[Error] Vulkan cannot use GPU in RDP session

[Gerharddc]

Describe the bug
I have found that it is not possible for Vulkan apps to access my AMD GPU inside distrobox when I am connected using a GNOME RDP session. However, when I am using the machine locally (i.e. not through RDP) then I do not have this problem.

To Reproduce

• Install distrobox.
• Create a distrobox.
• Install vulkan-tools in the distrobox.
• Run vkcube inside the distrobox and observe that it uses you GPU.
• Remotely connect to your machine using an RDP session.
• Run vkcube inside the distrobox and observe that it uses LLVMpipe.

Expected behavior
My GPU should still be accessible to Vulkan apps inside the distrobox even when I am remotely connected.

Logs
Run the commands with --verbose and post the log here as a file upload
Attach also the output of podman logs or docker logs, possibly with --latest flag

distrobox-logs.txt

podman-logs.txt

Desktop (please complete the following information):

• Are you using podman, docker or lilipod?
  podman

• Which version or podman, docker or lilipod?
  5.6.0

• Which version of distrobox?
  1.8.1.2

• Which host distribution?
  OpenSUSE Tumbleweed with GNOME desktop.

• How did you install distrobox?
  From the OpenSUSE repos.

Additional context

• As per https://gitlab.gnome.org/GNOME/gnome-remote-desktop/-/issues/283, I initially had this problem even outside the distrobox. It was resolved by adding my user to the "render" group. Therefore this is most likely a permissions issue related to the /dev/dri/render* nodes.
• Curiously, glxinfo can see my GPU inside the distrobox so it seems to be an issue that only affects Vulkan and not OpenGL.

[dottorblaster]

Did you recreate the distrobox after adding your user to the render group?

[Gerharddc]

At first no but then I recreated it to check. These logs correspond to the distrobox created after adding my user to the group.

…

________________________________ From: Alessio Biancalana ***@***.***> Sent: Wednesday, September 24, 2025 4:49:08 PM To: 89luca89/distrobox ***@***.***> Cc: Gerhard de Clercq ***@***.***>; Author ***@***.***> Subject: Re: [89luca89/distrobox] [Error] Vulkan cannot use GPU in RDP session (Issue #1841) [https://avatars.githubusercontent.com/u/20770?s=20&v=4]dottorblaster left a comment (89luca89/distrobox#1841)<#1841 (comment)> Did you recreate the distrobox after adding your user to the render group? — Reply to this email directly, view it on GitHub<#1841 (comment)>, or unsubscribe<https://github.com/notifications/unsubscribe-auth/ACYWAKRYQKLXUCP457XWZJ33UKVOJAVCNFSM6AAAAACHMGBZ4CVHI2DSMVQWIX3LMV43OSLTON2WKQ3PNVWWK3TUHMZTGMRZGAZTIMZZGY>. You are receiving this because you authored the thread.Message ID: ***@***.***>

[Gerharddc]

As per my latest comment on https://bugzilla.opensuse.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1250480, it seems that for some reason, it is very difficult to get podman containers to inherit group permissions when on an RDP session. However, giving your user direct access (as opposed to group access) to the dri render nodes seems to fix the issue.