Strange error in Dosbox

[lmerckx]

@Dragu @voljega
Back home ...

I've just tested my DosBox RPI2 (updated to 18.03.30) and I confirm: I have no lag problem on games Wolfenstein 3D, Epic Pinball, Ultima 7.
The size of my dosbox is 5046488.

Can you send a support archive ?

Edit: Now, I can reproduce the /usr/share/dosbox bug ! I've never tested without dosbox.bat, in fact.
I look for a correction.
Still no idea for lags.

[lmerckx]

@Dragu Mine is still 32 bits.
Here is the result of the "file dosbox" command, launched from another Linux workstation:
dosbox: ELF 32-bit LSB executable, ARM, EABI5 version 1 (GNU/Linux), dynamically linked, interpreter /lib/ld-linux-armhf.so.3, for GNU/Linux 4.4.0, stripped

[voljega]

@lmerckx doesn't work in recalbox for me : # file dosbox -sh: file: command not found

tried Epic Pinball, lags horribly too :s

@lmerckx do you have a RPI3 ?

[lmerckx]

@voljega Yes, I had to transfered my dosbox exec to another Linux workstation to get "file" command.
I have a RPI2.

Do you also launch games with autoexec or with a dosbox.bat script ?

[lmerckx]

@dragu So, I think I have solved the "/usr/share/dosbox" problem:
When there is no dosbox.bat file in directory, DosBox scan other parameters to find a valid file to execute or directory to mount. When it find the share directory, it stops and go on with it.
It explains why I had no problem. I always use the dosbox.bat file.

So, the solution was to put the initialization of the virtual keyboard before the autoexec startup.

But, I'm curious, how do you configure your autoexec ?
Do you need to specify the mount and exit in it ?
Do you have an example ?

[voljega]

@lmerckx said in Strange error in Dosbox:

s**t I f you don't have a rpi3, it's not gonna be easy to find the issue ...

Do you also launch games with autoexec or with a dosbox.bat script ?

I always use a dosbox.bat with all necessary instructions in it (mount for instance but no need for exit), I keep no command at all in dosbox.cfg (I always have one too)
If you need, I can give you my dosbox.bat and dosbox.cfg for Epic Pinball

@lmerckx said in Strange error in Dosbox:

Yes, I had to transfered my dosbox exec to another Linux workstation to get "file" command.

figured as much, but I don't have any linux at home other than my recalbox ...

[Dragu]

@lmerckx
In general I have always an dosbox.bat file to start games, and mostly the mount operations I make at the end of dosbox.cfg. But this is just personal choice and no issue.
I found the story with the VK at testing a game. Because, if you start with dosbox.bat and have an error, you will never see it Screen erase instantly.
I for this reason sometimes start a game with no dosbox.bat, for debugging.
Concerning the speed lag, it is in relation important 1/2 as before if not less.
What is surprising that you have with the PI2 no problems, but we with PI3 have.
So, I think solution between both build.

[Dragu]

@lmerckx
I have another idea. Would it be possible to upload somewhere your version of PI2, to test with PI3 ?

[lmerckx]

@Dragu Good idea. The link is here: https://www.proximuscloud.be/web/app/share/invite/HLQ1C8rABR
If it doesn't work with it ... can you send me your configuration file. Perhaps, is it a change I made which still allow to get good performance.

[Dragu]

@lmerckx
I think it was not so brillant as idea, as the file is not executable under PI3. I dont know the reason and expected downward compatibility, what is not the case. So, this will unfortunately not help us.

[lmerckx]

@Dragu Sh... Can you send me your confiuration file anyway ?

[voljega]

keeps getting stranger and stranger !

[Dragu]

@lmerckx
Sure, but they are not all the same :

# This is the configuration file for DOSBox 0.74. (Please use the latest version of DOSBox)
# Lines starting with a # are comment lines and are ignored by DOSBox.
# They are used to (briefly) document the effect of each option.

