Re: [Qemu-discuss] qemu-system-x86_64 hangs in 1024 x 768 Graphic mode when using -curses

[Shiyao Ma]

Hi, Kevin

The key part is, when you run the system image without X, the framebuffer stuff should already be disabled in that image. Or at least you can a chance to modify it, like what I did by SSH.

Here's what I was doing when installing the debian netiso image.  Note, for all the procedure below, there is no X running.  I am doing it on the server (via ssh without X forwarding).

1. First, download the netiso image.

2. create the image.

     qemu-img create -f qcow2 eva.qcow 4G

3.  then run with the cd image.

     sudo kvm -cdrom debian-8.6.0-amd64-netinst.iso -hda eva.qcow -boot d -curses

     note here, you must disable the framebuffer.

     refer to this s.o, http://stackoverflow.com/a/36666901/855160

     basically, you should type this:

     <esc>

     install vga=normal fb=false

     BTW, choose debian expert mode to not install the Desktop Envrionment.  Surely, you don't want X.

     BTW, don' t forget to install the OPENSSH SERVER!  see 4.) for the reason.

4. after installation, you will boot the machine.

     You must change the grub and the runlevel.

     You should first run qemu with the user network, for example,

     sudo kvm -m 256 eva.qcow2 -net nic,model=virtio -net user,net=192.168.101.0/24,hostfwd=tcp::8022-:22 -curses

     so now you can ssh into the server.

       # refer to this: http://tinyurl.com/ogpo7be

   1. update grub to be in text mode.

      GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX="nomodeset text"

      GRUB_TERMINAL="console"

     

     don't forget to run the update-grub command

   2. update debian to be in text mode.

      sudo systemctl set-default multi-user.target

5. shutdown that guest and run qemu with the 

    "-curses -vga virtio" option.

   

   (the  "-vga virtio" is what takes me the most time to figure out. ;).

That's the whole process I took.   

On Fri, Dec 16, 2016 at 2:51 AM, Kevin Wilson <address@hidden> wrote:

Hi, Shiyao Ma,

Thanks for the advise. I will sure try it!

I thought about the following in order to simplify it. Before giving
it a try, I want to ask your opinion if I may - do you think it will
work ?

Suppose I will download the latest qemu tar ball and compile it with
the same flags on two machines. One will be Ubuntu desktop which runs
XWindows and the second will be Ubuntu server, which does not run
XWindows.

Now, I will start the XWindows machine with the graphical mode, and I
will run from there:
qemu-img create -f qcow2 vdisk.img 10G
And then:
qemu-system-x86_64 -curses   -hda vdisk.img -cdrom
ubuntu-14.04.1-server-amd64.iso -boot d  -m 384

Now this should work I believe (maybe even without the curses).

Note that the iso is Ubuntu server image - this means that the OS that
will be installed will be in text mode, as it is a server.

Now, let's say it will complete OK and I will take vdisk.img and copy
it to the second machine, which does not run XWindows, and than try to
boot it from the terminal with something like:

qemu-system-x86_64 vdisk.img -m 384

Are there chances that this will work ?

Regards,
Kevin

On Thu, Dec 15, 2016 at 1:48 PM, Shiyao Ma <address@hidden> wrote:
> Hi Kevin,
>
> I met the same problem and posted in the mailing list like 10 days ago.
>
> You can check the mailing list archive.
>
> Briefly, two points should be kept in mind.
>
> 1. the grub should be boot in text mode, disable the framebuffer.
>
> 2. the qemu command should be with, -curses -vga virtio
>     the -vga virtio is important.  of course, YMMV.
>
>
> Good luck!
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> On Tue, Dec 13, 2016 at 11:42 PM, Kevin Wilson <address@hidden> wrote:
>>
>> Hi,
>>
>> I have this setup:
>> - Ubuntu Server 14.04.1:
>> - QEMU version 2.2.0:
>>
>> qemu-system-x86_64 --version
>> QEMU emulator version 2.2.0 (Debian 2:2.2+dfsg-5expubuntu8+contrail3),
>> Copyright (c) 2003-2008 Fabrice Bellard
>>
>> I had downloaded fedora 21 installation iso:
>> Fedora-Live-Workstation-x86_64-21-5.iso
>>
>> I am trying the following sequence:
>>
>> qemu-img create -f qcow2 vdisk.img 10G
>> I use "-curses", as this machine is a server, and X windows is not
>> installed there:
>>
>> qemu-system-x86_64 -curses   -hda vdisk.img -cdrom
>> Fedora-Live-Workstation-x86_64-21-5.iso -boot d  -m 384
>>
>>  and I am stuck with a black screen with one line on it, in blue: 1024
>> x 768 Graphic mode.
>> This screen does not respond to any keystrokes. except for that
>>   I can toggle to monitor mode with ALT/2, but this does not help at all.
>>
>> when I tried with "-nographic" instead of "-curses", the installation
>> hangs.
>>
>> What should I do in able to boot successfully?
>>
>>
>>  Regards,
>>  Kevin
>>
>
>
>
> --
>
> 吾輩は猫である。ホームーページはhttps://introo.me。

--

吾輩は猫である。ホームーページはhttps://introo.me。