No Mouse visibility on CentOS 7, RHEL7 VMs with VMSVGA (#18239)

[boktai1000]

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ModEdit; related ticket: #18239: No Mouse visibility on VM
Title changed from "No Mouse visibility on VM (CentOS 7, EL7, etc)"

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This is a new thread being opened in reference to bug #18239 that was opened on the tracker - Bug description below:

Hey guys,

I just installed VirtualBox 6 (first install) to a Mac OS X 10.13.6 and tried to create my first VM using CentOS but I never got to see the mouse pointer, I did notice that when the mouse passed on top of the list boxes they showed the mouse was on top of them, but I couldn't see the mouse pointer itself, what can I do?

Thanks.

To summarize and explain further what is occurring for a number of reported users, is that in CentOS 7 (and presumably RHEL 7) the mouse is invisible, which can be noticed as soon as the graphical installer starts from the ISO. You can click around aimlessly, but it's near impossible to accurately select any options or do anything with it.

Now this problem for these users did not exist on VirtualBox 5.2. This problem can also be fixed by switching the Graphics Controller as mentioned above to VBoxSVGA from VMSVGA. Here is a test that I did and posted on another thread before it was decided that a separate thread should be opened up for this issue.


I just tried with 7.5 which can be downloaded from the Kernel archive website (I can't post URLs unfortunately as I'm a new user - but it's easy to find and CentOS website does link to it, its a bit hidden though) and had the same exact issue.

So to confirm:

VBox 5.2.x + CentOS 7.5 = Works
VBox 5.2.x + CentOS 7.6 = Works
VBox 6.0.4 r128413 + CentOS 7.5 = Bug
VBox 6.0.4 r128413 + CentOS 7.6 = Bug

The variable that changed here is VirtualBox, I could download 7.2 - 7.4 and test those but I just reformatted and decided to roll with VirtualBox 6.0 this time around, so I kind of don't want to reinstall 5.2, but if it's for science + possibly actually more stable (as in, not include this bug) and would provide more information to go off of, it may be worth it.

VBox 6.0.4 r128413 + CentOS 7.5 = Bug (Graphics Controller: VMSVGA) (filename: CentOS-7-x86_64-Minimal-1810.iso)
VBox 6.0.4 r128413 + CentOS 7.5 = Bug (Graphics Controller: VMSVGA) (filename: CentOS-7-x86_64-Minimal-1804.iso)
VBox 6.0.4 r128413 + CentOS 7.4 = Bug (Graphics Controller: VMSVGA) (filename: CentOS-7-x86_64-Minimal-1708.iso)
VBox 6.0.4 r128413 + CentOS 7.3 = Bug (Graphics Controller: VMSVGA) (filename: CentOS-7-x86_64-Minimal-1611.iso)
VBox 6.0.4 r128413 + CentOS 7.2 = Bug (Graphics Controller: VMSVGA) (filename: CentOS-7-x86_64-Minimal-1511.iso)

VBox 6.0.4 r128413 + CentOS 7.5 = Working (Graphics Controller: VboxSVGA) (filename: CentOS-7-x86_64-Minimal-1810.iso)
VBox 6.0.4 r128413 + CentOS 7.5 = Working (Graphics Controller: VboxSVGA) (filename: CentOS-7-x86_64-Minimal-1804.iso)
VBox 6.0.4 r128413 + CentOS 7.4 = Working (Graphics Controller: VboxSVGA) (filename: CentOS-7-x86_64-Minimal-1708.iso)
VBox 6.0.4 r128413 + CentOS 7.3 = Working (Graphics Controller: VboxSVGA) (filename: CentOS-7-x86_64-Minimal-1611.iso)
VBox 6.0.4 r128413 + CentOS 7.2 = Working (Graphics Controller: VboxSVGA) (filename: CentOS-7-x86_64-Minimal-1511.iso)

All the files can be grabbed off the Kernel archive I mentioned above. As my memory serves, I did try CentOS 7.4 with VBox 5.2 in the past and do not recall any issues with that either, so the trend continues with VBox 5.2 not having any issues with 7.6/7.5/7.4 and VBox 6.0 having problems with CentOS 7.2 - 7.6.