[sdl]
#       fullscreen: Start dosbox directly in fullscreen. (Press ALT-Enter to go back)
#            vsync: Sync to Vblank IF supported by the output device and renderer (if relevant).
#                   It can reduce screen flickering, but it can also result in a slow DOSBox.
#   fullresolution: What resolution to use for fullscreen: original, desktop or a fixed size (e.g. 1024x768).
#                     Using your monitor's native resolution with aspect=true might give the best results.
#                     If you end up with small window on a large screen, try an output different from surface.
# windowresolution: Scale the window to this size IF the output device supports hardware scaling.
#                     (output=surface does not!)
#           output: What video system to use for output.
#                   Possible values: surface, texture, texturenb.
#         renderer: Choose a renderer driver if output=texture or output=texturenb. Use output=auto for an automatic choice.
#                   Possible values: auto, opengl, software.
#         autolock: Mouse will automatically lock, if you click on the screen. (Press CTRL-F10 to unlock)
#      sensitivity: Mouse sensitivity.
#      waitonerror: Wait before closing the console if dosbox has an error.
#         priority: Priority levels for dosbox. Second entry behind the comma is for when dosbox is not focused/minimized.
#                     pause is only valid for the second entry.
#                   Possible values: lowest, lower, normal, higher, highest, pause.
#       mapperfile: File used to load/save the key/event mappings from. Resetmapper only works with the default value.

fullscreen=true
vsync=false
fullresolution=desktop
windowresolution=original
output=texture
renderer=auto
autolock=true
sensitivity=100
waitonerror=true
priority=higher,normal
mapperfile=nremorse.map

[dosbox]
# language: Select another language file.
#  machine: The type of machine DOSBox tries to emulate.
#           Possible values: hercules, cga, tandy, pcjr, ega, vgaonly, svga_s3, svga_et3000, svga_et4000, svga_paradise, vesa_nolfb, vesa_oldvbe.
# captures: Directory where things like wave, midi, screenshot get captured.
#  memsize: Amount of memory DOSBox has in megabytes.
#             This value is best left at its default to avoid problems with some games,
#             though few games might require a higher value.
#             There is generally no speed advantage when raising this value.

language=
machine=svga_s3
captures=capture
memsize=16

[render]
# frameskip: How many frames DOSBox skips before drawing one.
#    aspect: Do aspect correction, if your output method doesn't support scaling this can slow things down!.
#    scaler: Scaler used to enlarge/enhance low resolution modes. If 'forced' is appended,
#            then the scaler will be used even if the result might not be desired.
#            Possible values: none, normal2x, normal3x, advmame2x, advmame3x, advinterp2x, advinterp3x, hq2x, hq3x, 2xsai, super2xsai, supereagle, tv2x, tv3x, rgb2x, rgb3x, scan2x, scan3x.

frameskip=0
aspect=false
scaler=none

[cpu]
#      core: CPU Core used in emulation. auto will switch to dynamic if available and
#            appropriate.
#            Possible values: auto, dynamic, normal, simple.
#   cputype: CPU Type used in emulation. auto is the fastest choice.
#            Possible values: auto, 386, 386_slow, 486_slow, pentium_slow, 386_prefetch.
#    cycles: Amount of instructions DOSBox tries to emulate each millisecond.
#            Setting this value too high results in sound dropouts and lags.
#            Cycles can be set in 3 ways:
#              'auto'          tries to guess what a game needs.
#                              It usually works, but can fail for certain games.
#              'fixed #number' will set a fixed amount of cycles. This is what you usually
#                              need if 'auto' fails (Example: fixed 4000).
#              'max'           will allocate as much cycles as your computer is able to
#                              handle.
#            Possible values: auto, fixed, max.
#   cycleup: Amount of cycles to decrease/increase with keycombos.(CTRL-F11/CTRL-F12)
# cycledown: Setting it lower than 100 will be a percentage.

