XLibre Crash Issue on Artix XFCE 4.20 with ATI Radeon HD 4200

[Shuriken00]

Hi Xlibre Team,Thank you for your fantastic work on Xlibre!
I’m encountering an issue with Xlibre on Artix Linux XFCE (OpenRC)
Below are the details to help diagnose the problem.
System Details
OS: Artix Linux XFCE (OpenRC), installed via netinstall
Hardware: ATI Radeon HD 4200 (using xlibre-xf86-video-ati)
Xlibre Packages: Installed all Xlibre packages , including xlibre-xf86-video-ati but not all the other video drivers.

Issue:
After installing Xlibre, XFCE, and LightDM, the system fails to boot properly, displaying a flashing TTY as if retrying something. Other TTYs are inaccessible, preventing further interaction. When I removed LightDM and ran startxfce4 from the TTY, I received an error about an xfwm4 crash and a message stating "connection to X server closed"

Troubleshooting:
Booted Artix Live USB, chrooted, and removed LightDM,
Replaced Xlibre with Xorg packages, and the system booted normally with XFCE.
Tested the Artix Xlibre ISO (XFCE), which also showed the flashing TTY issue.
Reinstalled Xlibre packages on the installed system, but it now reports using Xorg instead of Xlibre (possibly a detection or configuration issue).
Online research and AI tools suggest the xlibre-xf86-video-ati driver may be the culprit.
Downloaded Artix Xlibre ISO with XFCE same happens , Flashing TTY and no way to use any other TTY to see the logs or any error message
Booted Artix Xlibre XFCE ISO in a VM from my main HDD running Devuan and I saw ATI Radeon drivers installed and here are screenshots from the VM

Thank you again for your incredible efforts on Xlibre! Please let me know what additional information or steps I can take to help resolve this issue.

[callmetango]

@Shuriken00 Thank you for creating the discussion here! We will look into this very soon.

For the record: This was started in Darkness seeks those who need it the most. on X: "@XLibreDev I like Xlibre but lately I tested it on Artix Linux with XFCE 4.20 but Xlibre crashed [...]" / X

[Shuriken00]

Yes, that was me on X/Twitter. I was curious to try Xlibre before it becomes available in Devuan, so I set up Artix on an old HDD and tested it there. I’d be happy to help provide more details, but at the moment I can’t capture logs since the system doesn’t load into a GUI or allow switching to another TTY.

If there’s another way you’d recommend for me to collect debugging information in this state, please let me know and I’ll gladly try it.

Thanks again for looking into this and for all the great work you’re doing with Xlibre!

[callmetango]

Thank you very much!

[callmetango]

@Shuriken00

Installed all Xlibre packages , including xlibre-xf86-video-ati but not all the other video drivers.

First of all: You probably only need the xlibre-xf86-video-ati driver for your graphics card and the xlibre-xf86-input-libinput driver for your mouse and keyboard. So it was best to remove all the other drivers matching the xlibre-xf86 prefix.

Other TTYs are inaccessible, preventing further interaction.

Quoting an older version of the xserver/README.md at 04cd7628909ed3e69097459b8e20f68f3d71c62f · X11Libre/xserver:

If your console is locked up (no input possible, not even VT switch), then most likely the input driver couldn't be loaded due to a version mismatch. When unsure, it's best to be prepared to ssh into your machine from another one or set a timer that's calling chvt 1 after certain time, so you don't need a cold reboot. Or, make sure that you have magic SysRq key enabled (Alt+PrtSc) via sysctl (kernel.sysrq=1), then press following combination depending on keyboard layout to make kernel regain control over keyboard to make VT switching work:

• QWERTY/AZERTY keyboard layout: SysRq + R
• Dvorak/Colemak keyboard layout: SysRq + P

To look further into your issue we need the Xorg.*.log which should be located in /var/log by default. To fetch this either you may either connect to your machine via another one by SSH or use the above mentioned Magic SysRq key - Wikipedia to switch to another terminal and get hold of the log. Please let me know if you can do this and, if possible, attach the log here.

[Shuriken00]

I compiled the ATI driver as you suggested, and the build finished successfully. Below are the logs:
ati compile logs.txt

there is also config.log that i found in the ATI driver folder I hope that is helpful
config.log

Build/compile logs (done with lightdm disabled)
Compiled_disabled_lightdm.log

Runtime logs after re-enabling lightdm
Compiled_enabled_lightdm.log

Everything seems to work, though I’m noticing some screen artifacts when new windows open. Please let me know if you’d like me to test or rebuild anything else.

