Common Solution for X-Window graphics card configuration (1)

Many new graphics cards cannot be supported by XFree86 at the moment, and XWindow configuration is always a problem. However, the frame buffer device of Linux 2.2.x can use the Super VGA feature of the video card through the vesa vbe 2.0 standard, and then use the XFree86 frame buffer Server (XF86_FBDev) you can use high resolution and high/true color for your XWindow. Currently, most new video cards on the market support the VESA 2.0 standard. This is a good solution before your video card is not supported.

The specific implementation involves four aspects:

1. A kernel that supports VESA frame buffer;

2. Create a frame buffer device;

3. Configure the lilo startup option to switch to the specified display mode when the kernel is started;

4. XFree86 frame buffer Server (XF86_FBDev), and configure a Screen for XF86Config.

Required files:

Linux 2.2.x kernel source (original code of 2.2.x kernel, If You Want To compile the kernel yourself );

XFree86 Framebuffer Server: XF86_FBDev (available in Turbo Linux Chinese version, RedHat6.0 CD, ftp.xfree86.org, and other places );

Gcc and other compilation tools.

Compile a kernel that supports VESA frame buffer

Skip this step if there is a ready-made kernel that supports VESA frame buffer. For example, Madrake 6.0 has a kernel that supports frame buffer.

Configure kernel compilation options

In/usr/src/linux, type make xconfig (under XWindow) or make menuconfig (under the command line ).

The options related to frame buffer device are ):

Code maturity level opetions

Y Prompt for development and/or incomplete codes/drivers

Console drivers

Y Video mode selection support

...

Y Support for frame buffer devices

...

Y vesa vga graphics console

...

Y Advance low level driver options

...

Y 8 bpp packed pixels support

Y 16 bpp packed pixels support

Y 24 bpp packed pixels support