How to *not* use seamless mode? (seamy mode, or seamlessless mode :)

User Support
1

When one of my qubes is running tests, it pops up windows all the time, grabbing focus as i’m trying to type. It would be much better if i could have the system use the qemu emulated video card without seamless mode (meaning it would not grab focus)

I’m guessing that I just need to uninstall one of the qubes-* packages. perhaps qubes-gui-agent? (I’d like to still be able to use the qvm-copy command if possible).

There are other use cases for wanting a isolated desktop, this is just my current use case.

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No need to uninstall, you can just disable (or stop) qubes-gui-agent using systemctl

Funny part is that qvm-copy still works

Sad part is that qvm-run doesn’t (but it’s okay, salt works anyway)

How do

With standalone as an example, cuz its simpler with full persistency

qvm-create --standalone --template=debian-12-xfce --label=red debitest
qvm-run -u root debitest -- systemctl disable qubes-gui-agent

After this the qube will have no display output in your desktop environment at all. To get full desktop, without shutting down (or with qvm-console-dispvm --autostart debitest later):

qvm-run -u root debitest -- systemctl set-default graphical.target
qvm-prefs debitest debug True
qvm-prefs debitest virt_mode hvm

I have salt for getting full desktop if you want, although you might want to remove x config part at the end: codeberg.org

p.s. it’s seamful now. full of seams. a seamer if you want

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Could you run a local xserver in your testing qube, and just tell your tests to use that, using DISPLAY=?

I have used Xnest, which runs in a single window, but there are others, including vnc…

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Works! Thanks!

Note: I did the above procedure, plus rebooting. I get the X login screen, but I didn’t set the password for user, so I can’t log in, but obviously I can start over again and just set the password before rebooting

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You don’t need to, just leave password empty and log in

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enter user of user then no password and hitting enter spins for a sec then it gives “sorry, password authentication didnt work”

I see in your salt you did a “autologin” thing, so it wont be a issue for you.

(if it matters, i’m debian-13, not debian-12)

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No, with autologin it skips lightdm greeting entirely, without it you still can log in but as far as I remember it’s a bit janky