Using the VESA framebuffer driver (Since 6.3)

Support knowledgebase (cg_framebuffer6.3)

SuSE Linux: Versions since 6.3
XFree86: Versions since 2.2.0

Request

• Your video card is not supported by XFree86. Nevertheless you'd like to have the graphical environment X-Window.
• You'd like a high resolution text mode with 160x64 characters, for example.
• You would like to see a little penguin bootlogo on startup :-)

Idea

Before the Linux kernel switches to 32 bit protected mode a BIOS call is made to switch to the desired video (graphic) mode. This graphic mode remains unchanged as long as linux is running.

Prerequisites

• Your video card is compatible to the VESA-BIOS extension 2.0 (VBE 2.0 or higher)

Procedure

To use the framebuffer console, you will need kernel support for the so called framebuffer device. If you like to use the framebuffer X-Server (you'll need it if your video adapter is not supported otherwise) you must also install a package from the CD.

If you´re using SuSE Linux 6.3 or above, there is no need to recompile your kernel, because the VESA framebuffer support is already compiled in the standard kernel.

The procedure in detail

• Please install the package xfbdev from series xsrv with yast.
• Choose the requested resolution and color depth from the table below. Reboot your system and enter the boot parameter `vga=x`. Please use the value for x for your desired video mode from the table below.

                              Resolution in pixels
  Color depth      | 640x480  800x600  1024x768 1280x1024
  -----------------+-------------------------------------
  256        (8bit)|  769      771       773      775
  32000     (15bit)|  784      787       790      793
  65000     (16bit)|  785      788       791      794
  16.7 Mill.(24bit)|  786      789       792      795
  

  To achive a resolution of 1024x768 pixel at 16 bit color depth you should enter the LILO boot parameter as follows:

  linux vga=791
  

  Please note, that it is possible that your video card doesn't support all resolution and/or color depths.
• The Linux kernel switches directly into the selected video mode. In the upper left corner a little small penguin logo appears.
• To use these settings at every time your system starts up, edit the file /etc/lilo.conf with your favorite editor and change the entry vga=normal for example to vga=791
• After saving the file, execute the command lilo.
• If, after rebooting the system, the new mode is not active, please check if the right boot device has been entered in /etc/lilo.conf

Configuring the framebuffer device with SaX

• Now you can try to start the configuration with SaX. Please start SaX using the command

  sax -s fbdev
  

  If you start with sax -s vga16 then choose "!!!Generic Server Selection!!!" as your video card and "FRAMEBUFFER" as model type. Choose the same resolution and color depth like the parameters you gave starting Linux, when you have to determine the monitor settings.
• Now the framebuffer should be activated using the correct resolution while testing the X-server.
• If that wasn't successful please try to configure it manually.

Editing XF86Config manually

• If the file /etc/XF86Config already exists, it should be saved with the command

  mv /etc/XF86Config /etc/XF86Config.backup
  

• After this please create a new /etc/XF86Config with the following contents:

  # start of file /etc/XF86Config
  Section "Files"
    RgbPath	"/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/rgb"
    FontPath	"/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi:unscaled"
    FontPath	"/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi:unscaled"
    FontPath	"/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/Type1"
    FontPath	"/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/URW"
    FontPath	"/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/Speedo"
    FontPath	"/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/misc"
    FontPath	"/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi"
    FontPath	"/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi"
    FontPath	"/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/misc:unscaled"
  EndSection
  
  Section "ServerFlags"
    AllowMouseOpenFail
  EndSection
  
  Section "Module"
  EndSection
  
  # This section is no longer supported
  # See a template below
  # Section "XInput"
  # EndSection
  
  Section "Keyboard"
    Protocol	"Standard"
    XkbRules	"xfree86"
    XkbModel	"pc104"
    XkbLayout	"de"
    XkbVariant	"nodeadkeys"
  EndSection
  
  Section "Pointer"
    Protocol		"PS/2"
    Device		"/dev/psaux"
    SampleRate		60
    BaudRate		1200
  EndSection
  
  Section "Monitor"	
    Identifier	"Primary-Monitor"
  EndSection
  
  Section "Device"
    Identifier	"fbdev"
    VendorName	"x"
    BoardName	"y"
  EndSection
  
  Section "Screen"  
    Driver	"fbdev"
    Device	"fbdev"
    Monitor	"Primary-Monitor"
    SubSection "Display"
      Depth	32
      Modes	"default" 
    EndSubSection
    SubSection "Display"
      Depth	24
      Modes	"default" 
    EndSubSection
    SubSection "Display"
      Depth	16
      Modes	"default" 
    EndSubSection
    SubSection "Display"
      Depth	15
      Modes	"default" 
    EndSubSection
    SubSection "Display"
      Depth	8
      Modes	"default" 
    EndSubSection
  EndSection
  # End of file /etc/XF86Config
  

• This configuration file is prepared for the use with a standard PC keyboard with attached PS/2 mouse. If you use a different mouse please change the appropriate entry in the Section "Pointer" of this file. Please take a look at the man page for this configuration file (`man XF86Config') for available mouse types.
• Please try to start the framebuffer X-Server now. Enter the following command for this:

  XF86_FBDev -bpp 16
  

  The option `-bpp 16' selects a color depth of 16 bit. The color depth selected by this option must be the same as the one selected on startup of Linux via the vga option. Otherwise the X-Server won't start and you will get an error message stating an `invalid argument'. After successfull start of X you'll see the typical rastered X background with a `X' in the middle of the screen. Please try to move the `X' with the mouse. If everything works now, please quit the running X Server with ALT+CTRL+BACKSPACE.
• Please create the following link

  ln -s /usr/X11R6/bin/XF86_FBDev /var/X11R6/bin/X
  

• Start X via the command

  startx -- -bpp 16
  

Using the VESA framebuffer driver