Black Screen when start XFree86 4.2

zorro_kwh · 06-08-2007, 02:50 PM

Hi,

I have installed the Slackware 8.1 on my old 386 box. I also installed XFree86, the standard X11 together with fvwm2 as window manager.

First I used xfree86setup to configure XF86config. With startx on root I tried the config an I got error messages, that no screen are defined. So I switched back to ny favorite tool XF86configure. With this took I got my Suse 5.0 with XFree86 3.3 successfully configured using the XSVGA_server. Under Suse 5.0 I can work with X11 although the machine is pretty small (8MB RAM, simple ISA Graphics board). To inform you I include the .X.err file from Suse installation:

Code:

Free86 Version 3.3 / X Window System
(protocol Version 11, revision 0, vendor release 6300)
Release Date: Jun  2 1997
	If the server is older than 6-12 months, or if your card is newer
	than the above date, look for a newer version before reporting
	problems.  (see http://www.XFree86.Org/FAQ)
Operating System: Linux 2.0.30 i686 [ELF] 
Configured drivers:
  SVGA: server for SVGA graphics adaptors (Patchlevel 0):
      NV1, STG2000, ET4000, ET4000W32, ET4000W32i, ET4000W32i_rev_b,
      ET4000W32i_rev_c, ET4000W32p, ET4000W32p_rev_a, ET4000W32p_rev_b,
      ET4000W32p_rev_c, ET4000W32p_rev_d, ET6000, et3000, pvga1, wd90c00,
      wd90c10, wd90c30, wd90c24, wd90c31, wd90c33, gvga, ati, sis86c201,
      sis86c202, sis86c205, tvga8200lx, tvga8800cs, tvga8900b, tvga8900c,
      tvga8900cl, tvga8900d, tvga9000, tvga9000i, tvga9100b, tvga9200cxr,
      tgui9320lcd, tgui9400cxi, tgui9420, tgui9420dgi, tgui9430dgi,
      tgui9440agi, tgui96xx, cyber938x, clgd5420, clgd5422, clgd5424,
      clgd5426, clgd5428, clgd5429, clgd5430, clgd5434, clgd5436, clgd5446,
      clgd5480, clgd5462, clgd5464, clgd5465, clgd6205, clgd6215, clgd6225,
      clgd6235, clgd7541, clgd7542, clgd7543, clgd7548, clgd7555, ncr77c22,
      ncr77c22e, cpq_avga, mga2064w, mga1064sg, oti067, oti077, oti087,
      oti037c, al2101, ali2228, ali2301, ali2302, ali2308, ali2401, cl6410,
      cl6412, cl6420, cl6440, video7, ct65520, ct65525, ct65530, ct65535,
      ct65540, ct65545, ct65546, ct65548, ct65550, ct65554, ct64200,
      ct64300, ark1000vl, ark1000pv, ark2000pv, ark2000mt, mx, realtek,
      AP6422, AT24, s3_virge, generic
(using VT number 7)