core=dynamic
cputype=auto
cycles=max
cycleup=100
cycledown=100

[mixer]
#   nosound: Enable silent mode, sound is still emulated though.
#      rate: Mixer sample rate, setting any device's rate higher than this will probably lower their sound quality.
#            Possible values: 44100, 48000, 32000, 22050, 16000, 11025, 8000, 49716.
# blocksize: Mixer block size, larger blocks might help sound stuttering but sound will also be more lagged.
#            Possible values: 1024, 2048, 4096, 8192, 512, 256.
# prebuffer: How many milliseconds of data to keep on top of the blocksize.

nosound=false
rate=44100
blocksize=1024
prebuffer=20

[midi]
#     mpu401: Type of MPU-401 to emulate.
#             Possible values: intelligent, uart, none.
# mididevice: Device that will receive the MIDI data from MPU-401.
#             Possible values: default, win32, alsa, oss, coreaudio, coremidi, none.
# midiconfig: Special configuration options for the device driver. This is usually the id of the device you want to use.
#               or in the case of coreaudio, you can specify a soundfont here.
#               When using a Roland MT-32 rev. 0 as midi output device, some games may require a delay in order to prevent 'buffer overflow' issues.
#               In that case, add 'delaysysex', for example: midiconfig=2 delaysysex
#               See the README/Manual for more details.

mpu401=intelligent
mididevice=default
midiconfig=

[sblaster]
#  sbtype: Type of Soundblaster to emulate. gb is Gameblaster.
#          Possible values: sb1, sb2, sbpro1, sbpro2, sb16, gb, none.
#  sbbase: The IO address of the soundblaster.
#          Possible values: 220, 240, 260, 280, 2a0, 2c0, 2e0, 300.
#     irq: The IRQ number of the soundblaster.
#          Possible values: 7, 5, 3, 9, 10, 11, 12.
#     dma: The DMA number of the soundblaster.
#          Possible values: 1, 5, 0, 3, 6, 7.
#    hdma: The High DMA number of the soundblaster.
#          Possible values: 1, 5, 0, 3, 6, 7.
# sbmixer: Allow the soundblaster mixer to modify the DOSBox mixer.
# oplmode: Type of OPL emulation. On 'auto' the mode is determined by sblaster type. All OPL modes are Adlib-compatible, except for 'cms'.
#          Possible values: auto, cms, opl2, dualopl2, opl3, opl3gold, none.
#  oplemu: Provider for the OPL emulation. compat might provide better quality (see oplrate as well).
#          Possible values: default, compat, fast.
# oplrate: Sample rate of OPL music emulation. Use 49716 for highest quality (set the mixer rate accordingly).
#          Possible values: 44100, 49716, 48000, 32000, 22050, 16000, 11025, 8000.

sbtype=sb16
sbbase=220
irq=7
dma=1
hdma=5
sbmixer=true
oplmode=auto
oplemu=default
oplrate=44100

[gus]
#      gus: Enable the Gravis Ultrasound emulation.
#  gusrate: Sample rate of Ultrasound emulation.
#           Possible values: 44100, 48000, 32000, 22050, 16000, 11025, 8000, 49716.
#  gusbase: The IO base address of the Gravis Ultrasound.
#           Possible values: 240, 220, 260, 280, 2a0, 2c0, 2e0, 300.
#   gusirq: The IRQ number of the Gravis Ultrasound.
#           Possible values: 5, 3, 7, 9, 10, 11, 12.
#   gusdma: The DMA channel of the Gravis Ultrasound.
#           Possible values: 3, 0, 1, 5, 6, 7.
# ultradir: Path to Ultrasound directory. In this directory
#           there should be a MIDI directory that contains
#           the patch files for GUS playback. Patch sets used
#           with Timidity should work fine.

gus=false
gusrate=44100
gusbase=240
gusirq=5
gusdma=3
ultradir=C:\ULTRASND

[speaker]
# pcspeaker: Enable PC-Speaker emulation.
#    pcrate: Sample rate of the PC-Speaker sound generation.
#            Possible values: 44100, 48000, 32000, 22050, 16000, 11025, 8000, 49716.
#     tandy: Enable Tandy Sound System emulation. For 'auto', emulation is present only if machine is set to 'tandy'.
#            Possible values: auto, on, off.
# tandyrate: Sample rate of the Tandy 3-Voice generation.
#            Possible values: 44100, 48000, 32000, 22050, 16000, 11025, 8000, 49716.
#    disney: Enable Disney Sound Source emulation. (Covox Voice Master and Speech Thing compatible).

pcspeaker=true
pcrate=44100
tandy=auto
tandyrate=44100
disney=true

[joystick]
# joysticktype: Type of joystick to emulate: auto (default), none,
#               2axis (supports two joysticks),
#               4axis (supports one joystick, first joystick used),
#               4axis_2 (supports one joystick, second joystick used),
#               fcs (Thrustmaster), ch (CH Flightstick).
#               none disables joystick emulation.
#               auto chooses emulation depending on real joystick(s).
#               (Remember to reset dosbox's mapperfile if you saved it earlier)
#               Possible values: auto, 2axis, 4axis, 4axis_2, fcs, ch, none.
#        timed: enable timed intervals for axis. Experiment with this option, if your joystick drifts (away).
#     autofire: continuously fires as long as you keep the button pressed.
#       swap34: swap the 3rd and the 4th axis. can be useful for certain joysticks.
#   buttonwrap: enable button wrapping at the number of emulated buttons.

joysticktype=auto
timed=true
autofire=false
swap34=false
buttonwrap=false

[serial]
# serial1: set type of device connected to com port.
#          Can be disabled, dummy, modem, nullmodem, directserial.
#          Additional parameters must be in the same line in the form of
#          parameter:value. Parameter for all types is irq (optional).
#          for directserial: realport (required), rxdelay (optional).
#                           (realport:COM1 realport:ttyS0).
#          for modem: listenport (optional).
#          for nullmodem: server, rxdelay, txdelay, telnet, usedtr,
#                         transparent, port, inhsocket (all optional).
#          Example: serial1=modem listenport:5000
#          Possible values: dummy, disabled, modem, nullmodem, directserial.
# serial2: see serial1
#          Possible values: dummy, disabled, modem, nullmodem, directserial.
# serial3: see serial1
#          Possible values: dummy, disabled, modem, nullmodem, directserial.
# serial4: see serial1
#          Possible values: dummy, disabled, modem, nullmodem, directserial.

serial1=dummy
serial2=dummy
serial3=disabled
serial4=disabled

[dos]
#            xms: Enable XMS support.
#            ems: Enable EMS support. The default (=true) provides the best
#                 compatibility but certain applications may run better with
#                 other choices, or require EMS support to be disabled (=false)
#                 to work at all.
#                 Possible values: true, emsboard, emm386, false.
#            umb: Enable UMB support.
# keyboardlayout: Language code of the keyboard layout (or none).

xms=true
ems=true
umb=true
keyboardlayout=de129

[autoexec]
# Lines in this section will be run at startup.
# You can put your MOUNT lines here.

[lmerckx]

@Dragu The only difference between yours and my standard one is the
cycles=max

I prefer now auto for most games. But, I'm pretty sure this is not the cause of the problem.

[Dragu]

@lmerckx
I just rolled back, as I have a few versions in usr/bin, easy with rm and cp.
But there is no effect as you expected.

[lmerckx]

@dragu "The truth is elsewhere"
Can I use you as tester ? Because I'm blind without RPI3.

I will first compile a previous version (17.12.01?) of the code in current environment to detect where the problem could be.
If it's still lagging, it could be a problem in "inherited" compilation directive.

[voljega]

@lmerckx I can help too, if there's no need to switch on a dev update branch

[lmerckx]

@voljega Thank you too. For a simple test, it will be preferable to simply update the dosbox executable.
Perhaps a first version available this evening.

[Dragu]

@lmerckx
Thanks for your work. What I can still not understand, why there are different versions in Dosbox between PI2 and PI3. Just curiosity.

[lmerckx]

@Dragu I don't know either: same sources, same compiler directives (in package).
It is why I want to check if it can be external to the package.