[SRU justification]
Impact: We split the drivers into linux-modules and linux-modules-extra. The latter is only included for setups geared towards real hardware (desktops, laptops). For VM guests the recommended setup is to use linux-virtual which does not include linux-modules-extra but also does not depend on other packages, like linux-firmware.
We already include most VM related drivers in the linux-modules package and vboxvideo (since 21.10/Impish). So it makes sense to include the missing ones.
Fix: Move the following modules from linux-modules-extra into linux-modules:
- bochs-drm (though a bit aged, this was the predecessor of qemu)
- cirrus (this is a standard emulated gfx card, might not give the best
performance but better than nothing)
- virtio-gpu (KVM)
- vmwgfx (VMWare)
- drm-xen-front (Xen)
Testcase: Check linux-modules for the mentioned modules.
Regression Potential: There should be no change noticeable. Users with linux-modules-extra installed will see no difference and those without have additional drivers. Maybe this shows as moving from low-resolution graphics to higher ones which maybe perform less.
--- Original Description ---
Kernel: Ubuntu 5.13.0-28.31-generic 5.13.19
Distribution: Ubuntu 21.10 (impish)
I run an Ubuntu desktop as a VMWare virtual machine client.
The linux-modules-extra-${VERSION}-generic package contains kernel/drivers/gpu/drm/vmwgfx/vmwgfx.ko, so at the moment I need to keep it installed and updated. The only way to do so conveniently is to install linux-image-generic, which also pulls in linux-firmware, which is ~760MB installed.
If vmwgfx was moved from linux-modules-extra to linux-modules, I could use linux-image-virtual instead of linux-image-generic, remove linux-firmware, linux-modules-extra, and the microcode packages, saving substantial disk space and bandwidth.
Other virtual graphics drivers in linux-modules-extra that might be worth moving are:
kernel/drivers/gpu/drm/bochs/bochs-drm.ko
kernel/drivers/gpu/drm/virtio/virtio-gpu.ko
kernel/drivers/gpu/drm/xen/drm_xen_front.ko
Thank you for your consideration.
Note: Edited significantly in response to https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/kernel-team/2022-February/128103.html and https://lists.ubuntu.com/archives/kernel-team/2022-February/128104.html to better reflect the underlying problem and solution.
P.S. There are three other drivers in linux-modules-extra that seem VMWare-related, but they are not in use in my VM and I don't know whether they are in common enough use to justify moving them to linux-modules. I have listed them here for completeness.
kernel/drivers/net/vsockmon.ko
kernel/drivers/ptp/ptp_vmw.ko
kernel/drivers/infiniband/hw/vmw_pvrdma/vmw_pvrdma.ko
---
ProblemType: Bug
ApportVersion: 2.20.11-0ubuntu71
Architecture: amd64
AudioDevicesInUse:
USER PID ACCESS COMMAND
/dev/snd/controlC0: ccherlin 1645 F.... pulseaudio
CasperMD5CheckResult: unknown
CurrentDesktop: ubuntu:GNOME
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 21.10
InstallationDate: Installed on 2021-01-05 (405 days ago)
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 20.10 "Groovy Gorilla" - Release amd64 (20201022)
IwConfig:
lo no wireless extensions.
ens33 no wireless extensions.
docker0 no wireless extensions.
Lsusb:
Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0002 Linux Foundation 2.0 root hub
Bus 002 Device 003: ID 0e0f:0002 VMware, Inc. Virtual USB Hub
Bus 002 Device 002: ID 0e0f:0003 VMware, Inc. Virtual Mouse
Bus 002 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub
Lsusb-t:
/: Bus 02.Port 1: Dev 1, Class=root_hub, Driver=uhci_hcd/2p, 12M
|__ Port 1: Dev 2, If 0, Class=Human Interface Device, Driver=usbhid, 12M
|__ Port 2: Dev 3, If 0, Class=Hub, Driver=hub/7p, 12M
/: Bus 01.Port 1: Dev 1, Class=root_hub, Driver=ehci-pci/6p, 480M
MachineType: VMware, Inc. VMware Virtual Platform
Package: linux (not installed)
ProcEnviron:
TERM=screen-256color
PATH=(custom, no user)
XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set>
LANG=en_US.UTF-8
SHELL=/bin/bash
ProcFB: 0 svgadrmfb
ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-5.13.0-28-generic root=UUID=24bdcc30-04b8-446e-93e6-b23683ad4034 ro find_preseed=/preseed.cfg auto noprompt priority=critical locale=en_US quiet zswap.enabled=1 zswap.compressor=lz4
ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 5.13.0-28.31-generic 5.13.19
RelatedPackageVersions:
linux-restricted-modules-5.13.0-28-generic N/A
linux-backports-modules-5.13.0-28-generic N/A
linux-firmware 1.201.3
RfKill:
Tags: impish
Uname: Linux 5.13.0-28-generic x86_64
UpgradeStatus: Upgraded to impish on 2021-10-18 (118 days ago)
UserGroups: adm cdrom dip lpadmin lxd plugdev sambashare sudo
_MarkForUpload: True
dmi.bios.date: 11/12/2020
dmi.bios.release: 4.6
dmi.bios.vendor: Phoenix Technologies LTD
dmi.bios.version: 6.00
dmi.board.name: 440BX Desktop Reference Platform
dmi.board.vendor: Intel Corporation
dmi.board.version: None
dmi.chassis.asset.tag: No Asset Tag
dmi.chassis.type: 1
dmi.chassis.vendor: No Enclosure
dmi.chassis.version: N/A
dmi.ec.firmware.release: 0.0
dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnPhoenixTechnologiesLTD:bvr6.00:bd11/12/2020:br4.6:efr0.0:svnVMware,Inc.:pnVMwareVirtualPlatform:pvrNone:rvnIntelCorporation:rn440BXDesktopReferencePlatform:rvrNone:cvnNoEnclosure:ct1:cvrN/A:sku:
dmi.product.name: VMware Virtual Platform
dmi.product.version: None
dmi.sys.vendor: VMware, Inc.
This bug is missing log files that will aid in diagnosing the problem. While running an Ubuntu kernel (not a mainline or third-party kernel) please enter the following command in a terminal window:
apport-collect 1960633
and then change the status of the bug to 'Confirmed'.
If, due to the nature of the issue you have encountered, you are unable to run this command, please add a comment stating that fact and change the bug status to 'Confirmed'.
This change has been made by an automated script, maintained by the Ubuntu Kernel Team.