XF86Config: /usr/X11R6/lib/X11/XF86Config
(**) stands for supplied, (--) stands for probed/default values
(**) XKB: rules: "xfree86"
(**) XKB: model: "pc101"
(**) XKB: layout: "de"
(**) Mouse: type: Microsoft, device: /dev/mouse, baudrate: 1200
(**) SVGA: Graphics device ID: "Primary Card"
(**) SVGA: Monitor ID: "Primary Monitor"
(--) SVGA: Mode "320x240" needs hsync freq of 31.45 kHz. Deleted.
Warning: The directory "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi" does not exist.
         Entry deleted from font path.
Warning: The directory "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/Type1" does not exist.
         Entry deleted from font path.
Warning: The directory "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/Speedo" does not exist.
         Entry deleted from font path.
Warning: The directory "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi" does not exist.
         Entry deleted from font path.
(**) FontPath set to "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/misc:unscaled,/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi:unscaled,/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/misc,/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi"
(--) SVGA: Ramdac speed at 8bpp: 86.000 MHz
(--) SVGA: option "slow_dram" is enabled by default on this card.
(--) SVGA: ET4000: Initial hibit state: low
(--) SVGA: chipset:  ET4000
(--) SVGA: videoram: 1024k
(**) SVGA: clocks:  25.18  28.32  32.51  36.01  40.01  44.91  56.03  65.07
(**) SVGA: clocks:  12.58  14.16  16.25  18.00  20.00  22.44  28.00  32.51
(**) SVGA: Option "slow_dram"
(**) SVGA: Option "noaccel"
(**) SVGA: Using 8 bpp, Depth 8, Color weight: 666
(--) SVGA: Maximum allowed dot-clock: 86.000 MHz
(**) SVGA: Mode "640x480": mode clock =  25.180, clock used =  25.180
(--) SVGA: There is no mode definition named "320x240"
(--) SVGA: Removing mode "320x240" from list of valid modes.
(--) SVGA: Virtual resolution set to 640x480
(--) SVGA: SpeedUp code selection modified because virtualX != 1024
(--) SVGA: ET4000: SpeedUps selected (Flags=0xf)
(--) SVGA: Using XAA (XFree86 Acceleration Architecture)
(--) SVGA: XAA: No acceleration primitives defined.

And the XFree86 3.3 XF86Config:

Code:

Section "Files"
   RgbPath    "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/rgb"
   FontPath   "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/misc:unscaled"
   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/Speedo"
   FontPath   "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/misc"
   FontPath   "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi"
   FontPath   "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi"
EndSection
Section "ServerFlags"
EndSection
Section "Keyboard"
   Protocol        "Standard"
   XkbRules        "xfree86"
   XkbModel        "pc101"
   XkbLayout       "de"
EndSection
Section "Pointer"
   Protocol        "Microsoft"
   Device          "/dev/mouse"
   BaudRate        1200
EndSection
Section "Monitor"
   Identifier      "Primary Monitor"
   VendorName      "Unknown"
   ModelName       "Unknown"
   HorizSync       31.5-35.1
   VertRefresh     55-60
   Modeline  "640x480"    25.18 640 664 760 800 480 491 493 525
   Modeline  "320x240"    12.58 320 336 384 400 240 245 246 262 doublescan
EndSection
Section "Device"
   Identifier      "Primary Card"
   VendorName      "Unknown"
   BoardName       "None"
   Clocks          25.18 28.32 32.51 36.01 40.01 44.91 56.03 65.07 12.58 14.16 16.25 18.00 20.00 22.44 28.00 32.51
EndSection
Section "Screen"
   Driver          "Accel"
   Device          "Primary Card"
   Monitor         "Primary Monitor"
   SubSection "Display"
      Depth        8
      Modes        "640x480" "320x240"
   EndSubSection
   SubSection "Display"
      Depth        15
      Modes        "640x480" "320x240"
   EndSubSection
   SubSection "Display"
      Depth        16
      Modes        "640x480" "320x240"
   EndSubSection
   SubSection "Display"
      Depth        24
      Modes        "640x480" "320x240"
   EndSubSection
   SubSection "Display"
      Depth        32
      Modes        "640x480" "320x240"
   EndSubSection
EndSection
Section "Screen"
   Driver          "Mono"
   Device          "Primary Card"
   Monitor         "Primary Monitor"
   SubSection "Display"
      Depth        1
      Modes        "640x480" "320x240"
   EndSubSection
EndSection
Section "Screen"
   Driver          "VGA2"
   Device          "Primary Card"
   Monitor         "Primary Monitor"
   SubSection "Display"
      Depth        1
      Modes        "640x480" "320x240"
   EndSubSection
EndSection
Section "Screen"
   Driver          "VGA16"
   Device          "Primary Card"
   Monitor         "Primary Monitor"
   SubSection "Display"
      Depth        4
      Modes        "640x480" "320x240"
   EndSubSection
EndSection
Section "Screen"
   Driver          "SVGA"
   Device          "Primary Card"
   Monitor         "Primary Monitor"
   SubSection "Display"
      Depth        8
      Modes        "640x480" "320x240"
   EndSubSection
   SubSection "Display"
      Depth        15
      Modes        "640x480" "320x240"
   EndSubSection
   SubSection "Display"
      Depth        16
      Modes        "640x480" "320x240"
   EndSubSection
   SubSection "Display"
      Depth        24
      Modes        "640x480" "320x240"
   EndSubSection
   SubSection "Display"
      Depth        32
      Modes        "640x480" "320x240"
   EndSubSection
EndSection

