Xibo

Linux client hangs on nVidia

Asked by Rui Bernardino

Hi,

I've run the Linux client for years now with 100% success and stability on Ubuntu 10.04, but I recently purchased a few Asus Eeebox EB1033 (NVIDIA Corporation GF119M [GeForce 610M]) which 10.04 cannot handle and I had to go to 12.04.
- Ubuntu runs flawlessly, everything works even with 'nouveau' drivers;
- Xibo client runs perfectly *in window mode*;
- As soon as maximize/run full screen Xibo, the system stops responding.

Tried all jockey supported nVidia drivers; tried installing the nVidia drivers directly but nothing works: it just hangs when in full screen.

Any clues/suggestions?

Could anyone suggest a recomended small form factor HW for running the new Linux Xibo Client?

Many thanks

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Rui Bernardino
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Alex Harrington (alexharrington) said : 		#1

If it'll run Windowed then try setting the resolution to the correct screen
size, and then turn the window boarders off - the settings for that are all
documented in defaults.cfg

Alex

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Rui Bernardino (rui-bernardino) said : 		#2

Thank you for you answer, but it doesn't work.

It's kind of surreal, really. As I said, in window mode 1920x1080 with borders, it runs ok.

If I add 'windowBorder=false' and restart Xibo, the screen goes black and the system stops responding. I can still login through ssh but cannot kill python or restart X. Reboot takes forever and I usually resort to power off.

But it gets weirder... I used jockey to install nVidia-331 driver and behaviour changes:
- in 'fullscreen', the screen goes immediately blank and I have to reboot;
- in windowed/borderless, the default layout plays the video until the end and then freezes in black (yes, I have a video on the initial layout).

Tried the latest nVidia drivers and it's basically the same. Searched the web, almot read the full nVidia README and still no solution.

I suppose this is a driver issue, has anyone gotten the GF611M to work?

Thanks

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Michael Lemke (mlemke) said : 		#3

Good morning Rui...

I'm not sure about your "hang" issue, but as for small form factor linux clients....I have been testing quite a few.

This week I installed 1.6.0RC1 client on this unit: http://www.oemproduction.com/products/ION3-10.asp

It is a bit underpowered on the processor end of things....video card is fine. When I say under powered, that means it gets some jitters in full screen 1080P 30fps while running h.264 videos with a lot going on in the video. The processor gets really busy.... Dropping to 720p or 1080P at 20fps works, but the system is sure working hard.

Hundreds of inexpensive Intel graphics options in small form factor, but then we don't get hardware acceleration. The trade off seems to be inexpensive hardware + a Windows license, or more expensive hardware & far fewer options to run python client.

Hope this helps...m

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Rui Bernardino (rui-bernardino) said : 		#4

Thank you Michael,

I have tested the python client on a significant number of Intel cards with acceptable success, using x-swat drivers WITH hw accell (as soon as I add the user running the application to the system 'video' group, which is something that took a while to figure out).

The issue with the 610M on the Asus EB1033 seems to be either hw or driver related for this specific model, I'm giving up for now and try the system you suggested.

Thanks!!!

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Michael Lemke (mlemke) said : 		#5

Wow...

Would that "something that took a while to figure out" be something you could easily share? I would certainly like to experiment with the python client on Intel graphics.

Much thanks....M

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Rui Bernardino (rui-bernardino) said : 		#6

Well, that's it: make sure the user running the python client belongs to system group 'video', as in 'usermod -a -G video <user>'. In my experience, this is the difference between 100% CPU usage/video jitter AND 10-20% CPU usage and flawless video.

Check for "libGL error: failed to open drm device: Permission denied" errors in Xorg.log

Revision history for this message
Michael Lemke (mlemke) said : 		#7

I didn't have any luck with the Rui....no big deal though.

Hey....I just solved an issue on that Ion 3-10 I suggested. If you did get one, keep this in mind. You are going to get a nasty screen tear when playing video and here is what resolves it. Because of the VGA and HDMI outputs on this unit, Ubuntu will think there are 2 screens. Go into Ubuntu Application "Displays" and turn off the one you don't have anything connected to. Despite many attempts to change the Nvidia driver VBlank setting to sync with my monitor, it was syncing with the phantom one. Disable it and it clears up.

Mike