smaller console font

mmcheese · 12-26-2007, 12:27 AM

hi i am using debian and when i switch to a console with ctrl-alt-f1 the font is huge and i was wondering if there is a way to make it smaller. please help me if you can and if possible with step-by-step instructions thanks

Bruce Hill · 12-26-2007, 01:33 AM

Welcome to LQ!

In a terminal as root edit "/etc/lilo.conf" and change the console font. Here's mine:

Code:

mingdao@silas:~$ cat /etc/lilo.conf
# LILO configuration file
# generated by 'liloconfig'
#
# Start LILO global section
lba32 # Allow booting past 1024th cylinder with a recent BIOS
boot = /dev/sda
compact # faster, but won't work on all systems.
prompt
timeout = 50
# VESA framebuffer console @ 1024x768x256
#vga = 773
vga = 795
# Linux bootable partition config begins
image = /boot/vmlinuz
initrd = /boot/initrd.gz
root = /dev/mapper/cryptslackroot
label = Slackware
read-only # Partitions should be mounted read-only for checking
# Linux bootable partition config ends
# Linux bootable partition config begins
image = /boot/vmlinuz
root = /dev/mapper/cryptslamdroot
label = Slamd64
read-only # Partitions should be mounted read-only for checking
# Linux bootable partition config ends
# Windows bootable partition config begins
other = /dev/sda1
label = Windows
# map-drive = 0x80
# to = 0x81
# map-drive = 0x81
# to = 0x80
table = /dev/sda
# Windows bootable partition config ends

The "vga = 795" line makes console 1280x1024x24 -- you can Google "set console font" or similar for other sizes.

mmcheese · 12-26-2007, 01:49 AM

thanks for the quick reply, however, i use grub as my bootloader. also, i've tried various vga values in the grub conf file but they just seem to make the font smaller for a few seconds during bootup then it reverts back.
any other suggestions?

SciYro · 12-26-2007, 05:28 AM

Does it revert back before or after the kernel is done booting?

mmcheese · 12-26-2007, 02:00 PM

to be honest, i'm not exactly sure.
early on in the dmesg there is a line with whatever res i choose at the beginning:

Code:

Console: colour VGA 132x60
console [tty0] enabled

then after a bunch more lines there is this:

Code:

Boot video device is 0000:00:01.0
vga16fb: initializing
vga16fb: mapped to 0xc00a0000
Console: switching to colour frame buffer device 80x30
fb0: VGA16 VGA frame buffer device
fb1: Virtual frame buffer device, using 1024K of video memory

i'm fairly sure this is where it switches to the smaller resolution with a penguin logo. after this there's a bunch more lines and it finishes and launches gdm. i'm not sure if that answers your question though

kzutter · 12-26-2007, 10:43 PM

Well, it helps to know which font you want to switch to.
Look in /usr/share/consolefonts/ to see your default choices.

try this in a console window

Code:

consolechars -f cp857-8x8

You can learn more at:
http://dsl.org/cookbook/cookbook_20.html#SEC318

It was pretty easy to find on google.

To learn more about the consolechars command:

Code:

man consolechars

Have Fun!

mmcheese · 12-26-2007, 11:04 PM

eh my bad, i should have titled my thread differently. i'm actually looking for a way to raise the resolution of the console. thanks for the suggestion though, i might stick with it if i can't get the console res up

mmcheese · 12-26-2007, 11:21 PM

ok to restate my question (because i didnt do a good job the first time): i have this graphics card:

Code:

00:01.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation 82810 CGC [Chipset Graphics Controller] (rev 03)

can anyone please tell me what i need to do in order to get the console to 1024x768 resolution. ie what do i need to compile into the kernel, what i need to put in my grub conf file, etc. whatever is necessary. if you have that information i will be incredibly grateful to you

rjcooks · 10-14-2010, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mmcheese

ok to restate my question (because i didnt do a good job the first time): i have this graphics card:

Code:

00:01.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation 82810 CGC [Chipset Graphics Controller] (rev 03)

can anyone please tell me what i need to do in order to get the console to 1024x768 resolution. ie what do i need to compile into the kernel, what i need to put in my grub conf file, etc. whatever is necessary. if you have that information i will be incredibly grateful to you

This should have been answered so despite the enormous time lost, here:
First you need to know what the chip & driver can do.
If not installed, install "hwinfo" program.
Then in a shell|terminal execute

hwinfo --framebuffer

The [mode] reported by hwinfo are in hexadecimal. Use them with the '0x' prefix or convert them to decimal and place
vga=[mode]
at the end of the kernel command line in grub(presumed) menu.lst.
E.g., output will look like
Mode 0x0317: 1024x768 (+2048), 16 bits
and
Mode 0x0341: 1024x768 (+4096), 24 bits
(for 1024x768)
vga=0x317 will yield 1024x768x16

Typically, '' vga=791 '' is used as a default for 1024x768x16.
(791 is decimal of 317 hex)

One can also use
vga=ask
in the grub menu.lst and it will display a list at beginning of the boot process. Then just type in the desired mode # at the "vga=ask" prompt and hit enter.
Once one knows the desired number, change the "ask" in menu.lst to that number.

Both vesafb and vgacon are, AFAIK, always compiled into the various distributions kernels and therefore available. If one is customizing a kernel then just make sure those are compiled into kenel(i.e., not as modules).
( vesafb is for VESA graphics mode; vgacon is for text mode. )

READ
.../kernel/Documentation/fb/vesafb.txt
for more info.