Now when I try to start X11 under slackware the machine starts blanking the screen black and I can see the harddisk working. But after several minutes nothing happend anymore. Even CTRL-ALT-BACKSPACE doesn't kill the XFree86 server. Also the virtual consoles which I have without X11 cannot accessed anymore, so I cannot kill the Xserver. I have to shutdown the maschine with CTRL-ALT-DEL and look at the XFree86.0.log:

Code:

XFree86 Version 4.2.0 / X Window System
(protocol Version 11, revision 0, vendor release 6600)
Release Date: 18 January 2002
	If the server is older than 6-12 months, or if your card is
	newer than the above date, look for a newer version before
	reporting problems.  (See http://www.XFree86.Org/)
Build Operating System: Linux 2.4.18 i686 [ELF] 
Module Loader present
Markers: (--) probed, (**) from config file, (==) default setting,
         (++) from command line, (!!) notice, (II) informational,
         (WW) warning, (EE) error, (NI) not implemented, (??) unknown.
(==) Log file: "/var/log/XFree86.0.log", Time: Tue Nov 27 09:02:34 1979
(==) Using config file: "/etc/X11/XF86Config"
(==) ServerLayout "Simple Layout"
(**) |-->Screen "Screen 1" (0)
(**) |   |-->Monitor "Monitor"
(**) |   |-->Device "Karte"
(**) |-->Input Device "Mouse1"
(**) |-->Input Device "Keyboard1"
(**) Option "AutoRepeat" "500 30"
(**) Option "XkbRules" "xfree86"
(**) XKB: rules: "xfree86"
(**) Option "XkbModel" "pc101"
(**) XKB: model: "pc101"
(**) Option "XkbLayout" "de"
(**) XKB: layout: "de"
(==) Keyboard: CustomKeycode disabled
(**) FontPath set to "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/local/,/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/misc/,/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi/:unscaled,/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi/"
(**) RgbPath set to "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/rgb"
(==) ModulePath set to "/usr/X11R6/lib/modules"
(--) using VT number 7

