Date: Fri, 19 Jun 2026 21:03:46 -0400 From: Benedict Reuschling <bcr@freebsd.org> To: freebsd-doc@freebsd.org Subject: Re: [doc] VirtualBox guest: recommend VBoxSVGA over VMSVGA for FreeBSD guests Message-ID: <1e8ac5c1-5a5c-4c63-b027-76197519c971@freebsd.org> In-Reply-To: <c803f3a2-df11-417d-870c-fbf00672a854@shirt.ocn.ne.jp>
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[-- Attachment #1 --] Hi, I have created a review that updates the section to fix the issue you described. https://reviews.freebsd.org/D57693 My guess is we can finish this review and get it committed in good time. Thank you for posting this detailed description of the issue. Best regards, Benedict Am 07.06.26 um 16:52 schrieb Takashi Shimizu: > 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 Shimizu > [-- Attachment #2 --] <!DOCTYPE html> <html> <head> <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"> </head> <body> <p><font face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif">Hi,</font></p> <p><font face="Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif">I have created a review that updates the section to fix the issue you described.<br> <br> <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://reviews.freebsd.org/D57693">https://reviews.freebsd.org/D57693</a><br>; <br> My guess is we can finish this review and get it committed in good time.<br> Thank you for posting this detailed description of the issue.<br> <br> Best regards,<br> Benedict<br> <br> </font></p> <div class="moz-cite-prefix">Am 07.06.26 um 16:52 schrieb Takashi Shimizu:<br> </div> <blockquote type="cite" cite="mid:c803f3a2-df11-417d-870c-fbf00672a854@shirt.ocn.ne.jp">Hi, <br> <br> I would like to suggest an addition to the VirtualBox guest section of <br> the Handbook: <br> <br> <a class="moz-txt-link-freetext" href="https://docs.freebsd.org/en/books/handbook/virtualization/#virtualization-guest-virtualbox">https://docs.freebsd.org/en/books/handbook/virtualization/#virtualization-guest-virtualbox</a>; <br> <br> <br> Problem <br> ------- <br> <br> When running FreeBSD as a VirtualBox guest, the default graphics <br> controller (VMSVGA) causes X to fail with a black screen. The Xorg log <br> shows: <br> <br> (WW) Warning, couldn't open module vmware <br> (EE) Failed to load module "vmware" (module does not exist, 0) <br> <br> Changing the graphics controller to VBoxSVGA resolves the issue. <br> With VBoxSVGA, Xorg correctly loads the vboxvideo driver provided by <br> the VirtualBox Guest Additions. <br> <br> VirtualBox displays an "invalid settings" warning when VBoxSVGA is <br> selected for a non-Windows guest, which is likely to confuse users into <br> reverting to VMSVGA. <br> <br> <br> Background <br> ---------- <br> <br> The two controllers correspond to different driver stacks: <br> <br> VMSVGA -> vmwgfx (VMware's DRM driver) <br> VBoxSVGA -> vboxvideo (Oracle's driver, VirtualBox Guest Additions) <br> <br> VMSVGA emulates VMware graphics hardware. FreeBSD has no vmwgfx, <br> so Xorg cannot find the vmware DDX driver and fails entirely. <br> <br> <br> Suggested addition <br> ------------------ <br> <br> The section should instruct users to select VBoxSVGA under <br> Display > Screen before installing the Guest Additions, and ideally <br> explain why: VMSVGA targets VMware guests and is not usable on FreeBSD. <br> <br> This issue has been discussed repeatedly on the FreeBSD Forums and <br> elsewehere since at least 2020, yet the Handbook does not mention it. <br> Without this note, users following the Handbook will hit a black screen <br> with no indication of the cause. <br> <br> Thanks, <br> Takashi Shimizu <br> <br> </blockquote> </body> </html>home | help
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