If you’re using Ubuntu on the LKD3588 single-board computer (SBC) and encountering issues with the desktop not displaying after connecting a monitor, this guide will help you troubleshoot the problem and get your desktop environment up and running.
1. Check if Desktop Environment is Installed
Before troubleshooting, make sure you have a desktop environment like GNOME, KDE, or Xfce installed. If not, you can install GNOME using the following command:
sudo apt update
sudo apt install ubuntu-desktop
2. Verify Display Manager
Ubuntu relies on display managers to manage login screens and desktop startups. Ensure your display manager (like gdm3 or lightdm) is running. To check the status of the gdm3 display manager, use:
systemctl status gdm3
If your display manager is not running, start it with:
sudo systemctl start gdm3
3. Manually Start Desktop Environment
If your display manager starts but the desktop doesn’t load, you can manually launch the desktop environment. Switch to a terminal (Ctrl + Alt + F1 through F6), log in, and use the following command:
startx
4. Verify Xorg or Wayland Status
Ubuntu uses Xorg or Wayland as its display server. Check if these services are running smoothly by inspecting Xorg logs:
cat /var/log/Xorg.0.log
5. Check GPU Drivers
Ensure the proper GPU drivers for RK3588 are installed, as this ARM-based SoC may require specific drivers. Use the following command to check:
lspci -k | grep -A 3 -E "VGA|3D|Display"
If your GPU drivers are missing or not loading properly, reinstall or reconfigure the drivers.
6. Check Display Output Settings
Sometimes, Ubuntu may fail to automatically detect the monitor. To manually set the display output, use the xrandr tool:
xrandr
If the monitor isn’t detected, set the display output manually:
xrandr --output HDMI-1 --auto
Make sure to replace “HDMI-1” with the correct output port name for your setup.
7. Verify Desktop Environment is Running
To check if a desktop environment like GNOME, KDE, or Xfce is running, use the following command:
ps aux | grep -E "gnome-session|plasma-desktop|xfce4-session"
If any related processes are found, the desktop environment is likely running, but the issue may be elsewhere.
8. Use Remote Desktop
If the monitor still shows no display but the system has booted, you can use a remote desktop tool (VNC, RDP) to connect and view the desktop interface.
9. Install Xorg and Desktop Environment
If startx is not found and Xorg logs are missing, you may need to install Xorg and a desktop environment. Use the following commands:
sudo apt update
sudo apt install xorg openbox
For GNOME, use:
sudo apt install gnome-shell gdm3
Restart the system or manually start the display manager with:
sudo systemctl restart gdm3
10. Manually Start Desktop Again
Once Xorg and the desktop environment are installed, try manually starting the desktop environment again with:
startx
This guide walks you through troubleshooting steps for a better experience when using Ubuntu on the LKD3588 SBC, focusing on display issues, driver installations, and ensuring a smooth startup process for your desktop environment.