(WW) Open APM failed (/dev/apm_bios) (No such device)
(II) Module ABI versions:
	XFree86 ANSI C Emulation: 0.1
	XFree86 Video Driver: 0.5
	XFree86 XInput driver : 0.3
	XFree86 Server Extension : 0.1
	XFree86 Font Renderer : 0.3
(II) Loader running on linux
(II) LoadModule: "bitmap"
(II) Loading /usr/X11R6/lib/modules/fonts/libbitmap.a
(II) Module bitmap: vendor="The XFree86 Project"
	compiled for 4.2.0, module version = 1.0.0
	Module class: XFree86 Font Renderer
	ABI class: XFree86 Font Renderer, version 0.3
(II) Loading font Bitmap
(II) LoadModule: "pcidata"
(II) Loading /usr/X11R6/lib/modules/libpcidata.a
(II) Module pcidata: vendor="The XFree86 Project"
	compiled for 4.2.0, module version = 0.1.0
	ABI class: XFree86 Video Driver, version 0.5
(II) PCI: Probing config type using method 1
(II) PCI: Standard check for type 1 failed.
(II) PCI: stages = 0x00, oldVal1 = 0xffffffff,
	mode1Res1 = 0x00000000, mode1Res2 = 0x00000000
(II) PCI: No PCI bus found
(II) Addressable bus resource ranges are
	[0] -1	0x00000000 - 0xffffffff (0x0) MX[B]
	[1] -1	0x00000000 - 0x0000ffff (0x10000) IX[B]
(II) OS-reported resource ranges:
	[0] -1	0xffe00000 - 0xffffffff (0x200000) MX[B](B)
	[1] -1	0x00100000 - 0x3fffffff (0x3ff00000) MX[B]E(B)
	[2] -1	0x000f0000 - 0x000fffff (0x10000) MX[B]
	[3] -1	0x000c0000 - 0x000effff (0x30000) MX[B]
	[4] -1	0x00000000 - 0x0009ffff (0xa0000) MX[B]
	[5] -1	0x0000ffff - 0x0000ffff (0x1) IX[B]
	[6] -1	0x00000000 - 0x000000ff (0x100) IX[B]
(II) OS-reported resource ranges after removing overlaps with PCI:
	[0] -1	0xffe00000 - 0xffffffff (0x200000) MX[B](B)
	[1] -1	0x00100000 - 0x3fffffff (0x3ff00000) MX[B]E(B)
	[2] -1	0x000f0000 - 0x000fffff (0x10000) MX[B]
	[3] -1	0x000c0000 - 0x000effff (0x30000) MX[B]
	[4] -1	0x00000000 - 0x0009ffff (0xa0000) MX[B]
	[5] -1	0x0000ffff - 0x0000ffff (0x1) IX[B]
	[6] -1	0x00000000 - 0x000000ff (0x100) IX[B]
(II) All system resource ranges:
	[0] -1	0xffe00000 - 0xffffffff (0x200000) MX[B](B)
	[1] -1	0x00100000 - 0x3fffffff (0x3ff00000) MX[B]E(B)
	[2] -1	0x000f0000 - 0x000fffff (0x10000) MX[B]
	[3] -1	0x000c0000 - 0x000effff (0x30000) MX[B]
	[4] -1	0x00000000 - 0x0009ffff (0xa0000) MX[B]
	[5] -1	0x0000ffff - 0x0000ffff (0x1) IX[B]
	[6] -1	0x00000000 - 0x000000ff (0x100) IX[B]
(II) LoadModule: "dbe"
(II) Loading /usr/X11R6/lib/modules/extensions/libdbe.a
(II) Module dbe: vendor="The XFree86 Project"
	compiled for 4.2.0, module version = 1.0.0
	Module class: XFree86 Server Extension
	ABI class: XFree86 Server Extension, version 0.1
(II) Loading extension DOUBLE-BUFFER
(II) LoadModule: "extmod"
(II) Loading /usr/X11R6/lib/modules/extensions/libextmod.a
(II) Module extmod: vendor="The XFree86 Project"
	compiled for 4.2.0, module version = 1.0.0
	Module class: XFree86 Server Extension
	ABI class: XFree86 Server Extension, version 0.1
(II) Loading extension SHAPE
(II) Loading extension MIT-SUNDRY-NONSTANDARD
(II) Loading extension BIG-REQUESTS
(II) Loading extension SYNC
(II) Loading extension MIT-SCREEN-SAVER
(II) Loading extension XC-MISC
(II) Loading extension XFree86-VidModeExtension
(II) Loading extension XFree86-Misc
(II) Loading extension DPMS
(II) Loading extension FontCache
(II) Loading extension TOG-CUP
(II) Loading extension Extended-Visual-Information
(II) Loading extension XVideo
(II) Loading extension XVideo-MotionCompensation
(II) LoadModule: "type1"
(II) Loading /usr/X11R6/lib/modules/fonts/libtype1.a
(II) Module type1: vendor="The XFree86 Project"
	compiled for 4.2.0, module version = 1.0.1
	Module class: XFree86 Font Renderer
	ABI class: XFree86 Font Renderer, version 0.3
