How to disable framebuffer

Sammy2ooo · 05-08-2003, 09:43 AM

Hi everyone,

Can somebody tell me how the heck i can disable the usage of the framebuffer? I am not able to start the x-server. my red hat XFree86.log doesn't show any kind of error. a friend of mine told me that the problem is the usage of the framebuffer
i've googled for it but only found thinks about enabling it. I am new to Linux, i would be very happy if someone could help me out with this...

Best Regards

Sam

redgore · 05-08-2003, 09:44 AM

Do the reverse of the inctrusctions to enable it !

fancypiper · 05-08-2003, 10:33 AM

I didn't think Redhat enabled framebuffer by default. When did they start?

It will be in your bootloader config file. I use grub, so here is my config file/boot/grub/grub.conf

Code:

title Mandrake 9.0
kernel (hd0,6)/boot/vmlinuz root=/dev/hda7 quiet devfs=mount hdd=ide-scsi vga=788
initrd (hd0,6)/boot/initrd.img

Remove the part similar to vga=788 and it should boot text mode.

# Redhat links
RedHat Linux Manuals
Maximum RPM
rpmfind
Easier software management: apt4rpm - Red Carpet
RedHat 8.0 Tips & Tricks

# Redhat 8.0 configuration commands
Configure soundcard:
redhat-config-soundcard
Configure X server:
redhat-config-xfree86
Configure network:
redhat-config-network

# Configuring X
Linux Hardware Compatibility HOWTO - video cards
The Linux XFree86 HOWTO
Common X configuring tools:
Redhat 7.3 down - the setup utility leads to several config tools
Redhat 7.3 up - redhat-config-xfree86
Debian - dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xfree86
You may have these tools:
XF86Setup
XFree86 -configure
Xconfigurator
xf86cfg
xf86config
xconf
nVidia Driver Installation NHF
nVidia driver page

Stephanie · 05-08-2003, 12:05 PM

You can go into Lilo and in there it will give you a lisitng of the display type you would see upon selecting an OS. To disable framebuffer, find that line and delete that entry. You should be fine then.

Sammy2ooo · 05-08-2003, 12:26 PM

Hi,

thanks for your support...
i had a look into grub.conf and theres no entry like vga=xxx !!!!
my redhat systems boots directly into text mode, but i cant start X.

fancypiper · 05-08-2003, 12:51 PM

So that means your problem has nothing to do with framebuffer.

Can you configure it by running:

redhat-config-xfree86

If not, do you need a driver for your video card?

# Configuring X
Linux Hardware Compatibility HOWTO - video cards
The Linux XFree86 HOWTO
Common X configuring tools:
Redhat 7.3 down - the setup utility leads to several config tools
Redhat 7.3 up - redhat-config-xfree86
Debian - dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xfree86
You may have these tools:
XF86Setup
XFree86 -configure
Xconfigurator
xf86cfg
xf86config
xconf
nVidia Driver Installation NHF
nVidia driver page

Sammy2ooo · 05-08-2003, 01:29 PM

@fancypiper
i tried every hint you give me, but nothing worked...
i tried xf86config, but at the end it finishs with "Failed to open filename for writing"

Greets sam

Sammy2ooo · 05-08-2003, 01:39 PM

okay now i was able to make xf86config to write the file, but its always the same ...

fancypiper · 05-08-2003, 01:40 PM

Is your video card supported under Linux?

Linux Hardware Compatibility HOWTO - video cards

Sammy2ooo · 05-08-2003, 11:58 PM

No, the card isn't directly listet, but i heard from other people that were able to run the X-Server with this Laptop, by the way the card is a S3 M5:

This are the Specs of the Laptop:
Laptop:
----------
TYP:
Targa Roadwarrior 700

CPU:
233MHz Tillamook
256/512 KB L2 cache

RAM:
32MB RAM

CHIPSATZ:
Intel Mobil Triton 430TX

HD:
3.2GB

Display:
Dual Scan STN Color: 12.1" (SVGA)
TFT Color: 12.1" (SVGA), 13.3" (XGA), 14.1" (XGA)
4 MB Video SDRAM
LCD/External monitor simultaneous display
Dual view, 3D H/W accelaration

GK:
S3 M5 mit 3D & ZV Support

AUDIO:
16-bit 3D Stereo Audio, Sound Blaster Pro

POWERMANAGEMENT:
System Management Mode (SMM), APM 1.2

Greets Sam

acid_kewpie · 05-09-2003, 02:59 AM

i'd advise you take your friends advice with a pinch of salt next time, the framebuffer has nothing to do with X at all, and afaik could never ever affect X loading or not. if you have disabled the framebuffer, reenable it, it's good.

