Slackware Aarch64: Raspberry Pi 400 hardware support

drmozes · 03-18-2024, 10:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brianL

one with the ncurses setup being too big for the screen .

Did the font size increase when you pressed ENTER to activate the console and start the installer, or was it before that? The root's shell profile sets a large font, but I can adjust it to not do that on the RPi400.

brianL · 03-18-2024, 10:44 AM

When I typed setup, then pressed Enter and the ncurses interface came up. The console font size was OK before and after that.

drmozes · 03-18-2024, 11:52 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brianL

When I typed setup, then pressed Enter and the ncurses interface came up. The console font size was OK before and after that.

Are you using the Slackware installer? The font size should increase after you hit ENTER when seeing this message.
I could either set a smaller console font so that the setup menu fits, or leave it unset and use the default font (which is too small on regular monitors).

brianL · 03-18-2024, 12:35 PM

Yes, used the installer. The problem occurs after the message you quoted, after partitioning, and only in the ncurses interface after entering setup. The console font is OK sizewise. Does the ncurses font setting depend on the console font setting?

pchristy · 03-18-2024, 12:49 PM

My /etc/rc.d is fully populated!

Will come back when you've got this initial hurdle sorted...

--
Pete

drmozes · 03-18-2024, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brianL

Yes, used the installer. The problem occurs after the message you quoted, after partitioning, and only in the ncurses interface after entering setup. The console font is OK sizewise. Does the ncurses font setting depend on the console font setting?

The selected font is used throughout the Virtual Console, unless some app changes it.
For future Installer builds, it'll not set a console font on the RPi400; but if you want to experiment with one that works in the Installer, the command is:

Code:

setfont /usr/share/kbd/consolefonts/ter-732b.psf.gz

You could look within that dir to find a smaller, suitable font and let me know and I'll make it load that one instead.

So, the RPi400 works for you with the standard Slackware Installer and Kernel?

brianL · 03-18-2024, 12:53 PM

Anyway, I eventually got everything installed, up, and running. So it doesn't prevent installation, just delays it a bit. Maybe something in the ncurses source code?

brianL · 03-18-2024, 01:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by drmozes

So, the RPi400 works for you with the standard Slackware Installer and Kernel?

Yes, perfect, thanks.
The problem could be due to this small monitor (10.1") I'm using, although that wouldn't explain the difference in size between the console and ncurses fonts. I've set a suitable size for future console use as ter-v18n.

drmozes · 03-18-2024, 01:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brianL

Maybe something in the ncurses source code?

It's because I configured root's shell profile to use a larger screen font, which allows for comfortable reading on my large monitor.This setup also works well on the screen of the Pinebook Pro.

You don't need to reboot into the Installer to play with the fonts - you can set one from the OS:

Code:

setconsolefont

Find one that works well on the RPi's screen, then test it with the Installer's setup menu:

Code:

cd /tmp;mkdir Z; cd Z
wget https://slackware.uk/slackwarearm/slackwareaarch64-current/installer/initrd-armv8.img

As root, unpack it and chroot into it

Code:

cd /tmp/Z
xz -dc initrd-armv8.img | cpio -di
chroot .
/usr/lib/setup/setup

You can see if the setup menu fits on screen.

brianL · 03-18-2024, 01:36 PM

Did all that, and everything looked perfect. Have to wait and see if anyone else installs it on a 400, see if they encounter the same problem.

drmozes · 03-18-2024, 02:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brianL

I've set a suitable size for future console use as ter-v18n.

Thanks, I'll configure this one for the Installer.

brianL · 03-18-2024, 02:48 PM

Wait and see if anybody else reports the same issue before you make any changes.

drmozes · 03-19-2024, 05:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brianL

Wait and see if anybody else reports the same issue before you make any changes.

The font has been included in the Installer, but it won't be automatically loaded. I've included a note about this in the installation guide.

brianL · 03-19-2024, 07:38 AM

My problem sorted out. See the changelog for current thread.

brianL · 03-19-2024, 07:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brianL

Where has everything gone out of /etc/rc.d? I went there looking for rc.ntpd, and it was empty.

Quote:

Originally Posted by drmozes

I see mine!

Me too, using ls /etc/rc.d. But I looked first in the file manager (dolphin), and it was empty.