1591103 : GBM is not supported with the current configuration

Created: 2026-04-10T10:42:32Z - current status: new

Here is the anonymized and summarized report:

Issue Summary

A user reports that ChimeraX 1.11.1 (running on max-cssb-display003) displays a warning on startup:

WARNING: GBM is not supported with the current configuration. Fallback to Vulkan rendering in Chromium.

After this warning, parts of the GUI appear black. The user mentions that a full logout and restart of the Xfce session temporarily resolves the issue but asks whether recent changes in the VGL (VirtualGL) configuration might be the root cause.

Possible Solution/Next Steps

  1. Check VirtualGL Configuration:
  2. The warning suggests a graphics backend compatibility issue (GBM = Generic Buffer Management, part of the Linux DRM/KMS stack).
  3. Verify if the VGL configuration (/etc/vgl/vgl_xauth.conf, /etc/vgl/vglserver_config) has been modified recently. If so, compare with a known-working backup.

  4. Ensure the correct GPU drivers (NVIDIA/AMD proprietary or Intel) are loaded and compatible with the current VGL setup.

  5. Temporary Workarounds:

  6. Restart the Xfce session (as the user noted) or try launching ChimeraX with: bash vglrun chimerax to force VirtualGL rendering.

  7. Test with software rendering (slower but more stable): bash chimerax --software-rendering

  8. Environment Variables:

  9. Check if LIBGL_ALWAYS_INDIRECT=1 is set (common for VGL). If not, try setting it: bash export LIBGL_ALWAYS_INDIRECT=1 chimerax

  10. Update ChimeraX:

  11. Verify if a newer version of ChimeraX (e.g., 1.3+) resolves the issue, as older versions may have compatibility gaps with modern GPU drivers.

  12. System Logs:

  13. Review logs (/var/log/Xorg.0.log, dmesg) for GPU/driver errors during ChimeraX startup.

Questions for the User

  1. Has the VGL configuration been modified recently (e.g., by admins or updates)?
  2. Does the issue occur on other nodes (e.g., max-display* or max-gpu*)?
  3. Are proprietary GPU drivers (NVIDIA/AMD) installed, or is this using Intel integrated graphics?
  4. Does the problem persist after a reboot (not just a session restart)?

References