Install MATE desktop to Minimal Image (blues)

[Walter Zambotti]

I'm using the Odroid N2/N2+ 23.5 Jammy minimal image.

 

I then updated and upgraded successfully.  I then attempted to install MATE via tasksel (which I installed) but that immediate fails with an apt package missing error.  SO then I tried to install MATE manually by:

 

$ sudo apt install mate-desktop-environment mate-desktop-environement-extras

$ reboot

 

There didn't seem to be any display manger installed so I stalled lighdm

$ sudo apt install lightdm lighdm-gtk-greeter

$ reboot

 

Then I noticed that Xserver was not installed (really, that's no a MATE dependency!!!)

 

$ sudo aqt install xserver-xorg

$ reboot

 

But the xserver was not starting and so I noticed xinit was not installed (really. why wouldn't this be a dependency of MATE or the xserver)

 

$ sudo apt install xinit

$ reboot

 

Now it boots and starts everything and then switches to console tty07 but is just a black screen.  I can see from console tty01 that all the correct (I assume) processes have started but nothing but a black screen.

 

Xorg is running

lightdm session is running

lightdm-greeter-session is running

lightdm-gtk-greeter is running

 

But still no login screen (or mouse) is visible (just a blank screen)

 

I can see the ~/.Xauthority file is blank so don't know what has happened.

 

What else have I missed?

Edited June 13, 2023 by Walter Zambotti
additional info added

[Werner]

Have you tried to enable GUI via armbian-config?

[Walter Zambotti]

Thanks I went into armbian-config but can't see any setting that would be relevant as GUI is already set to enabled!

 

I tried disabling and re-enabling but no difference.  Blank screen!

Edited June 13, 2023 by Walter Zambotti

[Werner]

The system is probably messed up too much already.

Try this way: Grab xfce img (https://redirect.armbian.com/odroidn2/Jammy_current_xfce) and install MATE as alternative DE.

[Walter Zambotti]

I managed to get it going!

 

I suspected it was working so unplugged the HDMI cable from my QHD monitor and plugged it into a FHD and wala instant picture.  Then I plugged it back into my QHD monitor and it was still displaying.  I then used the display control to set the resolution to 2560x1440 and it still worked.

 

So the problem seems to be using QHD from boot.  That doesn't work.

 

Seems like a firmware setting that should be changed.

 

I suspect it doesn't see a FHD single so assumes a 4K monitor instead.

Edited June 14, 2023 by Walter Zambotti

[Dantes]

I had some trouble with Mate on a NanoPI r6c, so I wrote this script to get a proper Mate desktop.

 

[Walter Zambotti]

@Dantes

 

Thanks I took a look at your script.  I don't think it will address my QHD resolution at boot issue!

 

Good work, 👍

[Walter Zambotti]

I noticed this on the download page for the Odroid N2/N2+:

On modern kernels adding “video=HDMI-A-1:1920x1080M@60D” to boot /boot/armbianEnv.txt (extraargs=) should force HDMI to 1080p instead of the 4K native resolution.

I'll check if that will also works with 2560x1440 monitors!

[Walter Zambotti]

The problem turns out to be the kernel version.  The minimal image comes with 6.1.30 which provides a new video device (called None-1) and the desktop image comes with 6.1.11 which does not have this mystery video device.   All working with the reverted kernel.

[Sander de Leeuw]

@Walter Zambotti

 

If this is still an issue for you, you might want to look into this: