is not guarantied. The SANDI script is an attempt to get loading the nVIDIA driver the hard way to work as well as using the repository method, recompiling the nVIDIA every time your kernel is updated. While looking in the forum, I found the following link I would look at first, if you have not seen it before.

http://forums.opensuse.org/english/get-technical-help-here/how-faq-forums/unreviewed-how-faq/469419-opensuse-12-1-optimus-laptop.html

Thank You,

#11

I included that link in my reply to the OP, but I think they’re already aware of it…

#12

I just tried SANDI, and I am getting the exact same results as what was posted.

I am going to try the last link you posted.

#13

This is not good. My choices are seemingly use another Linux distribution (heresy) or send the laptop back.

#14

I notice that you have the ‘bumblebee-2.4.1-1.1.x86_64’ package installed. From a quick online search I just did, it may be preferable to use Bumblebee 3.x

software.opensuse.org: Search Results

https://raw.github.com/Bumblebee-Project/Bumblebee/master/doc/RELEASE_NOTES_3_0

#15

Another couple of links:

http://forums.opensuse.org/english/get-technical-help-here/applications/468356-bumblebee-stop-working-3.html

http://forums.opensuse.org/english/get-technical-help-here/how-faq-forums/unreviewed-how-faq/469244-bumblebee-optimus-support-howto.html

#16

True, but X itself is not starting. I could be wrong, but X has to start before bumblebee can be useful.

I would love to be wrong in this case. :slight_smile:

#17

So, the nvidia driver should work to the point where X starts, right?

Currently, I just receive a blank screen with a flashing cursor.

Then I can invoke bumblebee, right?

Does anyone know the order of what I should expect?

#18

Nevermind …

“This solution uses VirtualGL and a secondary X11 server (:8) to run the application on the nvidia or nouveau driver and send the results back to the main X11 server.”

#19

Basically I am screwed if X does not start …

#20

I think your primary problem is here "(==) Using config file: “/etc/X11/xorg.conf”, delete that file and see what you get.