Description of problem: The qemu-kvm option doesn't currently support the '-curses' flag: [root@disarm ~]# uname -a Linux disarm 2.6.27.5-117.fc10.x86_64 #1 SMP Tue Nov 18 11:58:53 EST 2008 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux [root@disarm ~]# qemu-kvm -help | grep curses [root@disarm ~]# qemu-kvm -curses qemu-kvm: invalid option -- '-curses' But the manual page shipped with fedora 10 lists this as a valid option: -curses Normally, QEMU uses SDL to display the VGA output. With this option, QEMU can display the VGA output when in text mode using a curses/ncurses interface. Nothing is displayed in graphical mode. Version-Release number of selected component (if applicable): Fedora 10 with the latest KVM and Qemu packages: [root@disarm ~]# rpm -q -a | egrep '(kvm|qemu)' qemu-img-0.9.1-10.fc10.x86_64 kvm-74-11.fc10.x86_64 etherboot-roms-kvm-5.4.4-5.fc10.x86_64 How reproducible: Listed above. Steps to Reproduce: 1. Steps are listed above. Actual results: BIOS screens and early interaction is currently unavailable from the console (you can still get to this it you enable vnc though). Expected results: The early boot screens should be displayed. Additional info: None.
This is already certainly due to the RPM missing a BuildRequires dependency on ncurses-devel. The configure script probes for curses.h and curses_version(), and automatically disables curses support if missing.
Thanks, fixed in rawhide now with qemu-0.10.50-6.kvm86.fc12: * Fri Jun 5 2009 Mark McLoughlin <markmc> - 2:0.10.50-6.kvm86 - Fix 'kernel requires an x86-64 CPU' error - BuildRequires ncurses-devel to enable '-curses' option (#504226)