(II) Loading font Type1
(II) Loading font CID
(II) LoadModule: "freetype"
(II) Loading /usr/X11R6/lib/modules/fonts/libfreetype.a
(II) Module freetype: vendor="The XFree86 Project"
	compiled for 4.2.0, module version = 1.1.10
	Module class: XFree86 Font Renderer
	ABI class: XFree86 Font Renderer, version 0.3
(II) Loading font FreeType
(II) LoadModule: "vga"
(II) Loading /usr/X11R6/lib/modules/drivers/vga_drv.o
(II) Module vga: vendor="The XFree86 Project"
	compiled for 4.2.0, module version = 4.0.0
	Module class: XFree86 Video Driver
	ABI class: XFree86 Video Driver, version 0.5
(II) LoadModule: "mouse"
(II) Loading /usr/X11R6/lib/modules/input/mouse_drv.o
(II) Module mouse: vendor="The XFree86 Project"
	compiled for 4.2.0, module version = 1.0.0
	Module class: XFree86 XInput Driver
	ABI class: XFree86 XInput driver, version 0.3
(II) VGA: Generic VGA driver (version 4.0) for chipsets: generic
(II) Primary Device is: ISA
(--) Chipset generic found
(II) resource ranges after xf86ClaimFixedResources() call:
	[0] 0	0x000b8000 - 0x000bffff (0x8000) MX[B]
	[1] 0	0x000b0000 - 0x000b7fff (0x8000) MX[B]
	[2] 0	0x000a0000 - 0x000affff (0x10000) MX[B]
	[3] -1	0xffe00000 - 0xffffffff (0x200000) MX[B](B)
	[4] -1	0x00100000 - 0x3fffffff (0x3ff00000) MX[B]E(B)
	[5] -1	0x000f0000 - 0x000fffff (0x10000) MX[B]
	[6] -1	0x000c0000 - 0x000effff (0x30000) MX[B]
	[7] -1	0x00000000 - 0x0009ffff (0xa0000) MX[B]
	[8] 0	0x000003c0 - 0x000003df (0x20) IX[B]
	[9] 0	0x000003b0 - 0x000003bb (0xc) IX[B]
	[10] -1	0x0000ffff - 0x0000ffff (0x1) IX[B]
	[11] -1	0x00000000 - 0x000000ff (0x100) IX[B]
(II) resource ranges after probing:
	[0] 0	0x000b8000 - 0x000bffff (0x8000) MX[B]
	[1] 0	0x000b0000 - 0x000b7fff (0x8000) MX[B]
	[2] 0	0x000a0000 - 0x000affff (0x10000) MX[B]
	[3] -1	0xffe00000 - 0xffffffff (0x200000) MX[B](B)
	[4] -1	0x00100000 - 0x3fffffff (0x3ff00000) MX[B]E(B)
	[5] -1	0x000f0000 - 0x000fffff (0x10000) MX[B]
	[6] -1	0x000c0000 - 0x000effff (0x30000) MX[B]
	[7] -1	0x00000000 - 0x0009ffff (0xa0000) MX[B]
	[8] 0	0x000003c0 - 0x000003df (0x20) IX[B]
	[9] 0	0x000003b0 - 0x000003bb (0xc) IX[B]
	[10] -1	0x0000ffff - 0x0000ffff (0x1) IX[B]
	[11] -1	0x00000000 - 0x000000ff (0x100) IX[B]
(II) Loading sub module "int10"
(II) LoadModule: "int10"
(II) Loading /usr/X11R6/lib/modules/linux/libint10.a
(II) Module int10: vendor="The XFree86 Project"
	compiled for 4.2.0, module version = 1.0.0
	ABI class: XFree86 Video Driver, version 0.5
(II) VGA(0): initializing int10
(II) VGA(0): Primary V_BIOS segment is: 0xc000
(**) VGA(0): Depth 8, (--) framebuffer bpp 8
(==) VGA(0): RGB weight 666
(==) VGA(0): Default visual is PseudoColor
(==) VGA(0): Using gamma correction (1.0, 1.0, 1.0)
(==) VGA(0): videoRam: 64 kBytes.
(II) Loading sub module "vgahw"
(II) LoadModule: "vgahw"
(II) Loading /usr/X11R6/lib/modules/libvgahw.a
(II) Module vgahw: vendor="The XFree86 Project"
	compiled for 4.2.0, module version = 0.1.0
	ABI class: XFree86 Video Driver, version 0.5
(II) VGA(0): vgaHWGetIOBase: hwp->IOBase is 0x03d0, hwp->PIOOffset is 0x0000
(==) VGA(0): Virtual size is 320x200 (pitch 320)
(**) VGA(0): Built-in mode "Generic 320x200 default mode": 12.6 MHz (scaled from 25.2 MHz), 31.5 kHz, 70.2 Hz (VScan)
(II) VGA(0): Modeline "Generic 320x200 default mode"   12.59  320 336 384 400  200 206 207 224 vscan 2 -hsync +vsync
(==) VGA(0): DPI set to (75, 75)
(II) Loading sub module "fb"
(II) LoadModule: "fb"
(II) Loading /usr/X11R6/lib/modules/libfb.a
(II) Module fb: vendor="The XFree86 Project"
	compiled for 4.2.0, module version = 1.0.0
	ABI class: XFree86 ANSI C Emulation, version 0.1

