Video mode, X-cfb16, kernel make trouble, su fails, configure option

[Adam C Powell IV <hazelsct@mit.edu>]

Greetings,

I'm afraid this is a bit of a kitchen sink message, can't find anything
on any of these in the archive...

1. How do I set the startup/default fb mode?  Is it something like:
boot cmd=video=cyber2000fb:vmode=1024x768
That doesn't work.  I can use fbset just fine, but when X starts, it
goes back to 640x480.  Also, I'd like to start with all of the VCs in
1024x768.

1a. Is there a NeTTrom environment variable to set which passes options
to the kernel?  Nothing given by printenv seems to match.

2. Also, 16-bit X doesn't seem to work, fails on signal 11.  I guess
this is because 8 bit was a priority, and got patched first? :-)  And
16-bit consoles are painfully slow!

3. Next, when attempting make config for the kernel (stock 2.2.12), I
get:
Makefile:240: *** target file `symlinks' has both : and :: entries.
Stop.
Never seen this before...  Any ideas?

4. su root doesn't seem to work since upgrading to base-passwd 2.0.3.4
and base-files 2.1.9.  I just get "su: incorrect password", but if I log
out and back in as root, it's fine.  I'm using shadow passwords, but
that shouldn't affect things, right?  It worked before the upgrade, with
the base-files and base-passwd that came with the February image.

5. What file do I edit to tell configure scripts the host type?  I'm
trying to build ssh, and it gives:
checking host system type... configure: error: can not guess host type;
you must specify one
I tried cp /usr/share/automake/config.guess . but I get the same error.
(Searched the archive for words in the error message but didn't find
anything :-(  )

Thanks very much for the help, for the X packages, and for the new
base-passwd!

Zeen,

-Adam P.