Date: Mon, 8 Jun 2026 05:52:57 +0900 From: Takashi Shimizu <qqyr7xx9k@shirt.ocn.ne.jp> To: freebsd-doc@freebsd.org Subject: [doc] VirtualBox guest: recommend VBoxSVGA over VMSVGA for FreeBSD guests Message-ID: <c803f3a2-df11-417d-870c-fbf00672a854@shirt.ocn.ne.jp>
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Hi, I would like to suggest an addition to the VirtualBox guest section of the Handbook: https://docs.freebsd.org/en/books/handbook/virtualization/#virtualization-guest-virtualbox Problem ------- When running FreeBSD as a VirtualBox guest, the default graphics controller (VMSVGA) causes X to fail with a black screen. The Xorg log shows: (WW) Warning, couldn't open module vmware (EE) Failed to load module "vmware" (module does not exist, 0) Changing the graphics controller to VBoxSVGA resolves the issue. With VBoxSVGA, Xorg correctly loads the vboxvideo driver provided by the VirtualBox Guest Additions. VirtualBox displays an "invalid settings" warning when VBoxSVGA is selected for a non-Windows guest, which is likely to confuse users into reverting to VMSVGA. Background ---------- The two controllers correspond to different driver stacks: VMSVGA -> vmwgfx (VMware's DRM driver) VBoxSVGA -> vboxvideo (Oracle's driver, VirtualBox Guest Additions) VMSVGA emulates VMware graphics hardware. FreeBSD has no vmwgfx, so Xorg cannot find the vmware DDX driver and fails entirely. Suggested addition ------------------ The section should instruct users to select VBoxSVGA under Display > Screen before installing the Guest Additions, and ideally explain why: VMSVGA targets VMware guests and is not usable on FreeBSD. This issue has been discussed repeatedly on the FreeBSD Forums and elsewehere since at least 2020, yet the Handbook does not mention it. Without this note, users following the Handbook will hit a black screen with no indication of the cause. Thanks, Takashi Shimizuhome | help
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