Sammy2ooo · 05-09-2003, 07:45 AM

I've downloaded the identtool from S3 to determine the Graphicchip which is running. The prog said, its a S3 Virge MX+ !!!! obviously my data sheed says its S3 M5 !!!!
ok, now i am getting closer to this problem: i was able to create a new XFree86 Config. When i am trying to start it i am getting an display not found error message. don't know why this now happens, and hasn't happend before

i spoke to the targa hotline to get all information to the display. I'll try it with the new information this afternoon...

Thx for your support...

Greets Sam

Sammy2ooo · 05-12-2003, 02:37 AM

hi,

okay, the first gleam of hope...

XF86_SVGA -bestRefresh -xf86config /etc/X11/XF86Config

starts an graphic environment...

but the startx command crashes with the following error:

Quote:

(EE) S3VIRGE(0): No Display subsection in Screen section "Screen 1" for depth/fbbpp 4/4
(II) UnloadModule: "s3virge"
(II) UnloadModule: "vgahw"
(II) Unloading /usr/X11R6/lib/modules/libvgahw.a
(EE) Screen(s) found, but none have a usable configuration.
Fatal server error:
no screens found

but there is no section called "Screen 1" in my XF86Config! Why works the command "XF86_SVGA -bestRefresh -xf86config /etc/X11/XF86Config" and not startx? Both use the same config file don't they??

Here is a piece of my XF86Config:

Quote:

