Re: framebuffer console problems

James Miller
2004-10-22T21:14:00Z

On Fri, 22 Oct 2004, Jim Nelson wrote:

> If you are using a 2.6 kernel (and maybe the 2.4), the kernel module for
> the ATI Rage series of graphics systems is aty128fb, not atyfb. I've
> had problems with vesafb myself, but with really old hardware (Trident
> TGUI 9660 on an old Thinkpad).

Thanks for your response, Jim. Not sure if you recall what sort of card I
mentioned, but it's an older, onboard one with low memory. According to
an infomrational page I found at
www.sharplabs.com:8668/space/video+boot+arguments , I should be using the
atyfb module (and they do list the aty128fb there for other ATI Rage
models). So, do you still think I"m using the wrong module? I really
don't know. I consider myself a total neophyte at this

> If you are always going to use the framebuffer, go ahead and compile it
> into the kernel. Saves a bit of trouble, and if you don't need modules
> to load for accessing any of the devices necessary for reaching the init
> scripts, you can probably dump the initrd altogether. It's crucial on
> distro-provided kernels, since they have to support a broad array of
> equipment, but if this is a one-off kernel for your own personal
> equipment, and you don't need modules (i. e. nforce drivers from Nvidia,
> etc.) to access the boot disk, an initrd is not necessary. None of my
> systems use them.

Yes, I have in mind to compile myself a kernel at some point. Just trying
to defer it until I have some more basic problems solved. But they seem
to appear at least as fast as I can solve them :).

James