[nitropad-nx] igfx not properly working, reports llvm-pipe

[daringer]

For a dmesg log see here: https://support.nitrokey.com/t/ns50-and-3d-graphics-acceleration/5473

[ragnarblackmane]

If needed the issue occurs on Ubuntu 22.04, installed with this ISO on a Nitropad NS50:
https://www.nitrokey.com/files/ci/nitropad/ubuntu-oem/ubuntu-22.04.1-nitropad_nitropc-oem-amd64.iso
(haven't tried to install with a different one since I'm using the notebook at the moment)
all updates have been made.

[tlaurion]

As discussed off-channel, all other i915 driven Intel iGPU under Heads passed to efifb so that the final OS initializes the iGPU for the first time, just taking efifb compatible FB initialized through coreboot by libgfxinit to draw 2d graphics and leaving final OS passing from efifb FB to i915drm only once without having to hack kexec as before to reuse the framebuffer, which might not be possible in newer intel iGPU without changing current coreboot passed kernel arguments.

This will need some additional work, but it would help to have a working Ubuntu kernel trace based on uefi booting the OS.

---

Heads upstream project shows the exact needed steps to switch from i915drm driver to efifb, exposing changes needed under coreboot, kernel config and board config.
The most recent changeset is related to librem boards which switched from i915drm to efifb and shows exactly what was needed, as noted under merged PR for nv41/NS50 there.

This happened under this PR: linuxboot#1492

[tlaurion]

If needed the issue occurs on Ubuntu 22.04, installed with this ISO on a Nitropad NS50:
https://www.nitrokey.com/files/ci/nitropad/ubuntu-oem/ubuntu-22.04.1-nitropad_nitropc-oem-amd64.iso
(haven't tried to install with a different one since I'm using the notebook at the moment)
all updates have been made.

Is upstream (non oem) version of Ubuntu works out of the box?

[ragnarblackmane]

I may have access to an unused Nitropad in two weeks on which I'll try a non OEM iso.
As of now, I don't have the time to test it on mine. I'll update you ASAP.

[ragnarblackmane]

I tried to install non OEM Ubuntu, but it can't even boot. I can ask Nitrokey to send you a kernel trace of a non Heads flashed Nitropad NS50.

[daringer]

looks like this is fixed by https://github.com/Nitrokey/heads/tree/temp-release-v2.3 - although releasing will take until november - will close the issue once the release is there

[tlaurion]

@daringer please consider linuxboot#1522 and fixing upstream

[JLT032]

Sorry to shake a sleeve here. Can we expect this fix for iGFX any time soon to be released ? I know, still 16 days till end of November. But hey, just tell us when, we're ready now :-)

[daringer]

hey @commandline-be - yeah thanks for poking, the fix is already in place: https://github.com/Nitrokey/heads/tree/temp-release-v2.3 just needs some minor housekeeping and the release itself - my plan is to do the 2.3 release this week (so hopefully one week before november runs out 😄 )

[JLT032]

Can't wait really, this machine hits +80 degrees doing almost nothing for some reason (Gnome/Ubuntu 22.x) Promise is this fix could reduce CPU load, which i lean to put my trust in.

[daringer]

there we go -> https://github.com/Nitrokey/heads/releases/tag/v2.3 please close this issue if this fixes it for you

[tlaurion]

@daringer please consider pushing changes upstream and saving changes in tree for linux and coreboot with the helpers (make BOARD=xyz module.blah) prior of committing so that changes don't require to be maintained across module's version bump.