intelfb crashes during modprobe

intelfb crashes during modprobe

[Jon Dufresne]

Hi,

I am experimenting with using a framebuffer for video playback with
DirectFB. The first goal of mine is to get a stable fb driver working
that DirectFB can talk to.

My target platform is an x86 with an intel 965G chipset running
fedora. I am attempting to use the intelfb driver to successfully
complete this project.

I let my system boot, and then modprobe intelfb with no parameters.
Every time the system always either reboots, or hangs with no response
to input. Has anyone experienced this before? I can successfully do
low resolution video playback using the vesa driver.

I've developed Linux drivers in the past and am going to dive into the
code to see if I can solve this, and other problems. Should I be in
direct contact with the current maintainer of this module to possibly
point me in the right direction?

Thanks,
Jon

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Re: intelfb crashes during modprobe

[Scott Mcdermott]

Jon Dufresne on Thu 14/08 08:21 -0700:
> My target platform is an x86 with an intel 965G
> chipset running fedora.

I believe intelfb dev for later chipsets has gone here:

http://www.google.com/search?q=%22kernel%20modesetting%22

supposedly 965G works in that tree, and is enableable
with FC9 shipped kernel given the command line args
mentioned

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Re: intelfb crashes during modprobe

[Jon Dufresne]

On Thu, Aug 14, 2008 at 9:14 AM, Scott Mcdermott
<scott.m.mcdermott@gmail.com> wrote:
> Jon Dufresne on Thu 14/08 08:21 -0700:
>> My target platform is an x86 with an intel 965G
>> chipset running fedora.
>
> I believe intelfb dev for later chipsets has gone here:
>
> http://www.google.com/search?q=%22kernel%20modesetting%22
>
> supposedly 965G works in that tree, and is enableable
> with FC9 shipped kernel given the command line args
> mentioned

I took a look at that site. Does this modeset command line option
affect the framebuffer, or X?

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Re: intelfb crashes during modprobe

[Scott Mcdermott]

Jon Dufresne on Mon 18/08 08:03 -0700:
> > I believe intelfb dev for later chipsets has gone
> > here:
> >
> > http://www.google.com/search?q=%22kernel%20modesetting%22
> >
> > supposedly 965G works in that tree, and is enableable
> > with FC9 shipped kernel given the command line args
> > mentioned
> 
> I took a look at that site. Does this modeset command
> line option affect the framebuffer, or X?

It moves all graphics modesetting code into the kernel.
I believe X no longer does the modesetting and has been
built to support the kernel changes.  Fbcon is just
always running.  Haven't tried it yet myself yet
though...

I believe the goal is to move the DRM portion that sets
modes and such into the kernel for all drivers and X
will no longer do low level mode switching.  No more
several second pauses to switch console-X-console
and/or start X.

This thread explains origins but it's a little old:

http://kerneltrap.org/node/8242

I can't find a home site for this project.  But since
RH is pushing it I'll bet money it will get into the
standard kernel before long if it's not already.

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Re: intelfb crashes during modprobe

[Jon Dufresne]

I gave the kernel modesetting option a shot. It actually appears to
get me to a framebuffer much smoother than the previous method. I have
a good looking 720p framebuffer on the CRT port that I can play videos
with. I am quite happy about that thanks.

I have a HDMI port attached to the same chip, using DVO port C. Using
this port has much different results than the CRT port. I looked
through the DMESG and the kernel code and it appears that all non-crt
ports do not support mode switching.

Is there a hardware limitation reason for this?

I commented out the line in the kernel intelfb driver that disables
mode switching for the non-CRT ports, I had no luck (thought I'd give
it a shot just in case).

Anyone have an idea what it would take to fix this? I would be willing
to give it a shot as this box will ideally hook up to a tv using HDMI,
not a CRT monitor. I just need an idea where to start.

Thanks,
Jon

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Re: intelfb crashes during modprobe

[Krzysztof Helt]

On Thu, 14 Aug 2008 08:21:01 -0700
"Jon Dufresne" <jon.dufresne@gmail.com> wrote:

> Hi,
> 
> I am experimenting with using a framebuffer for video playback with
> DirectFB. The first goal of mine is to get a stable fb driver working
> that DirectFB can talk to.
> 
> My target platform is an x86 with an intel 965G chipset running
> fedora. I am attempting to use the intelfb driver to successfully
> complete this project.
> 
> I let my system boot, and then modprobe intelfb with no parameters.
> Every time the system always either reboots, or hangs with no response
> to input. Has anyone experienced this before? I can successfully do
> low resolution video playback using the vesa driver.
> 
> I've developed Linux drivers in the past and am going to dive into the
> code to see if I can solve this, and other problems. Should I be in
> direct contact with the current maintainer of this module to possibly
> point me in the right direction?
> 

Could you provide more details? Especially, if you have connected a CRT
(either real CRT or external LCD panel) or the LVDS (LCD directly to
the chip - like in laptops).

I have not experienced this but I haven't tried it either.

Regards,
Krzysztof

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Re: intelfb crashes during modprobe

[Jon Dufresne]

> Could you provide more details? Especially, if you have connected a CRT
> (either real CRT or external LCD panel) or the LVDS (LCD directly to
> the chip - like in laptops).

I have the graphics chip connected to an external LCD using the vga port.

Btw, I made a mistake in my first post. The chip is an intel 945GM, not 965G.

I've done a bit of experimenting and this crash only occurs when the
"accel" option is turned on. If accel is turned on (the default), then
when I modprobe the driver the system restarts. Otherwise the system
comes on.

Is accel something crucial that I should be concerned about?

Thanks,
Jon

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Re: intelfb crashes during modprobe

[Geert Uytterhoeven]

On Mon, 18 Aug 2008, Jon Dufresne wrote:
> > Could you provide more details? Especially, if you have connected a CRT
> > (either real CRT or external LCD panel) or the LVDS (LCD directly to
> > the chip - like in laptops).
> 
> I have the graphics chip connected to an external LCD using the vga port.
> 
> Btw, I made a mistake in my first post. The chip is an intel 945GM, not 965G.
> 
> I've done a bit of experimenting and this crash only occurs when the
> "accel" option is turned on. If accel is turned on (the default), then
> when I modprobe the driver the system restarts. Otherwise the system
> comes on.

Thanks, that may be a clue for the intelfb experts...

> Is accel something crucial that I should be concerned about?

It enables acceleration (rectangle fill and copy, monochrome color
expansion) for the frame buffer console.

If you disable it, your text console will become slower.

Gr{oetje,eeting}s,

						Geert

--
Geert Uytterhoeven -- There's lots of Linux beyond ia32 -- geert@linux-m68k.org

In personal conversations with technical people, I call myself a hacker. But
when I'm talking to journalists I just say "programmer" or something like that.
							    -- Linus Torvalds

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Re: intelfb crashes during modprobe

[Jon Dufresne]

>> Is accel something crucial that I should be concerned about?
>
> It enables acceleration (rectangle fill and copy, monochrome color
> expansion) for the frame buffer console.
>
> If you disable it, your text console will become slower.

In the end, my plan is to use the framebuffer, through DirectFB, to
play videos. Console speed is of no concern, so it sounds like this
won't matter for now.

My real concern is being able to properly put the framebuffer into the
resolution I want, 720p.

Thanks,
Jon

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