VNC/Virtio-GPU support for S390x: yast installation

lyan 2021-07-27 18:49

Context

Host: IBM S/390x hardware system running SLES 15SP2 with QEMU and libvirt.
Client: Separate x86 system running SLES 15SP2 using virt-manager to remotely connect to the S/390x host libvirtd.

The installation will be driven remotely via virt-manager.

Goal

Install SLE 15SP2 in a KVM/QEMU Virtual Machine on IBM S/390x using the above configuration.

1. VM Setup (Using virt-manager)

Add Video + Display

Add Video: Virtio
Add Display: VNC
Set Display VNC → Listen on all interfaces (0.0.0.0)

Generated XML:

<graphics type='vnc' port='-1' autoport='yes' listen='0.0.0.0'>
  <listen type='address' address='0.0.0.0'/>
</graphics>

<video>
  <model type='virtio' heads='1' primary='yes'/>
  <address type='ccw' cssid='0xfe' ssid='0x0' devno='0x0002'/>
</video>

Add Input Devices

Add Virtio keyboard and tablet:

<input type='keyboard' bus='virtio'>
  <address type='ccw' cssid='0xfe' ssid='0x0' devno='0x0007'/>
</input>

<input type='tablet' bus='virtio'>
  <address type='ccw' cssid='0xfe' ssid='0x0' devno='0x0008'/>
</input>

Add Console Device

<console type='pty'>
  <target type='sclp' port='0'/>
</console>

2. YaST Installation

Important:

Use Text Console
Graphical Console via QEMU VNC currently does not work

Available Display Types

X11
VNC
SSH
ASCII Console

Select VNC (Note: This is NOT the same as the QEMU VNC display).

After selection, the installer will output a VNC server address. This IP address corresponds to the VM itself.

Set VNC Password

Password is required
Must be longer than 8 characters

Connect to Installer

vncviewer <vm-ip-address>:1

Enter password → Continue normal installation.

3. After Reboot

virtio-gpu should load automatically:

[ 2.801427] [drm:virtio_gpu_dequeue_ctrl_func [virtio_gpu]] *ERROR* response 0x1104 (command 0x10a)
[ 2.801440] [drm:virtio_gpu_dequeue_ctrl_func [virtio_gpu]] *ERROR* response 0x1101 (command 0x100)
[ 2.802214] [drm] Initialized virtio_gpu 0.1.0 0 for virtio6 on minor 0
[ 2.810353] virtio_gpu virtio6: fb0: virtio_gpudrmfb frame buffer device

4. Accessing the VM After Installation

You can access the VM using:

virt-viewer
vncviewer (Use host IP + VNC port)
ssh
virt-manager