Workstation 11 + Debian 8 = GRUB gfxpayload problem & blank screen

[bokeron2008]

Hi everybody,

I'm trying to install Debian 8 (no GUI, text-only) on VMware Workstation 11 and I'm having a problem I don't have when installing Debian 7.

I can initialize gfxterm with my desired resolution (1440x900) but when I try to pass that to the kernel via gfxpayload (=keep or =1440x900) the result is a blank screen. The system is running,though, and I can login, reboot, etcetera... but in a blank screen. Also, it seems screen size is somehow set because if I leave full screen mode the Workstation window size correspond to what's expected using this intended resolution.

I've tried different screen resolutions. The problem appears always, only when I set gfxpayload.

I've installed Debian 7 and I don't have that problem. Everything can be set just fine.

I've downgraded GRUB in Debian 8 to find if it was related to the new GRUB version... but apparently it isn't. Debian 8 + GRUB 1.99 still gives me a blank screen.

So the questions are...

Are you having this same problem?

Is there a workaround?

Is it unavoidable until Workstation supports officially Debian 8?

[Anjani_Kumar]

As i know Debian 8 comes with the open vm tools. Which can be the reason for the graphic problem.

You must uninstall the Open vmtools from it and install the vmware tools and see if still problem ocurrs.

[bokeron2008]

Hi, Anjani_Kumar. Thanks for your answer.

This problem happens before installing vmtools (and, in Debian 7, it works also before installing vmtools)

[Anjani_Kumar]

actually debian 8 comes with openvmtools pre packed with the os. so i was just saying to remove that openvmtools.

if you can check from the vm summary page you can see the 3rd party vmtools installed there. which actually not vmtools from vmware.

So must install the vmware tools given by vmware only. see if that fix your issue.

[dariusd · Accepted solution]

Interesting.  We've seen similar things booting Debian 8 with no GUI on EFI firmware, but I haven't heard of being able to provoke the same problem when using BIOS.  Are you using EFI firmware for that VM too?

Either way, it sounds like the same workaround is worth trying:  Try appending vmwgfx.enable_fbdev=1 to the kernel command-line and see if that resolves the issue.

Cheers,

--

Darius

[bokeron2008]

Hi darius d. Thanks for your answer.

It works!!

Thank you :smileylaugh:

I tested appending it to the kernel command line from the GRUB menu and it worked. Now I've added that option inside a .conf file under /etc/modprobe.d/ and it's finally working OK.

Don't know what's the proper Debian way, though... newbie here :smileyblush:

PS: I'm using BIOS. I forgot to mention it.

[bokeron2008]

Hi Anjani_Kumar.
Thanks for your help. It looks like darius d gave me the solution (or a solution, at least).

I'll read more about your info, though. I didn't know that was the case. Thanks to you, too

[Anjani_Kumar]

Your most welcome. Our motto here is to just give the reason & fix for a problem. Which can be any. Happy to help. Good Day.

[dariusd]

LOL... It's ALIVE!  I'm glad it's all working now.

Using /etc/modprobe.d/ sounds like the right (and suitably Debian-ish) way of fixing the problem.

Thanks for letting me know that it's happening with BIOS too... I've added a note about this to our internal bug report that we're using to track a proper fix.

Cheers,

--

Darius

[rogzuser]

Excuse me!

Where did you add vmwgfx.enable_fbdev=1  on debian 8?

I tried to add on /boot/grub/grub.cfg , but it still a blank screen.

Can you tell me detailed steps ?

Thank you !

[dariusd]

Hi rogzuser,

The best way is to create (as root) a new text file in the Debian 8 guest at /etc/modprobe.d/vmwgfx containing the single line:

   options vmwgfx enable_fbdev=1

This will work regardless of your bootloader's configuration.

Alternatively, if you want to permanently edit the Debian 8 guest's grub configuration anyway, here's how to do it...  As root, you should edit /etc/default/grub in your favorite editor, find the line for GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX, and append vmwgfx.enable_fbdev=1 to the text inside the quotes.  It will most likely be an empty string right now, so you'll end up with this:

   GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX="vmwgfx.enable_fbdev=1"

Save the file and exit your editor, and then, as root, run update-grub.  That will update your /boot/grub/grub.cfg to add the option in all the necessary places.  (Any manual edits you've made to that file will be overwritten... as it says at the top of that file, you should never edit it directly.)

Cheers,

--

Darius

[rogzuser]

Hi dariusd,

Thanks for your help!

You gave me a resolution. 

Thanks!