Hi.
We use Xvfb for automated tests and to run our application in batch mode on headless systems.
Unfortunately, if the Nvidia proprietary driver (e.g. 340.93) is installed, our OpenGL apps fail to create an OpenGL context when using Xvfb’s display. The very same happens to glxinfo and glxgears in this scenario:
$ Xvfb :1 -screen 0 800x600x24 &
Initializing built-in extension Generic Event Extension
Initializing built-in extension SHAPE
Initializing built-in extension MIT-SHM
Initializing built-in extension XInputExtension
Initializing built-in extension XTEST
Initializing built-in extension BIG-REQUESTS
Initializing built-in extension SYNC
Initializing built-in extension XKEYBOARD
Initializing built-in extension XC-MISC
Initializing built-in extension SECURITY
Initializing built-in extension XINERAMA
Initializing built-in extension XFIXES
Initializing built-in extension RENDER
Initializing built-in extension RANDR
Initializing built-in extension COMPOSITE
Initializing built-in extension DAMAGE
Initializing built-in extension MIT-SCREEN-SAVER
Initializing built-in extension DOUBLE-BUFFER
Initializing built-in extension RECORD
Initializing built-in extension DPMS
Initializing built-in extension Present
Initializing built-in extension X-Resource
Initializing built-in extension XVideo
Initializing built-in extension XVideo-MotionCompensation
Initializing built-in extension SELinux
Initializing built-in extension GLX
$ DISPLAY=:1 glxinfo
name of display: :1
Xlib: extension "GLX" missing on display ":1".
Xlib: extension "GLX" missing on display ":1".
Xlib: extension "GLX" missing on display ":1".
Xlib: extension "GLX" missing on display ":1".
Xlib: extension "GLX" missing on display ":1".
Error: couldn't find RGB GLX visual or fbconfig
Xlib: extension "GLX" missing on display ":1".
Xlib: extension "GLX" missing on display ":1".
Xlib: extension "GLX" missing on display ":1".
Xlib: extension "GLX" missing on display ":1".
Xlib: extension "GLX" missing on display ":1".
Xlib: extension "GLX" missing on display ":1".
Xlib: extension "GLX" missing on display ":1".
Xlib: extension "GLX" missing on display ":1".
When uninstalling the Nvidia driver or installing it with --no-opengl-files the problem disappears. However, this is not really an option.
Furthermore, not only Xvfb is affected but also Xvnc, which shows the same symptoms as described above…
Is the Nvidia driver really meant to render Xvfb and Xvnc useless?
Do newer drivers perform better in this scenario?
A possible workaround for Xvnc using TurboVNC and VirtualGL is mentioned here:
https://devtalk.nvidia.com/default/topic/830917/installation-of-cuda-on-rhel-6-with-turbovnc-and-virtualgl/
Thanks in advance.