[parisc-linux] Question (fbdev, fbset, debconf)

[parisc-linux] Question (fbdev, fbset, debconf)

[Tobias Giesen]

Hello,

after a long search in the archives and elsewhere this is seems to be
the only remaining place to ask.

I have a fresh install of Debian 3.0 on my HP Visualize C200. Everything
went fine, except:

X server: no screens found.

So I tried to run fbset or debconf, but even though I said yes when
asked whether I wanted frame buffer support during the installation, and
even though the debconf package is installed, I do not have any fbset or
debonf executables on my hard disk.

There is also no /dev/fbdev.

So which is the command to configure my Linux? How do I get a
/dev/fbdev?

Cheers,
Tobias

[parisc-linux] So what about debconf?

[Tobias Giesen]

Hello,

the other problem is even more puzzling for me: 

how do I get back into the text mode UI in order to select and install
new packages? Somewhere in the archives it says "run debconf" but Debian
did not install any executable file with that name.

Please, give me a hint! Currently, I'm just guessing package names and
installing them using the apt-get command line ...

Thanks.

Tobias

Re: [parisc-linux] So what about debconf?

[Matt Taggart]

"Tobias Giesen" writes...

> Hello,
> 
> the other problem is even more puzzling for me: 
> 
> how do I get back into the text mode UI in order to select and install
> new packages? Somewhere in the archives it says "run debconf" but Debian
> did not install any executable file with that name.
> 
> Please, give me a hint! Currently, I'm just guessing package names and
> installing them using the apt-get command line ...

dpkg-reconfigure -plow foo

where foo is the package you want to reconfigure(-plow overrides the 
priority to low making sure it asks you all the questions). Read the man 
page for more details, in particular how to change the frontend(-ftype) and 
how to do all packages (--all).

To change your debconf preferences run

dpkg-reconfigure debconf

-- 
Matt Taggart
taggart@fc.hp.com

Re: [parisc-linux] So what about debconf?

[Matthew Wilcox]

On Sat, Aug 24, 2002 at 12:45:53AM +0200, Tobias Giesen wrote:
> how do I get back into the text mode UI in order to select and install
> new packages?

dselect

-- 
Revolutions do not require corporate support.

Re: [parisc-linux] So what about debconf?

[Matt Taggart]

Matthew Wilcox writes...

> On Sat, Aug 24, 2002 at 12:45:53AM +0200, Tobias Giesen wrote:
> > how do I get back into the text mode UI in order to select and install
> > new packages?
> 
> dselect

Oops, I answered the wrong question. I saw deconf and my brain turned off 
after that. It must be Friday...

Anyway now you know how to reconfigure packages that use debconf too :)

-- 
Matt Taggart
taggart@fc.hp.com

RE: [parisc-linux] Question (fbdev, fbset, debconf)

[Tobias Giesen]

> First of all, what kind of graphics card 
> do you have in it?

Hmm - all I know is: A4552A. I didn't see a list of supported
graphics cards anywhere. Where do I look?

In any case I will try a newer kernel.

Cheers,
Tobias

Re: [parisc-linux] Question (fbdev, fbset, debconf)

[B. Douglas Hilton]

An A4552A is a Visualize-FX2. Supposedly a very good
graphics board but sadly AFAIK it is not supported
yet for X11. Unsure if it will work at all. You may
need to run in serial-console mode until it is completed,
or try and get a used cheap Visualize-EG card somewhere.



Tobias Giesen wrote:
>>First of all, what kind of graphics card 
>>do you have in it?
> 
> 
> Hmm - all I know is: A4552A. I didn't see a list of supported
> graphics cards anywhere. Where do I look?
> 
> In any case I will try a newer kernel.
> 
> Cheers,
> Tobias
> 
> 
> 

RE: [parisc-linux] Question (fbdev, fbset, debconf)

[Tobias Giesen]

> get a used cheap Visualize-EG card somewhere.

I see - any other models that will work? I read your post about a
Visualize-24. Also, do all the different Visualize-EG models work?

Best wishes,
Tobias

Re: [parisc-linux] Question (fbdev, fbset, debconf)

[B. Douglas Hilton]

Don't get a Visualize-24 card. I don't think those
work right now either. Your choice of graphics boards
for a C200 is pretty slim. You have to be careful,
I found that out the HCRX-24Z board apparently fried
my onboard LAN devices when I plugged it onto the GSC bus.
I'm selling it on Ebay right now, so don't buy it,
it won't work :-)

Visualize-EG boards were the low-end boards for C-200
and I think C-180 machines. You may be able to scrounge
one if you are patient. I believe the one you want
is the A4450A. Even still it only has 8-bit color.

I'm going to be attempting to get a *Voodoo2* board
working with X, so if you hang around I may be able
to write a HOWTO-hppa-Voodoo2-XFree86 guide, assuming
it works.

In the meantime, consider getting a used dumb terminal.
I have one and it is pretty convenient at times like
these. If I was getting a new one I think I'd take my
chances on a Wyse-30, they are extremely compact, but
I'm not sure how developed their terminfo support is.
I used my dumb terminal to initially bootstrap my
machine.

Or just run a null modem cable into the serial port
of your other linux box and use something like minicom
to be its terminal.

I realize I'm ramlbing here. Well, I believe that people
are working on getting the FX2/4/6 board working, so
don't get rid of it just yet.




Tobias Giesen wrote:
>>get a used cheap Visualize-EG card somewhere.
> 
> 
> I see - any other models that will work? I read your post about a
> Visualize-24. Also, do all the different Visualize-EG models work?
> 

Not sure. Be careful about putting cards from older machines
into the C200. May cause hardware damage.