Desktop (xfce) installation on S905L2

[A-nemon-e]

I just tried to install xfce but only succeeded with one method. I'm still working on the TODO list and will keep recording my process in this discussion.

TODO

• [done] - 不安装ubuntu默认的gnome和gdm情况下，只安装lightdm和xfce4。（尽管我选择的是armbian-jammy-xfce4和lightdm，它还是会安上ubuntu，ubuntu with xorg，xfce）这对这个1+8G的盒子来说负荷太重，7G空间直接占了百分之三四十。
• [not planned] - armbian-config中default 安装桌面，似乎沒走我改的apt源（清华），因为我偶然有一次关闭了科学，它很快就装完了 也没提示错误，但是apt 提示我存在broken package，桌面也不能运行。将通过流量分析看下他实际用了什么源
• [done] - 在一个n1盒子装桌面的issue(Phicomm-n1刷入后lightdm无法正常启动 #802)中有人提到安装纯xfce+lightdm方式，将尝试。
• [in process] - fbdev貌似不是最好的驱动方式。将尝试更换。Lack of storage on USB and no Desktop environment #1008 (comment) 待尝试。

To install from armbian-config:

(This ends up leaving not only xfce, but ubuntu (gnome) and ubuntu (gnome) with xorg in my box which I don't need)

Environment: E900v21E with S905L2, kernel 5.10.183 dev, armbian 23.08 jammy

在中国，首先保证访问自带的源的网络畅通。

1. Run apt update && apt upgrade. Make sure there's a user other than root.
2. armbian-config → system →default. Select armbian-jammy-xfce.
3. When asked to choose from gdm3 and lightdm, choose lightdm.
4. After installation select Enable in armbian-config. (Although the 'enable automatic login' option didn't seem to work... Well I didn't confirm it)
5. Reboot and a login screen should appear. 3 desktops are available, but only ubuntu (gnome) is working correctly. If xfce or ubuntu with xorg is chosen, the screen flashed and the login screen reappeared. Log (/var/log/Xorg.0.log) contains the following:

[ 732.778] (II) Module fbdevhw: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
[ 732.778] compiled for 1.21.1.4, module version = 0.0.2
[ 732.778] ABI class: X.Org Video Driver, version 25.2
[ 732.779] (II) FBDEV(1): using default device
[ 732.780] (II) modeset(G0): using drv /dev/dri/card0
[ 732.780] (EE)
Fatal server error:
[ 732.781] (EE) Cannot run in framebuffer mode. Please specify busIDs for all framebuffer devices
[ 732.781] (EE)
[ 732.781] (EE)
Please consult the The X.Org Foundation support
at http://wiki.x.org
for help.
[ 732.781] (EE) Please also check the log file at "/var/log/Xorg.0.log" for additional information.
[ 732.781] (EE)
[ 732.801] (EE) Server terminated with error (1). Closing log file.

6. My solution (probably not the best) is to edit X's conf file:
   nano /etc/X11/xorg.conf
   Add this:

Section "Device"
    Identifier "Card0"
    Driver "fbdev"
    Option "fbdev" "/dev/fb0"
EndSection

Now xfce is okay.

[A-nemon-e]

This is how to get only xfce4 + lightdm + xorg installed.

我重刷了一个全新的armbian jammy试验了一下。

1. add a new user
2. apt install lightdm xfce4 xfce4-goodies xorg If you want to set lightdm as the default Desktop, run dpkg-reconfigure lightdm in case you already installed gdm3.
3. nano /etc/X11/xorg.conf, add or replace with the following: (I don't know its exact meaning and universality among all Amlogic CPUs, anyway it works for my box.)

Section "OutputClass"
    Identifier "Amlogic"
    MatchDriver "meson"
    Driver "modesetting"
    Option "PrimaryGPU" "true"
EndSection
Section "Screen"
    Identifier "Default Screen"
    Device "Meson"
    Monitor "foo"
    DefaultDepth 24
    SubSection "Display"
        Depth 24
        Modes "1920x1080" "1440x900" "1280x720" "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1024x768" "800x600" "640x480" "720x400"
    EndSubSection
EndSection

4. nano /etc/lightdm/lightdm.conf, add this:

[Seat:*]
greeter-session=lightdm-gtk-greeter
user-session=xfce
# Uncomment to enable automatic login
# autologin-user=<username>
# autologin-user-timeout=0
# Uncomment to hide users list during automatic login
# greeter-hide-users=true

5. systemctl restart lightdm
6. If problems occur, run lightdm --test-mode --debug.

PS: I don't know why I have broken icons after installation. Changed theme and icon through apt search gtk theme.
PPS: In step 3, xorg.conf has an alternative: (apt install xserver-xorg-video-fbdev in advance)

Section "Device"
    Identifier "Card0"
    Driver "fbdev"
    Option "fbdev" "/dev/fb0"
EndSection

I'm now working to find the differences among the two. My mouse pointer keeps flashing in modesetting driver, and visible delays occur. However, fbdev seems to be a too basic driver, I'm wondering if it limits GPU's capability.