[ONykyf]

It seems to me that You just haven't rebuilt video-ati after xserver upgrade. So the issue is solved?

To be sure, You could rebuild video-ati once more WITHOUT these options.

There is a wave of intensive refactoring now, so /usr/include/xorg headers directory is volatile a bit, therefore I rebuild ALL drivers with EVERY xserver upgrade.

[callmetango]

@ONykyf

There is a wave of intensive refactoring now, so /usr/include/xorg headers directory is volatile a bit, therefore I rebuild ALL drivers with EVERY xserver upgrade.

These rebuilds should be done by the Artix maintainers, no?

[ONykyf]

Exactly. I have just forgotten that not only maintainers and packagers are here ;)

[callmetango]

@artist4xlibre What do you think how to deal with this issue and solution?

[artist4xlibre]

A rebuild is running for all xlibre-xf86 driver packages in the galaxy-gremlins repo. When completed I'll move everything to galaxy.
And then will have to do the same for the Arch binaries in our xlibre repo and the AUR.
I guess all other distro's will have to do the same.

[artist4xlibre]

I've created a test package which can be installed using:

pacman -U https://omniverse.artixlinux.org/x86_64/xlibre-xf86-video-ati-22.0.0.1-9-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst

Can you pls test? Thx.

[Shuriken00]

I tested the provided driver but the issue persists
here is the logs
new.log

[ONykyf]

@Shuriken00 The logs attached show no crash. Which issue do You observe?

[ONykyf]

@artist4xlibre
I don't know Your build options and patches applied to video-ati, maybe something in https://github.com/ONykyf/X11Libre-SlackBuild/tree/main/patch/xlibre-video-ati could make a difference?

Right now I am writing on ATI Radeon HD 5700, everything works just fine.

[Shuriken00]

When using the repo-provided ATI driver (both the updated one from Artix testing and the normal pacman build), I only get a black screen with a blinking TTY cursor (-). The screen keeps flashing as if X is trying to restart, but nothing loads I left it like this for about a minute without success.

If I remove the packaged driver and compile xf86-video-ati directly from source, everything works fine no flashing, no black screen, and no artifacts.

[artist4xlibre]

I've created a new test package which can be installed using:

pacman -U https://omniverse.artixlinux.org/x86_64/xlibre-xf86-video-ati-22.0.0.1-9.1-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst

This has the same configure flags as you have, which differa from how the xorg xf86-video-ati was built. And all build flags empty.

Can you pls test once morre? Thx.

[Shuriken00]

I tested the new package you provided.

With the pacman-installed version (provided) of xf86-video-ati, X fails to start and crashes
log-With-Lightdm.log

and tested again without lightdm enabled
log-no-lightdm.log

and this is the logs when I compiled the driver from github and worked
log-compiled-ati.log

[Shuriken00]

Also, just to be sure, could you let me know if my installed X-related packages look right for testing?
I see I’m running xlibre-xserver along with some xorg-* utilities, and I’m not sure if that mix is expected or if something there might be conflicting.

pacman -Qs xorg
local/xlibre-xserver 25.0.0.9-1 (xlibre)
    XLibre fork of X.Org X server
local/xlibre-xserver-common 25.0.0.9-1 (xlibre)
    XLibre fork of X.Org Xorg server common files
local/xlibre-xserver-devel 25.0.0.9-1 (xlibre)
    XLibre fork of X.Org development files for the X.Org X server
local/xorg-fonts-encodings 1.1.0-1 (xorg-fonts xorg)
    X.org font encoding files
local/xorg-iceauth 1.0.10-1 (xorg-apps xorg)
    ICE authority file utility
local/xorg-setxkbmap 1.3.4-2 (xorg-apps xorg)
    Set the keyboard using the X Keyboard Extension
local/xorg-util-macros 1.20.2-1
    X.Org Autotools macros
local/xorg-xauth 1.1.4-1 (xorg-apps xorg)
    X.Org authorization settings program
local/xorg-xinit 1.4.4-1
    X.Org initialisation program
local/xorg-xkbcomp 1.4.7-1 (xorg-apps xorg)
    X Keyboard description compiler
local/xorg-xmodmap 1.0.11-2 (xorg-apps xorg)
    Utility for modifying keymaps and button mappings
local/xorg-xprop 1.2.8-1 (xorg-apps xorg)
    Property displayer for X
local/xorg-xrdb 1.2.2-2 (xorg-apps xorg)
    X server resource database utility
local/xorg-xset 1.2.5-2 (xorg-apps xorg)
    User preference utility for X
local/xorgproto 2024.1-2
    combined X.Org X11 Protocol headers
[anime@artix log]$ pacman -Ss xorgproto 
world/xorgproto 2024.1-2 [installed]
    combined X.Org X11 Protocol headers

[artist4xlibre]

Having xorg-* packages - except for xorg-server - is perfectly OK.

