I'm using the Odroid N2/N2+ 23.5 Jammy minimal image.

 

I then updated and upgraded successfully.  I then attempted to install MATE via tasksel (which I installed) but that immediate fails with an apt package missing error.  SO then I tried to install MATE manually by:

 

$ sudo apt install mate-desktop-environment mate-desktop-environement-extras

$ reboot

 

There didn't seem to be any display manger installed so I stalled lighdm

$ sudo apt install lightdm lighdm-gtk-greeter

$ reboot

 

Then I noticed that Xserver was not installed (really, that's no a MATE dependency!!!)

 

$ sudo aqt install xserver-xorg

$ reboot

 

But the xserver was not starting and so I noticed xinit was not installed (really. why wouldn't this be a dependency of MATE or the xserver)

 

$ sudo apt install xinit

$ reboot

 

Now it boots and starts everything and then switches to console tty07 but is just a black screen.  I can see from console tty01 that all the correct (I assume) processes have started but nothing but a black screen.

 

Xorg is running

lightdm session is running

lightdm-greeter-session is running

lightdm-gtk-greeter is running

 

But still no login screen (or mouse) is visible (just a blank screen)

 

I can see the ~/.Xauthority file is blank so don't know what has happened.

 

What else have I missed?

Edited June 13, 20233 yr by Walter Zambotti
additional info added

Have you tried to enable GUI via armbian-config?

Thanks I went into armbian-config but can't see any setting that would be relevant as GUI is already set to enabled!

 

I tried disabling and re-enabling but no difference.  Blank screen!

Edited June 13, 20233 yr by Walter Zambotti

The system is probably messed up too much already.

Try this way: Grab xfce img (https://redirect.armbian.com/odroidn2/Jammy_current_xfce) and install MATE as alternative DE.

I managed to get it going!

 

I suspected it was working so unplugged the HDMI cable from my QHD monitor and plugged it into a FHD and wala instant picture.  Then I plugged it back into my QHD monitor and it was still displaying.  I then used the display control to set the resolution to 2560x1440 and it still worked.

 

So the problem seems to be using QHD from boot.  That doesn't work.

 

Seems like a firmware setting that should be changed.

 

I suspect it doesn't see a FHD single so assumes a 4K monitor instead.

Edited June 14, 20233 yr by Walter Zambotti

I had some trouble with Mate on a NanoPI r6c, so I wrote this script to get a proper Mate desktop.

 

@Dantes

 

Thanks I took a look at your script.  I don't think it will address my QHD resolution at boot issue!

 

Good work, 👍

I noticed this on the download page for the Odroid N2/N2+:

On modern kernels adding “video=HDMI-A-1:1920x1080M@60D” to boot /boot/armbianEnv.txt (extraargs=) should force HDMI to 1080p instead of the 4K native resolution.

I'll check if that will also works with 2560x1440 monitors!

The problem turns out to be the kernel version.  The minimal image comes with 6.1.30 which provides a new video device (called None-1) and the desktop image comes with 6.1.11 which does not have this mystery video device.   All working with the reverted kernel.

@Walter Zambotti

 

If this is still an issue for you, you might want to look into this: