Software⏱️ 3 min read📅 2026-06-11

How to Fix: glxinfo Error: couldn't get an RGB, Double-buffered visual

Debugging issue with glxinfo error on Ubuntu server for remote rendering and local visualization.

Quick Answer: Check the mesa-utils version, update it if necessary, and try running optirun again.

📋 Table of Contents

  1. 🔍 Why This Happens
  2. 🚀 How to Resolve This Issue
  3. ✨ Wrapping Up

The 'glxinfo Error: couldn't get an RGB, Double-buffered visual' issue affects users who are trying to create a pipeline rendering 3D on a remote server and visualize locally via Mac XQuartz. This problem is frustrating as it prevents the user from successfully setting up their 3D rendering environment.

This error can be particularly challenging to diagnose because it doesn't produce any useful log files, making it difficult for users to identify the root cause of the issue.

🔍 Why This Happens

  • The primary reason why this error occurs is due to a mismatch between the display driver version and the mesa packages installed on the system. Specifically, the NVIDIA display driver version 390.77 may not be compatible with the mesa packages, leading to issues with creating an RGB, Double-buffered visual.
  • Another possible cause of this error could be related to the VirtualGL configuration or setup. Although the user has tried using optirun, which is a helpful tool for pipeline rendering, it's unclear if there are any specific settings or configurations that need to be adjusted.

🚀 How to Resolve This Issue

Update NVIDIA display driver and mesa packages

  1. Step 1: Firstly, ensure that the NVIDIA display driver version is up-to-date by running the command `sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get install nvidia-driver-390`.
  2. Step 2: Next, upgrade the mesa packages to the latest available version using the command `sudo apt-get install libgl1-mesa-glx:amd64 libgl1-mesa-dev:amd64 libglu1-mesa:amd64`.
  3. Step 3: After updating the display driver and mesa packages, restart the X server by running the command `sudo service lightdm restart`.

Adjust VirtualGL configuration

  1. Step 1: Check the VirtualGL configuration to ensure that it is set up correctly. The user can try adjusting the VGL_CLIENT environment variable by adding the following line to their shell configuration file (e.g., `~/.bashrc`): `export VGL_CLIENT=x11`.
  2. Step 2: Additionally, verify that the display driver version is compatible with VirtualGL. If necessary, update the display driver to a newer version using the command `sudo apt-get install nvidia-driver-latest`.

✨ Wrapping Up

By following these steps, users should be able to resolve the 'glxinfo Error: couldn't get an RGB, Double-buffered visual' issue and successfully set up their 3D rendering environment. If the problem persists after trying these solutions, it may be helpful to consult additional resources or seek further assistance from a Linux expert.

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