Hello all - I've been having trouble configuring a 2.6.16.5 kernel. on boot, after bios check, the console text is garbled and pixellated (not just blurry, but totally unreadable). this is not in X, but before X is started.

I am guessing the problem is in the options I picked under DEVICE DRIVERS->GRAPHICS SUPPORT in the kernel config. it is very confusing to figure out which is required among:

support for framebuffer devices
virtual framebuffer support
console display driver support
framebuffer console support
VESA VGA
Nvidia framebuffer

and probably others?? the config descriptions don't help much. I'm pulling my hair out compiling and recompiling many different combinations, both compiled in and as modules. I don't know what is conflicting with what, or what to remove. I read the kernel-howto and framebuffer-howto, but I'm still stuck.

I have a Nvidia 5900XT card and intel P4. I am sure there are no hardware problems, as other kernels that are installed work perfectly.

anyone know exactly which graphics options are required, or where to read more about it?!

many thanks for any assistance.

Here's what I use, adjust for you Nvidia cat as this is for a Sis interface;

#
# Graphics support
#
CONFIG_FB=y
CONFIG_FB_CFB_FILLRECT=y
CONFIG_FB_CFB_COPYAREA=y
CONFIG_FB_CFB_IMAGEBLIT=y
# CONFIG_FB_MACMODES is not set
# CONFIG_FB_MODE_HELPERS is not set
# CONFIG_FB_TILEBLITTING is not set
# CONFIG_FB_CIRRUS is not set
# CONFIG_FB_PM2 is not set
# CONFIG_FB_CYBER2000 is not set
# CONFIG_FB_ARC is not set
# CONFIG_FB_ASILIANT is not set
# CONFIG_FB_IMSTT is not set
CONFIG_FB_VGA16=m
CONFIG_FB_VESA=y
CONFIG_VIDEO_SELECT=y
# CONFIG_FB_HGA is not set
# CONFIG_FB_S1D13XXX is not set
# CONFIG_FB_NVIDIA is not set
# CONFIG_FB_RIVA is not set
# CONFIG_FB_MATROX is not set
# CONFIG_FB_RADEON_OLD is not set
# CONFIG_FB_RADEON is not set
# CONFIG_FB_ATY128 is not set
# CONFIG_FB_ATY is not set
# CONFIG_FB_SAVAGE is not set
CONFIG_FB_SIS=m
# CONFIG_FB_SIS_300 is not set
CONFIG_FB_SIS_315=y
# CONFIG_FB_NEOMAGIC is not set
# CONFIG_FB_KYRO is not set
# CONFIG_FB_3DFX is not set
# CONFIG_FB_VOODOO1 is not set
# CONFIG_FB_TRIDENT is not set
# CONFIG_FB_GEODE is not set
# CONFIG_FB_VIRTUAL is not set

#
# Console display driver support
#
CONFIG_VGA_CONSOLE=y
CONFIG_DUMMY_CONSOLE=y
CONFIG_FRAMEBUFFER_CONSOLE=y
# CONFIG_FRAMEBUFFER_CONSOLE_ROTATION is not set
# CONFIG_FONTS is not set
CONFIG_FONT_8x8=y
CONFIG_FONT_8x16=y

#
# Logo configuration
#
CONFIG_LOGO=y
# CONFIG_LOGO_LINUX_MONO is not set
# CONFIG_LOGO_LINUX_VGA16 is not set
CONFIG_LOGO_LINUX_CLUT224=y
# CONFIG_BACKLIGHT_LCD_SUPPORT is not set

HTH

Thanks for your reply Lenard - there are some differences between your config and mine. I have noted them and will try to get mine to follow yours to see if that helps.

but I'm still not sure which options are conflicting/causing the console text problem - anyone have any clues on the root of the problem?

Hi,
I had a similar, not exact, problem configuring this kernel. I have an nVidia card similar to yours and, I agree, it is very confusing. However, Lenard's configuration is what was recommended to me and it worked. But, I think your problem is related to the boot resolution in lilo or grub (I use grub). As was pointed out to me, vga=791 gives you a 1024X758 screen which many people use (I use vga=788 which gives me 800X600 for a little larger font). This may not be the problem you are experiencing, but, given the symptoms, I would certainly try looking into it.

Hope this helps.

Bob

many thanks Bob -- I was using 773 before. I will add experimenting with the vga values to my list of things to try. that could certainly be part of it.

(for curious readers, there is a table of vga values, in hex, in the framebuffer howto at tldp)

I had almost the very same problem as well however i have a laptop with Intel graphics. (also.-2.6.15 kernel)
i had to use vga = normal in lilo.conf (then run #lilo)
i could then see the console in standard vga 640x480

i then found when compiling the kernel i had to add the following compiled into kernel (not modules)
Support for frame buffer devices
VESA VGA Graphics support
console display driver support >
Video Mode selection support
Frame buffer console support.
Plus the boot logo and 256k penguin

I had to make sure i 'removed' the INTEL drivers for my card (thanks to Alien_Hominid who suggested this) as they were conflicting (err: intelfb-unable to reserve fb)
NOTE: I also had to use #make menuconfig in order to get all the options listed above
if i used kde's configutil #make xconfig > it did not display VESA or frame buffer console (i cannot remmeber which - but one of them was definately not there)
I was then able to pass the nice VGA=791 etc...

Well, since i made my first kernel upgrade that the beautiful console at the startup with the Tux logo at the top disapeared... I tried to get it back but failed.
Now that I was upgrading to 2.6.16.9 i decided to try the options that Lenard posted and after re-changing the lilo.conf vga mode to 773 I was barely praying at the startup because i tought (like the other times) that all i was going to see was a black screen but no!

This excitation might sound stupid but I'm really happy i mannaged to get back the console i wanted!

So I just wanted to thank to the people that participated in this topic, it really helped me!

Hey SlackTux - thanks for the note!
I also upgraded form 2.4.29 > 2.6.15 and lost the high res and penguin and was absolutely devestated! hahaha..
I am positive mine happened becuase i used #make xconfig instead of #make menuconfig
Something was definately not even listed when i used xconfig... Im pretty sure it was the VESA support

Nope, it is there Device Support-->Graphics Support-->Support for frame buffer devices

i just checked again and it is there now as well on mine (Vesa VGA support i mean)... I'm sure it was not there before i used menuconfig... Oh well -i dont know now. i remember at the time it was missing... lol, i had probably done something wrong though. my wrong