My test is simply with the default Red Hat (64-bit) OS presets when creating a VM in VirtualBox, so all these tests I'm doing are with the Graphics Controller set to VMSVGA. When I hit the installation screen, I would either immediately see the black mouse cursor and be able to use it as expected, or not see anything at all and thus have the issues as described.

Edit: I did also try with VboxVGA as per user socratis making mention to it, and that works just the same as VboxSVGA for what it's worth - as far fixing the mouse problem goes.

[socratis]

CentOS can be downloaded from https://wiki.centos.org/Download, you don't have to go to kernel.org. In particular:

• 7.2 (1511)
  • http://vault.centos.org/centos/7.2.1511 ... l-1511.iso
  • http://vault.centos.org/centos/7.2.1511 ... D-1511.iso
• 7.3 (1611)
  • http://vault.centos.org/centos/7.3.1611 ... l-1611.iso
  • http://vault.centos.org/centos/7.3.1611 ... D-1611.iso
• 7.4 (1708)
  • http://vault.centos.org/centos/7.4.1708 ... l-1708.iso
  • http://vault.centos.org/centos/7.4.1708 ... D-1708.iso
• 7.5 (1804)
  • http://vault.centos.org/centos/7.5.1804 ... l-1804.iso
  • http://vault.centos.org/centos/7.5.1804 ... D-1804.iso
• 7.6 (1810)
  • http://isoredirect.centos.org/centos/7/ ... l-1810.iso
  • http://isoredirect.centos.org/centos/7/ ... D-1810.iso

I usually go for the "DVD" ones (I have all the above ones), not the "Minimal", but I can definitely try a couple of Minimal ones.

I need to see a complete VBox.log, from a complete VM run, where the problem occurs:

• Start the VM from cold-boot (not from a paused or saved state) / Observe problem / Shutdown the VM (force close it if you have to).
• With the VM completely shut down (not paused or saved), right-click on the VM in the VirtualBox Manager and select "Show Log".
• Save only the first "VBox.log", ZIP it and attach it to your response. See the "Upload attachment" tab below the reply form.

I would also like to see the "recipe" of the VM, the ".vbox" file:

1. Right-click on the VM in the VirtualBox Manager. Select "Show in Finder/Explorer/Whatever".
2. ZIP the selected ".vbox" file and attach it to your response.

[boktai1000]

Alright, I did exactly as you said. This test is observed with CentOS-7-x86_64-Minimal-1810.iso (the attachment is for this, thelog and vbox file), but I did also try after with the DVD with the same results which I figured I didn't probably need to grab the log and vbox from. I figured I didn't need to grab a log from more than one configuration that's experiencing the error as they are all so similar, but I absolutely will if you think it may help find the root cause.

Thanks again socratis!

[MarcT]

Since I have the same issue, here's some more details and a log from my system.

Host:
OS: Slackware-current Linux, 64bit. Kernel: 4.19.26
VirtualBox Version: 6.0.4 r128413 (Qt5.6.1)
CPU: AMD Ryzen 7 2700x
GPU: Sapphire Technology Radeon RX 480
Input: Real PS/2 KB (IBM Model M) and real 3 button PS/2 mouse (Logitech); both connected via PS/2 Y-cable to the single combined PS/2 port on the motherboard (ASRock X370 Taichi). No issues with keyboard or mouse in host.

Guest:
CentOS 7 minimal (1810)

With "VBoxSVGA" I can see the guest's mouse pointer. With "VMSVGA" I cannot; however the Guest thinks it's there as scroll bars and buttons react to the invisible pointer.

Kind Regards,
Marc