Shoukd I wait longer? I tried the VGA driver because I think at least this should work, but it doesn't. Can I use another driver? The XFree86 3.3 found an ET4000 chip. Which driver do I need? I am missing the SVGA-driver from 3.3.

I will also include the XF86Config-file. Maybe there is also an error:

Code:

Section "Module"
    SubSection  "extmod"
    EndSubSection
    Load        "type1"
    Load        "freetype"
EndSection
Section "Files"
    RgbPath	"/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/rgb"
    FontPath   "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/local/"
    FontPath   "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/misc/"
    FontPath   "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi/:unscaled"
    FontPath   "/usr/X11R6/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi/"
EndSection
Section "ServerFlags"
EndSection
Section "InputDevice"
    Identifier	"Keyboard1"
    Driver	"Keyboard"
    Option "AutoRepeat" "500 30"
    Option "XkbRules"	"xfree86"
    Option "XkbModel"	"pc101"
    Option "XkbLayout"	"de"
EndSection
Section "InputDevice"
    Identifier	"Mouse1"
    Driver	"mouse"
    Option "Protocol"    "MouseSystems"
    Option "Device"      "/dev/mouse"
EndSection
Section "Monitor"
    Identifier  "Monitor"
    HorizSync   31.5 - 35.1
    VertRefresh 55-60
   Modeline  "640x480"    25.18 640 664 760 800 480 491 493 525
   Modeline  "320x240"    12.58 320 336 384 400 240 245 246 262 doublescan
EndSection
Section "Device"
    Identifier	"Standard VGA"
    VendorName	"Unknown"
    BoardName	"Unknown"
    Driver     "vga"
EndSection
Section "Device"
    Identifier  "Karte"
    Driver      "vga"
    Clocks          25.18 28.32 32.51 36.01 40.01 44.91 56.03 65.07 12.58 14.16 16.25 18.00 20.00 22.44 28.00 32.51
EndSection
Section "Screen"
    Identifier  "Screen 1"
    Device      "Karte"
    Monitor     "Monitor"
    DefaultDepth 8
    Subsection "Display"
        Depth       8
        Modes       "640x480" "800x600" "1024x768" "1280x1024"
        ViewPort    0 0
    EndSubsection
    Subsection "Display"
        Depth       16
        Modes       "640x480" "800x600" "1024x768"
        ViewPort    0 0
    EndSubsection
    Subsection "Display"
        Depth       24
        Modes       "640x480" "800x600"
        ViewPort    0 0
    EndSubsection
EndSection
Section "ServerLayout"
    Identifier  "Simple Layout"
    Screen "Screen 1"
    InputDevice "Mouse1" "CorePointer"
    InputDevice "Keyboard1" "CoreKeyboard"
EndSection

I have removed all comment lines.

Can anybody of you give me a hint to get the XFree86 successfully starting with slackware?

Thanks in advance.

