Xen users - Nov 2007 - Can HVM DomU with SDL do 1280x1024 24-bit color?

Hi,

Is it possible for an HVM domU to use an emulated graphics screen (via SDL)
of 1280x1024 24-bit ?

Currently, my winXP domU allows you to select 1280x1024 16-bit, or 1024x768
24-bit, but not 1280x1024 24-bit.  I assume this is a limitation in the
(virtual) graphics card hardware presented to the domU?

Seems like it ought to be possible, since it''s probably just a matter
of
configuring how much (emulated) memory the (virtual) graphics card has.  But
I don''t know how to set it.  Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Derek.


_______________________________________________
Xen-users mailing list
Xen-users@lists.xensource.com
http://lists.xensource.com/xen-users

On Wednesday 7 November 2007, Derek wrote:
> Hi,
>
> Is it possible for an HVM domU to use an emulated graphics screen (via SDL)
> of 1280x1024 24-bit ?
>
> Currently, my winXP domU allows you to select 1280x1024 16-bit, or 1024x768
> 24-bit, but not 1280x1024 24-bit.  I assume this is a limitation in the
> (virtual) graphics card hardware presented to the domU?
>
> Seems like it ought to be possible, since it''s probably just a
matter of
> configuring how much (emulated) memory the (virtual) graphics card has. 
> But I don''t know how to set it.  Any suggestions?
>
> Thanks,
> Derek.
By default, a Cirrus Logic GD5446 PCI VGA card is simulated. This card has the 
limitations you indicate above.

What you probably want, is the stdvga=1 option in your xen config file. This 
will cause xen to emulate a standard vga graphics card with vbe 2.0 (I 
believe vbe stands for Video Bios Extensions), which allows you to set higher 
resolutions.

Note that I haven''t tried it myself yet, because I have currently no
hvm
domU''s. The stdvga option is originally coming from the Qemu emulator.
Xen
uses Qemu''s device model to emulate the hardware for hvm, and most of
the
Qemu options are supported. I quickly googled for stdvga xen, and I found a 
lot of references, so I guess this one is working also.

Hope this helps.

Geert


-- 
Kobalt W.I.T.
Web & Information Technology
Brusselsesteenweg 152
1850 Grimbergen

Tel  : +32 479 339 655
Email: info@kobaltwit.be

_______________________________________________
Xen-users mailing list
Xen-users@lists.xensource.com
http://lists.xensource.com/xen-users

Hi Derek,

Unfortunatly, I have no other idea. As I said, I didn''t try the stdvga
option
in xen as I don''t have any hvm domU.

I know it works in Qemu with Windows XP as a guest. For Qemu, that option is 
all I need. Looking in the device manager, there is no driver for the virtual 
graphics card either. It''s indicated as a standard VGA compatible
device. But
even with this setup, I can select higher resolutions.

Regards,

Geert

P.S.: be sure to keep replies on the list. Others may be interested in this 
tread too.

On Wednesday 7 November 2007, Derek wrote:
> Aha, a clue...
>
> I noticed that with stdvga=1, when I boot the HVM, winXP reports new
> hardware detected VGA device.  When I try letting it search for drivers, it
> doesn''t find any.  Then it gives me only 640x480 4-bit color.
>
> Perhaps if I had the right windows driver corresponding to the emulated
> stdvga=1 "hardware", I''d be all set.  Any idea how to
find it or what to
> use?
>
> Thanks,
> Derek.
>
> On 11/7/07, Derek Sherlock <xen@sherlockmail.com> wrote:
> > Hi Geert,
> >
> > Thanks for the suggestion.  I tried it.
> >
> > Unfortunately, stdvga=1 makes matters worse.  With stdvga=1 the only
one
> > resolution (640x480) and one color depth (4-bit) is offered.
> >
> > Maybe there''s some other option I need to configure the
emulator to to
> > offer other resolutions, but I''ve not been able to find it. 
Googling
> > hasn''t turned up anything either, although I''ll try
again when I have
> > more time.
> >
> > Cheers,
> > Derek.
> >
> >  On 11/7/07, Geert Janssens <info@kobaltwit.be> wrote:
> > > On Wednesday 7 November 2007, Derek wrote:
> > > > Hi,
> > > >
> > > > Is it possible for an HVM domU to use an emulated graphics
screen
> > > > (via
> > >
> > > SDL)
> > >
> > > > of 1280x1024 24-bit ?
> > > >
> > > > Currently, my winXP domU allows you to select 1280x1024
16-bit, or
> > >
> > > 1024x768
> > >
> > > > 24-bit, but not 1280x1024 24-bit.  I assume this is a
limitation in
> > >
> > > the
> > >
> > > > (virtual) graphics card hardware presented to the domU?
> > > >
> > > > Seems like it ought to be possible, since it''s
probably just a matter
> > >
> > > of
> > >
> > > > configuring how much (emulated) memory the (virtual)
graphics card
> > >
> > > has.
> > >
> > > > But I don''t know how to set it.  Any suggestions?
> > > >
> > > > Thanks,
> > > > Derek.
> > >
> > > By default, a Cirrus Logic GD5446 PCI VGA card is simulated. This
card
> > > has the
> > > limitations you indicate above.
> > >
> > > What you probably want, is the stdvga=1 option in your xen config
file.
> > > This
> > > will cause xen to emulate a standard vga graphics card with vbe
2.0 (I
> > > believe vbe stands for Video Bios Extensions), which allows you
to set
> > > higher
> > > resolutions.
> > >
> > > Note that I haven''t tried it myself yet, because I have
currently no
> > > hvm
> > >
> > > domU''s. The stdvga option is originally coming from the
Qemu emulator.
> > > Xen
> > > uses Qemu''s device model to emulate the hardware for
hvm, and most of
> > > the
> > > Qemu options are supported. I quickly googled for stdvga xen, and
I
> > > found a
> > > lot of references, so I guess this one is working also.
> > >
> > > Hope this helps.
> > >
> > > Geert
> > >
> > >
> > > --
> > > Kobalt W.I.T.
> > > Web & Information Technology
> > > Brusselsesteenweg 152
> > > 1850 Grimbergen
> > >
> > > Tel  : +32 479 339 655
> > > Email: info@kobaltwit.be
> > >
> > > _______________________________________________
> > > Xen-users mailing list
> > > Xen-users@lists.xensource.com
> > > http://lists.xensource.com/xen-users


