Bug#255744: xserver-xfree86: X fails to load if psmouse module managed by hotplug

[Frans Pop <aragorn@tiscali.nl>]

Package: xserver-xfree86
Version: 4.3.0.dfsg.1-4
Severity: important

If the system is powered up and X is started by kdm, X will often fail
because of a missing core pointer. Starting X manually immediately after
(e.g. using /etc/init.d/kdm start), always succeeds.
The problem goes away if psmouse is added to /etc/modules.

I have seen this problem myself on two different systems and [1] has two
more people with the same problem. In all cases the solution above
worked.

In my case, I did a fresh Sarge install using Debian Installer on both
systems. By default the mouse driver and related modules (like evdev)
will be managed by hotplug.
This means that psmouse is only loaded after X is started and probes for
the presence of the core pointer. I think the time out allowed by X is
to short for the drivers to load, so X can't find the mouse, the load
fails and the user is returned to the console.

Adding psmouse in /etc/modules ensures that the drivers are loaded much
earlier in the bootprocess, so X is able to locate the mouse without
problem.

I think this bug is important because a lot of installs with Sarge's
new installer are likely to be affected by this problem.
The problem has been observed 4 times using kdm, but I would think it
applies to other display managers as well.

[1] http://lists.debian.org/debian-kde/2004/06/msg00159.html

I have  not included config and log files as the problem is currently
fixed on my system using the solution listed above.
I can however easily reproduce a log file if needed (on request).

TIA,
Frans Pop


-- System Information:
Debian Release: testing/unstable
  APT prefers testing
  APT policy: (500, 'testing')
Architecture: i386 (i686)
Kernel: Linux 2.6.5.20040613-1
Locale: LANG=C, LC_CTYPE=C

Versions of packages xserver-xfree86 depends on:
ii  debconf [debconf-2.0]     1.4.25         Debian configuration management sy
ii  libc6                     2.3.2.ds1-13   GNU C Library: Shared libraries an
ii  xserver-common            4.3.0.dfsg.1-4 files and utilities common to all 
ii  zlib1g                    1:1.2.1.1-3    compression library - runtime

-- debconf information:
* xserver-xfree86/config/device/identifier: Generic Video Card
  xserver-xfree86/config/monitor/screen-size: 17 inches (430 mm)
  xserver-xfree86/config/device/use_fbdev: 
* xserver-xfree86/config/monitor/selection-method: Medium
  xserver-xfree86/config/doublequote_in_string_error: 
  shared/default-x-server: xserver-xfree86
* xserver-xfree86/config/inputdevice/mouse/emulate3buttons: true
* xserver-xfree86/config/device/bus_id: PCI:0:2:0
* xserver-xfree86/config/inputdevice/keyboard/layout: us
  xserver-xfree86/config/monitor/horiz-sync: 30-60
* xserver-xfree86/config/monitor/identifier: Generic Monitor
  shared/no_known_x-server: 
  xserver-xfree86/autodetect_mouse: true
* xserver-xfree86/config/device/video_ram: 
* xserver-xfree86/config/monitor/mode-list: 1024x768 @ 75Hz
* xserver-xfree86/config/monitor/lcd: true
  xserver-xfree86/config/inputdevice/keyboard/internal: 
* xserver-xfree86/config/inputdevice/keyboard/rules: xfree86
  xserver-xfree86/multiple_possible_x-drivers: 
* xserver-xfree86/config/inputdevice/keyboard/model: pc104
* xserver-xfree86/config/write_dri_section: true
* xserver-xfree86/config/device/driver: i810
  xserver-xfree86/config/monitor/vert-refresh: 50-75
* xserver-xfree86/config/display/default_depth: 24
* xserver-xfree86/config/inputdevice/mouse/zaxismapping: true
* xserver-xfree86/config/display/modes: 1024x768, 800x600, 640x480
  xserver-xfree86/config/device/bus_id_error: 
* xserver-xfree86/config/modules: GLcore, bitmap, dbe, ddc, dri, extmod, freetype, glx, int10, record, speedo, type1, vbe
* xserver-xfree86/config/inputdevice/keyboard/options: 
  xserver-xfree86/config/nonnumeric_string_error: 
* xserver-xfree86/config/inputdevice/mouse/protocol: ImPS/2
  shared/multiple_possible_x-servers: 
  xserver-xfree86/config/null_string_error: 
  xserver-xfree86/config/monitor/range_input_error: 
* xserver-xfree86/autodetect_video_card: true
* xserver-xfree86/config/inputdevice/keyboard/variant: 
* xserver-xfree86/config/inputdevice/mouse/port: /dev/psaux
* xserver-xfree86/config/write_files_section: true
  xserver-xfree86/autodetect_monitor: true