ChimeraX crashes opening cif file on WSL2

[kamadak@…]

In ticket #7114 Kama is trying to run ChimeraX daily build (June 22, 2022) on WSL2 (Microsoft Windows Subsystem for Linux 2) virtual machine with Ubuntu 20.04 and Wayland. Opening an mmCIF file using the open command crashes, and the bug report dialog apparently is not working.

Hi,
I tested the newest chimerax-daily.deb(built: 2022-06-22 03:28:47 PDT).
Installation does not have any problem.
After starting, small pop of bug report attached at the left top conner. I could not make it move nor input any word, even nor press cancel.
I tried to type "open mypdb.cif" in the appearing command line under the main window.
However, the window was closed down with a message of Segmentation fault.
Kama

[Tom Goddard]

In general we do not support ChimeraX running on virtual machines. You would be better off running the Windows ChimeraX on your Windows machine.

But if Zach or Greg uses WSL2 they may be interested in trying to see if it will work. If not this bug report can be closed and we will not support running on WSL2.

[Zach Pearson]

I want to say that not being able to interact with floating windows is a limitation of WSL2, but not every floating window is unresponsive. The registration nag window, for example, does work.

[kamadak@…]

I am sorry for bothering you. I understood your situations.
Thank you very much for your help and efforts.
Kama


-----Original Message-----
From: ChimeraX <ChimeraX-bugs-admin@cgl.ucsf.edu> 
Sent: Thursday, June 23, 2022 7:50 AM
Cc: goddard@cgl.ucsf.edu; gregc@cgl.ucsf.edu; Katsuhiko Kamada <kamadak@riken.jp>; pett@cgl.ucsf.edu; zjp@cgl.ucsf.edu
Subject: Re: [ChimeraX] #7151: ChimeraX crashes opening cif file on WSL2

#7151: ChimeraX crashes opening cif file on WSL2
--------------------------------+--------------------------
          Reporter:  kamadak@…  |      Owner:  Zach Pearson
              Type:  defect     |     Status:  assigned
          Priority:  moderate   |  Milestone:
         Component:  Platform   |    Version:
        Resolution:             |   Keywords:
        Blocked By:             |   Blocking:
Notify when closed:             |   Platform:  all
           Project:  ChimeraX   |
--------------------------------+--------------------------

Comment (by Zach Pearson):

 I want to say that not being able to interact with floating windows is a  limitation of WSL2, but not every floating window is unresponsive. The  registration nag window, for example, does work.

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Ticket URL: <https://www.rbvi.ucsf.edu/trac/ChimeraX/ticket/7151#comment:2>
ChimeraX <https://www.rbvi.ucsf.edu/chimerax/>
ChimeraX Issue Tracker

[Greg Couch]

Thank you for reporting this. It is not something I would have tried any time soon. I'm amazed that is works at all.

This is a WSL2 bug, not a ChimeraX bug. So you should file a bug with WSL2.

If you want to run the Linux version of ChimeraX on Windows, I have had success with the "free" VMware Workstation 16 Player after enabling "Accelerate 3D graphics". But, as noted before, running ChimeraX on virtual machines is not supported. You would be much better off running ChimeraX natively.