Re: [gentoo-user] Running gentoo ~amd64 as a virtualbox guest

[Alec Ten Harmsel <alec@alectenharmsel.com>]

On 04/08/2015 07:35 PM, walt wrote:
> I have a persistent problem (described below) with my ~amd64 guest
> machine and I can't figure it out.
>
> I run all the major linux distros as virtualbox guests so I can keep
> track of what's happening on planet non-gentoo, but only the ~amd64
> gentoo guest machine is having this problem:

Depending on what you are keeping track of, I would recommend using
docker. It is far lighter-weight than a virtual machine in every respect
- disk space, cpu utilization, etc. However, if you need to see
graphical stuff (which it appears you do), then docker will not work.

> When I start an X session in the gentoo guest machine, the 3D video
> acceleration is emulated with the "Software Rasterizer" function of
> mesa, as shown below:
>
> # glxinfo | grep renderer
> OpenGL renderer string: Software Rasterizer
>
> The problem is that "Software Rasterizer" is so slow and inefficient
> that the gnome3 shell specifically tests for it and refuses to start
> if it's found.

Have you tried setting VIDEO_CARD="virtualbox" in make.conf and/or
installing app-emulation/virtualbox-modules in your guest?

> Other guest linux distros report the "Chromium" rasterizer or maybe
> the "llvmpipe" rasterizer, both of which are fast enough to satisfy
> the gnome3 shell.
>
> So, could the problem be caused by the vbox package on my gentoo host
> machines?  I don't know, but I can propose a test:

If the other distros can detect a fast virtualized renderer, I doubt the
host has a problem. That said, I have little virtualbox experience other
than just playing around.

Hope this helps,

Alec