SLES 11 SP3 Does Not Run in GUI Mode on Systems with ASPEED AST2400 Graphics Controller and Secure Boot Enabled

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Environment

SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 Service Pack 3 (SLES 11 SP3)

Situation

UEFI Secure Boot mode is enabled on a system which has an ASPEED AST2400 graphics controller. An installation of SLES 11 SP3 is started on this system. SLES initially starts in GUI mode, but then switches over to text mode. The installation can be completed, but the system stays in text mode. The same system will install SLES 11 SP3 in GUI mode if Secure Boot is disabled.

Resolution

The workaround for installing SLES 11 SP3 on a system with an AST2400 graphics controller and with Secure Boot enabled is to add the "nomodeset" parameter to the kernel boot command line at the beginning of the installation. This will force the use of the fbdev driver during installation and afterwards.

Cause

In Secure Boot mode the ast kernel driver is required. The driver that shipped with SLES 11 SP3 malfunctions and therefore doesn't load. Due to this failure the system falls back to text mode.

Additional Information

The ASPEED AST2400 graphics controller is used in the following Lenovo systems:

Lenovo ThinkServer RD350, RD450, RD550, RD650, and TD350.

Disclaimer

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