-- 
Kobalt W.I.T.
Web & Information Technology
Brusselsesteenweg 152
1850 Grimbergen

Tel  : +32 479 339 655
Email: info@kobaltwit.be

_______________________________________________
Xen-users mailing list
Xen-users@lists.xensource.com
http://lists.xensource.com/xen-users

On Fri, Nov 09, 2007 at 09:38:07AM +0100, Geert Janssens
wrote:
> 
> Hi Derek,
> 
> Unfortunatly, I have no other idea. As I said, I didn''t try the
stdvga option
> in xen as I don''t have any hvm domU.
I have the same problem as Derek, the stdvga option gives only 640x480
(Win XP professional).
This is on a newly installed Debian Etch system and I''m using the
Debian Xen packages and kernel.

As a workaround I did instead set up the "remote desktop" or whatever
it''s called in Windows XP (I''m no Windows expert :) and
connect to that
instead with krdc (uses rdesktop to connect to the Windows remote
desktop, so rdesktop needs to be installed also, or then use rdesktop
directly).

This gives the option to use whatever resolution and color dept I want,
and it''s good enough for my needs.

> I know it works in Qemu with Windows XP as a guest. For Qemu, that option
is
> all I need. Looking in the device manager, there is no driver for the
virtual
> graphics card either. It''s indicated as a standard VGA compatible
device. But
> even with this setup, I can select higher resolutions.
Interesting. Looks like it works with Qemu but not with Xen, or then
it''s just that I''ve missed something(?)


Tomas

_______________________________________________
Xen-users mailing list
Xen-users@lists.xensource.com
http://lists.xensource.com/xen-users

Yeah, someone else suggested I try "remote desktop", so I did some
digging
around.  Unfourtunately, I found it only exists in the Professional edition
of XP, not the Home edition -- which is what I''m using.  So
I''m still stuck
for an answer.

Is this something that should be reported as a bug/issue?  I have another
HVM-related bug to report too (the BIOS that runs in HVM domains can''t
boot
from >128GB virtual disks), so maybe it''s time I started reporting
these
through the official bug-tracking process.

I assume that the correct route is the bug reporting tab on the
xen.orgwebsite? (I ask because I don''t know the architecture well
enough to know
whether to report these as Xen bugs, Qemu bugs, HVM bios bugs, etc.)

Derek.

On Nov 9, 2007 5:20 AM, Tomas Nykung <tomas2@multi.fi> wrote:
> On Fri, Nov 09, 2007 at 09:38:07AM +0100, Geert Janssens wrote:
> >
> > Hi Derek,
> >
> > Unfortunatly, I have no other idea. As I said, I didn''t try
the stdvga
> option
> > in xen as I don''t have any hvm domU.
>
> I have the same problem as Derek, the stdvga option gives only 640x480
> (Win XP professional).
> This is on a newly installed Debian Etch system and I''m using the
> Debian Xen packages and kernel.
>
> As a workaround I did instead set up the "remote desktop" or
whatever
> it''s called in Windows XP (I''m no Windows expert :) and
connect to that
> instead with krdc (uses rdesktop to connect to the Windows remote
> desktop, so rdesktop needs to be installed also, or then use rdesktop
> directly).
>
> This gives the option to use whatever resolution and color dept I want,
> and it''s good enough for my needs.
>
>
> > I know it works in Qemu with Windows XP as a guest. For Qemu, that
> option is
> > all I need. Looking in the device manager, there is no driver for the
> virtual
> > graphics card either. It''s indicated as a standard VGA
compatible
> device. But
> > even with this setup, I can select higher resolutions.
>
> Interesting. Looks like it works with Qemu but not with Xen, or then
> it''s just that I''ve missed something(?)
>
>
> Tomas
>
> _______________________________________________
> Xen-users mailing list
> Xen-users@lists.xensource.com
> http://lists.xensource.com/xen-users
>

_______________________________________________
Xen-users mailing list
Xen-users@lists.xensource.com
http://lists.xensource.com/xen-users