spicevmc is not a valid char driver name

This document (000020759) is provided subject to the disclaimer at the end of this document.

Environment

SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP3
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP4

Situation

If system was migrated from :
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP0
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP1
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP2
versions to :
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP3
or
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP4 .

And VM's stopped starting and error message is complaining about spice.
Alternatively if starting virt-install command using --graphics spice option ,
which leads following type of error:

qemu-system-x86_64: -chardev spicevmc,id=charchannel1,name=vdagent: 'spicevmc' is not a valid char driver name

Resolution

The fix is to install qemu-chardev-spice package..

zypper in qemu-chardev-spice

Cause

With the release of SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 15 SP3 the qemu package was splitted in way that the spicevmc driver had it's own package .

This was not mentioned in RELEASE NOTES.

Disclaimer

This Support Knowledgebase provides a valuable tool for SUSE customers and parties interested in our products and solutions to acquire information, ideas and learn from one another. Materials are provided for informational, personal or non-commercial use within your organization and are presented "AS IS" WITHOUT WARRANTY OF ANY KIND.