Xen users - May 2007 - Xen console on Bladecenter remote KVM

Hello list,

when using Xen on our Bladecenter with the advanced management module 
everything works fine, but as soon as I switch the KVM to another blade 
and then switch back to xen machine, vga output is unavailable (due to 
wrong resolution or hz frequency? But it works if I don''t switch away).

The machine itself works, only vga output is gone after switching kvm 
away from the box.

I tried several vga= options to the booted xenified linux kernel, none 
has helped so far.

When booting the machine without hypervisor, vga output works great 
while switching kvm consoles.

I am using Debian Etch amd64 with included Xen 3.0.3 and 
2.6.18-4-xen-amd64 kernel.

Any suggestions?

Regards,
Bjoern


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Hi,

I''ve not had any experience with the situation you describe, so
I''m afraid I''m
very much making guesses here...  maybe we can narrow things down a bit, 
though.
> when using Xen on our Bladecenter with the advanced management module
> everything works fine, but as soon as I switch the KVM to another blade
> and then switch back to xen machine, vga output is unavailable (due to
> wrong resolution or hz frequency? But it works if I don''t switch
away).
How is this manifesting?  Does the bladecentre just grumble at you, do you get 
garbage output or something else?
> The machine itself works, only vga output is gone after switching kvm
> away from the box.
>
> I tried several vga= options to the booted xenified linux kernel, none
> has helped so far.
Are you using this in text mode?  Does this problem occur if you run an X 
server?  Have you changed things from the default VGA text resolution?
> When booting the machine without hypervisor, vga output works great
> while switching kvm consoles.
>
> I am using Debian Etch amd64 with included Xen 3.0.3 and
> 2.6.18-4-xen-amd64 kernel.
>
> Any suggestions?
As an interim measure, perhaps you could administer xen and dom0 over the 
serial console and avoid using VGA altogether?

Cheers,
Mark
-- 
Dave: Just a question. What use is a unicyle with no seat?  And no pedals!
Mark: To answer a question with a question: What use is a skateboard?
Dave: Skateboards have wheels.
Mark: My wheel has a wheel!

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Björn Metzdorf wrote:
> Hello list,
> 
> when using Xen on our Bladecenter with the advanced management module 
> everything works fine, but as soon as I switch the KVM to another blade 
> and then switch back to xen machine, vga output is unavailable (due to 
> wrong resolution or hz frequency? But it works if I don''t switch
away).
What type of BladeCenter chassis is this?  Are you at the latest firmware?

I''ve Xen quite frequently in a BladeCenter and have not run into this 
particular problem.

Regards,

Anthony Liguori
> The machine itself works, only vga output is gone after switching kvm 
> away from the box.
> 
> I tried several vga= options to the booted xenified linux kernel, none 
> has helped so far.
> 
> When booting the machine without hypervisor, vga output works great 
> while switching kvm consoles.
> 
> I am using Debian Etch amd64 with included Xen 3.0.3 and 
> 2.6.18-4-xen-amd64 kernel.
> 
> Any suggestions?
> 
> Regards,
> Bjoern

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> What type of BladeCenter chassis is this?  Are you at the latest firmware?
> 
> I''ve Xen quite frequently in a BladeCenter and have not run into
this
> particular problem.
This is a BladeCenter H Type 8852. All firmwares have been upgraded two 
weeks ago.

Dom0 vga output is away as soon as I switch KVM to another blade and back.

Regards,
Bjoern


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Hello Mark,
> How is this manifesting?  Does the bladecentre just grumble at you, do you
get
> garbage output or something else?
No, it just display the standard message that there is no vga output 
(blade may be offline or resolution in an unsupported mode). only after 
switching away from a xen-booted blade. if i don''t switch away, vga is
fine.
> Are you using this in text mode?  Does this problem occur if you run an X 
> server?  Have you changed things from the default VGA text resolution?
I didn''t test X yet, but I booted xen and the dom0 with and without 
vga=normal and some other values. No changes..
> As an interim measure, perhaps you could administer xen and dom0 over the 
> serial console and avoid using VGA altogether?
Yes, thats what I will do now. I''m glad the BladeCenter offers virtual 
serial over LAN :)

Regards,
Bjoern


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Hello,

Hi have the same problem. How did you solve it?

Thanks
Nuno Fernandes


On Wednesday 09 May 2007 16:25:09 Bjoern Metzdorf wrote:
> Hello Mark,
>
> > How is this manifesting?  Does the bladecentre just grumble at you, do
> > you get garbage output or something else?
>
> No, it just display the standard message that there is no vga output
> (blade may be offline or resolution in an unsupported mode). only after
> switching away from a xen-booted blade. if i don''t switch away,
vga is
> fine.
>
> > Are you using this in text mode?  Does this problem occur if you run
an X
> > server?  Have you changed things from the default VGA text resolution?
>
> I didn''t test X yet, but I booted xen and the dom0 with and
without
> vga=normal and some other values. No changes..
>
> > As an interim measure, perhaps you could administer xen and dom0 over
the
> > serial console and avoid using VGA altogether?
>
> Yes, thats what I will do now. I''m glad the BladeCenter offers
virtual
> serial over LAN :)
>
> Regards,
> Bjoern
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Xen-users mailing list
> Xen-users@lists.xensource.com
> http://lists.xensource.com/xen-users



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Hello Nuno,

I haven''t solved it yet.

Regards

Nuno Fernandes wrote:
> Hello,
> 
> Hi have the same problem. How did you solve it?
> 
> Thanks
> Nuno Fernandes
> 
> 
> On Wednesday 09 May 2007 16:25:09 Bjoern Metzdorf wrote:
>> Hello Mark,
>>
>>> How is this manifesting?  Does the bladecentre just grumble at you,
do
>>> you get garbage output or something else?
>> No, it just display the standard message that there is no vga output
>> (blade may be offline or resolution in an unsupported mode). only after
>> switching away from a xen-booted blade. if i don''t switch
away, vga is
>> fine.
>>
>>> Are you using this in text mode?  Does this problem occur if you
run an X
>>> server?  Have you changed things from the default VGA text
resolution?
>> I didn''t test X yet, but I booted xen and the dom0 with and
without
>> vga=normal and some other values. No changes..
>>
>>> As an interim measure, perhaps you could administer xen and dom0
over the
>>> serial console and avoid using VGA altogether?
>> Yes, thats what I will do now. I''m glad the BladeCenter offers
virtual
>> serial over LAN :)
>>
>> Regards,
>> Bjoern
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Xen-users mailing list
>> Xen-users@lists.xensource.com
>> http://lists.xensource.com/xen-users
> 
> 
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