Please test with:
pacman -U https://github.com/X11Libre/binpkg-arch-based/raw/refs/heads/main/xlibre-xf86-video-ati-22.0.0.1-3-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst

The log-compiled-ati.log file does not seem to be complete; can you check pls?

Do you have a specific keyboard setup like eg. in file /etc/default/keyboard ?

Edit:

I notice 2 different set of arguments/flags in the log files:

./autogen.sh CFLAGS="-O0 -ggdb3" CXXFLAGS="-O0 -ggdb3"

./autogen.sh --prefix=/usr --enable-glamor --disable-debug

These sets have been combined in a new package; pls run::
pacman -U https://omniverse.artixlinux.org/x86_64/xlibre-xf86-video-ati-22.0.0.1-9.2-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst
and test again.

[ONykyf]

I'll try to --disable-glamor tomorrow and to start XFCE.

[josephcrowell]

There's a PR for the squishy mouse cursor issue here: X11Libre/xserver#734. It should be in the next minor release.

[Shuriken00]

Thanks a lot everyone for the support! The main problem is now solved and my system is running smoothly. I really appreciate the time and effort you all put into helping me. You guys are awesome!

[Shuriken00]

@artist4xlibre Can You explain precisely what patch has solved the crash issue?

Adding argument --enable-glamor to autogen.sh prevents the crash. When building the xorg provided xf86-video-ati driver this was never specified and no issue for this was ever reported with Artix or Arch. I'm not sure other arguments should be added like: --enable-dri2 --enable-dri3 --disable-dmx

artist

Just to give you some extra reference for testing: on my main system (Devuan, XFCE + OpenRC, Xorg), my Radeon HD 4200 (RS880) works with the radeon driver and glamor acceleration without issues. In the Xorg log I can see:

sudo grep -i glamor /var/log/Xorg.0.log
[    72.032] (II) Loading sub module "glamoregl"
[    72.032] (II) LoadModule: "glamoregl"
[    72.032] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/libglamoregl.so
[    72.104] (II) Module glamoregl: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
[    72.541] (II) RADEON(0): glamor X acceleration enabled on AMD RS880 (DRM 2.50.0 / 6.1.0-38-amd64, LLVM 15.0.6)
[    72.541] (II) RADEON(0): glamor detected, initialising EGL layer.
[    73.058] (II) RADEON(0): Use GLAMOR acceleration.
[    73.058] (II) RADEON(0): Set up textured video (glamor)
[    73.058] (II) RADEON(0): [XvMC] Associated with GLAMOR Textured Video.

as for DRI i can see 2 and 3 are enabled

sudo grep -i 'DRI' /var/log/Xorg.0.log
(II) Loading sub module "dri2"
[    49.592] (II) LoadModule: "dri2"
[    49.592] (II) Module "dri2" already built-in
[    72.698] (II) RADEON(0): [DRI2] Setup complete
[    72.698] (II) RADEON(0): [DRI2]   DRI driver: r600
[    72.698] (II) RADEON(0): [DRI2]   VDPAU driver: r600
[    72.700] (==) RADEON(0): DRI3 enabled
[    73.078] (II) Initializing extension DRI3
[    73.110] (II) GLX: Initialized DRI2 GL provider for screen 0
[    73.111] (II) Initializing extension XFree86-DRI
[    73.111] (II) Initializing extension DRI2

Maybe this comparison helps in checking differences with xlibre. Thanks again for the work you’re putting into supporting older Radeon cards it’s much appreciated.

If you want me to help testing the driver further, I’m willing to help with it.

[callmetango]

Thanks a lot everyone for the support! The main problem is now solved and my system is running smoothly. I really appreciate the time and effort you all put into helping me. You guys are awesome!

Thank you very much and you are welcome!