Ubuntu 11.10 Server console video blanking every 7 seconds
 

Installed Ubuntu 11.10 server (AMD64) on a Dell Poweredge 2850 server. Install went fine, but after boot-up the console video (native console resolution - no GUI) goes blanks for about 2 seconds every 7 seconds, repeatedly. The monitor doesn't fall asleep, the monitor video blacks out, then reappears.

I would suspect the hardware, except that the same system ran for hours on the bios/RAID configuration screens and Ubuntu install without this problem.

I usually ssh in remotely, but it would be nice to have a working console.

Is this a known bug? Is there a patch or workaround?

A workaround might be the setterm command. If you check the man page, you'll see several options you can try. If it works, put the command in rc.local or one of your startup scripts.

Whether it's a known bug or not I couldn't say.