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