Virtual Appliance — Optimize Logging in .Xession-Errors

Symptoms

Because the system lacks a sound card, ALSA (Advanced Linux Sound Architecture) continuously logs various error messages in the file .xsession-errors This can fill the system's available disk space.

This issue affects versions up to and including openthinclient-Appliance-2024.1-BETA.

Sample log entries

ALSA lib conf.c:5703:(snd_config_expand) Evaluate error: Datei oder Verzeichnis nicht gefunden
ALSA lib control.c:1528:(snd_ctl_open_noupdate) Invalid CTL default
ALSA lib conf.c:5703:(snd_config_expand) Evaluate error: Datei oder Verzeichnis nicht gefunden
ALSA lib control.c:1528:(snd_ctl_open_noupdate) Invalid CTL default
ALSA lib confmisc.c:855:(parse_card) cannot find card '0'
ALSA lib conf.c:5180:(_snd_config_evaluate) function snd_func_card_inum returned error: Datei oder Verzeichnis nicht gefunden
ALSA lib confmisc.c:422:(snd_func_concat) error evaluating strings

Workaround

1. Log in to openthinclient-Appliance
2. Open a terminal and enter the following command:
   `

   sudo nano /etc/systemd/system/load-snd-dummy.service

   `
3. The service file will then be generated, and modify the file as follows:
   `

   [Unit]
   Description=Load snd-dummy module if /proc/asound/cards does not exist
   ConditionPathExists=!/proc/asound/cards
   
   [Service]
   Type=oneshot
   ExecStart=/usr/sbin/modprobe snd-dummy
   
   [Install]
   WantedBy=multi-user.target

   `
4. Save the modification to the load-snd-dummy.service Execute the following commands to enable and start the service:
   

   sudo systemctl enable load-snd-dummy.service
   sudo systemctl start load-snd-dummy.service