Nem · 06-09-2007, 07:05 PM

First of all,
Why are you installing slack 8.1?
The latest stable version is slackware 11.0

Zmyrgel · 06-09-2007, 11:47 PM

Didn't latest Slackware releases drop the i386 support? I don't recall which version is the last to support such old hardware but it would be worth checking before downloading latest slackware.

gnashley · 06-10-2007, 12:44 AM

So you got it going -great. Have you installed the svga server?

zorro_kwh · 06-11-2007, 06:24 AM

To answer the questions:

I have to use slackware 8.1, because it was the latest precompiled version for 386DX25 hardware
The svga-server was used by SuSe5.0 with XFree86 3.3
The server structure changed with XFree86 4.2 which is the version used by slackware 8.1

I haven't found an installation package for an svga-server in slackware 8.1. I currently installed the core package XFree86-4.2 and the misc-fonts. I haven't installed any other xap-packages except the fvwm2-window manager. I checked my slackware files an haven't found any package containing the svga-server. Is there a svga-server with XFree86 4.2 available?

Is it possible to run the svga-server of version 3.3 with XFree86 4.2? (This should not be a good solution).

gnashley · 06-11-2007, 06:53 AM

Oops! It might be possible to use the old versions svga server. Have you tried any of the other servers like xvfb? I don't think the VESA server will work for you, but maybe xvfb.
If not, you may be forced to use the earlier version of X for the svga server.

zorro_kwh · 06-13-2007, 12:03 AM

I was able to start the VGA server with only 320x200 resolution.

The start took over 5 minutes.

Although I have a ISA graphics board with ET4000 chip, the "tseng" driver doen't start, because it cannot find the device. Do I need spezial settings for the tseng driver?

The vesa and the fbdev driver didn't start too. The same reason: no device found.

The SVGA_server from Suse didn't run because of "no such file or directory" error message. I think it requres libraries, which are not available within slackware. Is there a way to find out which shared libraries are requred by a program and where it looks for them?

gnashley · 06-13-2007, 07:15 AM

Use 'ldd /prog/path' to find out the specific dependencies of binaries which use shared libs(it will also show lib dependencies of shared libs).

I was just looking around on one of the few slackware mirrors that still have slackware-7.0 which was the last to use XFREE86-3, when I remembered that Slackware 8.1 *does* have the svga server -look in pasture to find it. I'm not sure if you need the xwrapper package also. Anyway, try that or one of the other extra servers there.
The only other solution would be to recompile X completely.

zorro_kwh · 06-15-2007, 04:35 AM

I have tried several options to get the X11 4.2.0 to work and I found a successful solution, which is not very good documented at XFree86:

I use the driver "tseng" for the ET4000 chipset
I add the line: chipset "ET4000" to activate the board "by hand"

It seems that the newer versions of X11 cannot successfully detect ISA board. Maybe it detects newer PCI, AGP, PCIe boards.

After I have selected the chipset manually, The server started successfully after about 10 minutes. (I have only 8 MB memory).

I was able to get a resolution of 800x600 to run with 8bpp.

Although it is very slow and you can see drawing the window frames when moving the xterm window. I am able to start an X11 session. Maybe I need another windowmanager than fvwm2 which uses less resources.

Thanks for your hints

gnashley · 06-15-2007, 08:37 AM

Try using WindowMaker -it still looks really good when using 8bpp color as compared to others. It may still be a little heavy, though. For your system you may want something like fluxbox or blackbox or twm/mwm. There may be others still lighter like swm.
Congratulations for getting it going. Maybe you should do something useful with your system like re-compile KDE(or XFREE86-3.3.6) -be sure and report back next year when that has finished!
No really, you've pulled off a prtetty good trick which I wanted to do awhile back but I never got enough i386 hardware together at one time to get a system to boot. I figured that users of my software would rather I kept my eye on that instead of spending a few weeks to get a 386 running, so I abandoned the idea.
I don't see anything wrong with what you are doing -there used to be references to chipset lines in the xf86 config files so it's legal. In those days X had very poor chipset detection in general so don't feel bad if it doesn't rcognize your ISA card.