Re: /etc/default/keyboard not loaded at startup

[David Wright <deblis@lionunicorn.co.uk>]

On Sun 26 Apr 2020 at 10:00:37 (+0300), Andrei POPESCU wrote:
> On Sb, 25 apr 20, 16:39:24, gwinship wrote:
> > I added following configuration to my /etc/default/keyboard
> 
> Hint: you can use 'dpkg-reconfigure keyboard-configuration' to get a 
> text-mode wizard.

I've found that odd things can happen if X is running when you use
this command. I can only suppose it's to do with how the system
switches between graphics and text modes. That's why I suggested
booting into a text-only system.

> > XKBMODEL="pc105"
> > XKBLAYOUT="gb,de"
> > XKBVARIANT=""
> > XKBOPTIONS="grp:win_space_toggle"
> > 
> > BACKSPACE="guess"
> > 
> > however. This does not load at boot.
> 
> What is "this" that doesn't load at boot? How do you check?
> 
> As per your Xorg.log below the configuration is applied.
>  
> [...]
>  
> > The /var/log/Xorg.log is
> > 
> > [   268.781] (**) Option "xkb_model" "pc105"
> > [   268.781] (**) Option "xkb_layout" "gb,de"
> > [   268.781] (WW) Option "xkb_variant" requires a string value
> > [   268.781] (**) Option "xkb_options" "grp:win_shift_toggle"

All my /etc/default/keyboard files contain the line
  XKBVARIANT=""
but I've never seen that warning. In fact, I have never seen the
Option "xkb_variant" line reflected in the Xorg log, presumably
because, on my systems, it's always empty. That goes for squeeze,
wheezy, jessie, stretch and buster.

What I expect to see from:

  XKBMODEL="pc105"
  XKBLAYOUT="us"
  XKBVARIANT=""
  XKBOPTIONS="lv3:ralt_switch,compose:caps,terminate:ctrl_alt_bksp"

  BACKSPACE="guess"

is, for two keyboards:

  (II) config/udev: Adding input device DELL DELL USB Keyboard (/dev/input/event0)
  (**) DELL DELL USB Keyboard: Applying InputClass "libinput keyboard catchall"
  (II) Using input driver 'libinput' for 'DELL DELL USB Keyboard'
  (II) systemd-logind: got fd for /dev/input/event0 13:64 fd 31 paused 0
  (**) DELL DELL USB Keyboard: always reports core events
  (**) Option "Device" "/dev/input/event0"
  (**) Option "_source" "server/udev"
  (II) event0  - DELL DELL USB Keyboard: is tagged by udev as: Keyboard
  (II) event0  - DELL DELL USB Keyboard: device is a keyboard
  (II) event0  - DELL DELL USB Keyboard: device removed
  (**) Option "config_info" "udev:/sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1a.0/usb1/1-1/1-1.1/1-1.1:1.0/0003:413C:2005.0001/input/input3/event0"
  (II) XINPUT: Adding extended input device "DELL DELL USB Keyboard" (type: KEYBOARD, id 11)
  (**) Option "xkb_model" "pc105"
  (**) Option "xkb_layout" "us"
  (**) Option "xkb_options" "lv3:ralt_switch,compose:caps,terminate:ctrl_alt_bksp"

and:

  (**) Logitech K520: Applying InputClass "libinput keyboard catchall"
  (II) Using input driver 'libinput' for 'Logitech K520'
  (II) systemd-logind: returning pre-existing fd for /dev/input/event12 13:76
  (**) Logitech K520: always reports core events
  (**) Option "Device" "/dev/input/event12"
  (**) Option "_source" "_driver/libinput"
  (II) libinput: Logitech K520: is a virtual subdevice
  (**) Option "config_info" "udev:/sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:1a.0/usb1/1-1/1-1.4/1-1.4:1.2/0003:046D:C52B.0005/0003:046D:2011.0007/input/input25/event12"
  (II) XINPUT: Adding extended input device "Logitech K520" (type: KEYBOARD, id 17)
  (**) Option "xkb_model" "pc105"
  (**) Option "xkb_layout" "us"
  (**) Option "xkb_options" "lv3:ralt_switch,compose:caps,terminate:ctrl_alt_bksp"

Cheers,
David.