...
Section "Monitor"
Identifier "CustomConfiguration"
VendorName "Unknown"
ModelName "Unknown"
HorizSync 30-60
VertRefresh 55-75
Modeline "512x384" 20.160 512 528 592 640 384 385 388 404 -HSync -VSync
Modeline "512x384" 22 512 528 592 640 384 385 388 404 -HSync -VSync
Modeline "640x400" 25.175 640 664 760 800 400 409 411 450
Modeline "640x400" 31.5 640 672 736 832 400 401 404 445 -HSync +VSync
Modeline "640x480" 45.8 640 672 768 864 480 488 494 530 -HSync -VSync
Modeline "640x480" 25.175 640 664 760 800 480 491 493 525
Modeline "640x480" 31.5 640 680 720 864 480 488 491 521
ModeLine "640x480" 31.5 640 656 720 840 480 481 484 500 -HSync -VSync
Modeline "640x480" 36 640 696 752 832 480 481 484 509 -HSync -VSync
Modeline "800x600" 69.65 800 864 928 1088 600 604 610 640 -HSync -VSync
ModeLine "800x600" 36 800 824 896 1024 600 601 603 625
Modeline "800x600" 40 800 840 968 1056 600 601 605 628 +hsync +vsync
Modeline "800x600" 50 800 856 976 1040 600 637 643 666 +hsync +vsync
Modeline "800x600" 60.75 800 864 928 1088 600 616 621 657 -HSync -VSync
Modeline "1024x480" 65 1024 1032 1176 1344 480 491 493 525 -HSync -VSync
Modeline "1024x768" 115.5 1024 1056 1248 1440 768 771 781 802 -HSync -VSync
Modeline "1024x768" 65 1024 1032 1176 1344 768 771 777 806 -hsync -vsync
Modeline "1024x768" 75 1024 1048 1184 1328 768 771 777 806 -hsync -vsync
Modeline "1024x768" 85 1024 1032 1152 1360 768 784 787 823
Modeline "1024x768" 98.9 1024 1056 1216 1408 768 782 788 822 -HSync -VSync
Modeline "1152x864" 137.65 1152 1184 1312 1536 864 866 885 902 -HSync -VSync
Modeline "1152x864" 89.9 1152 1216 1472 1680 864 868 876 892 -HSync -VSync
Modeline "1152x864" 92 1152 1208 1368 1474 864 865 875 895
Modeline "1152x864" 110 1152 1240 1324 1552 864 864 876 908
Modeline "1152x864" 135 1152 1464 1592 1776 864 864 876 908
Modeline "1280x1024" 181.75 1280 1312 1440 1696 1024 1031 1046 1072 -HSync -VSync
Modeline "1280x1024" 110 1280 1328 1512 1712 1024 1025 1028 1054
Modeline "1280x1024" 126.5 1280 1312 1472 1696 1024 1032 1040 1068 -HSync -VSync
Modeline "1280x1024" 135 1280 1312 1456 1712 1024 1027 1030 1064
Modeline "1280x1024" 135 1280 1312 1416 1664 1024 1027 1030 1064
Modeline "1280x1024" 157.5 1280 1344 1504 1728 1024 1025 1028 1072 +HSync +VSync
Modeline "1400x1050" 129 1400 1464 1656 1960 1050 1051 1054 1100 +HSync +VSync
Modeline "1400x1050" 151 1400 1464 1656 1960 1050 1051 1054 1100 +HSync +VSync
Modeline "1400x1050" 162 1400 1464 1656 1960 1050 1051 1054 1100 +HSync +VSync
Modeline "1400x1050" 184 1400 1464 1656 1960 1050 1051 1054 1100 +HSync +VSync
Modeline "1600x1200" 162 1600 1664 1856 2160 1200 1201 1204 1250 +HSync +VSync
Modeline "1600x1200" 189 1600 1664 1856 2160 1200 1201 1204 1250 -HSync -VSync
Modeline "1600x1200" 202.5 1600 1664 1856 2160 1200 1201 1204 1250 +HSync +VSync
Modeline "1600x1200" 220 1600 1616 1808 2080 1200 1204 1207 1244 +HSync +VSync
ModeLine "1800X1440" 230 1800 1896 2088 2392 1440 1441 1444 1490 +HSync +VSync
ModeLine "1800X1440" 250 1800 1896 2088 2392 1440 1441 1444 1490 +HSync +VSync
Modeline "320x200" 12.588 320 336 384 400 200 204 205 225 Doublescan
Modeline "320x240" 12.588 320 336 384 400 240 245 246 262 Doublescan
Modeline "320x240" 15.750 320 336 384 400 240 244 246 262 Doublescan
ModeLine "400x300" 18 400 416 448 512 300 301 302 312 Doublescan
Modeline "400x300" 20 400 416 480 528 300 301 303 314 Doublescan
Modeline "400x300" 25 400 424 488 520 300 319 322 333 Doublescan
ModeLine "480x300" 21.656 480 496 536 616 300 301 302 312 Doublescan
Modeline "480x300" 23.890 480 496 576 632 300 301 303 314 Doublescan
Modeline "480x300" 25 480 496 576 632 300 301 303 314 Doublescan
Modeline "480x300" 29.952 480 504 584 624 300 319 322 333 Doublescan
EndSection
Section "Device"
Identifier "Generic VGA"
VendorName "Unknown"
BoardName "Unknown"
Chipset "generic"
EndSection
Section "Device"
Identifier "S3 ViRGE/MX (generic)"
VendorName "Unknown"
BoardName "Unknown"
EndSection
Section "Screen"
Driver "svga"
Device "S3 ViRGE/MX (generic)"
Monitor "CustomConfiguration"
DefaultColorDepth 8
Subsection "Display"
Depth 8
Modes "640x480"
ViewPort 0 0
EndSubsection
EndSection
Section "Screen"
Driver "vga16"
Device "Generic VGA"
Monitor "CustomConfiguration"
Subsection "Display"
Modes "640x480" "800x600"
ViewPort 0 0
EndSubsection
EndSection
Section "Screen"
Driver "vga2"
Device "Generic VGA"
Monitor "CustomConfiguration"
Subsection "Display"
Modes "640x480" "800x600"
ViewPort 0 0
EndSubsection
EndSection
Section "Screen"
Driver "accel"
Device "S3 ViRGE/MX (generic)"
Monitor "CustomConfiguration"
DefaultColorDepth 8
Subsection "Display"
Depth 8
Modes "640x480"
ViewPort 0 0
EndSubsection
EndSection

This config file has been created with xf86config
This strange behaviour really confuses me!!!

Hope you can help me one more time...

Friendly Regards Sam

DavidPhillips · 05-12-2003, 04:33 PM

try removing or commenting out the Modes line and see what it does

boku · 05-12-2003, 11:59 PM

I think your XF86Config file needs a little cleaning.

I'm not an expert, but it looks as if "Screen 1" is referenced but only "Screen" is defined? A XF86Config file doesn't need to be very complicated just to start X. I recommend reading the man pages "> man XF86Config" and writing a simple config file from scratch.

Or better, make a copy of the config file and try to clean it with help from the man pages. Perhaps there are even some configuration guides on the net, with examples.