retitle 245246 xserver-xfree86: [sunffb] X server fails to start on Elite3D if firmware not loaded first
severity 245246 normal
thanks
On Wed, May 05, 2004 at 09:23:32AM +0200, Joerg Friedrich wrote:
> > Okay, it looks like the sunffb driver is definitely busted in testing
> > and unstable.
> >
> > Debian SPARC porters:
>
> I got it :-)
>
> At least the Elite3D graphics adaptor (I don't know the Creator)
> requires to be initialized by afbinit which need a microcode file from
> sun. after 'afbinit /dev/fd0' X starts without any problems!
>
> Sorry I am new to Linux/SPARC.
>
> Maybe you can raise a debconf warning when the sunffb driver is
> selected.
Excellent! Thank you for following up.
I suspect what should be done instead is:
1) The kernel, or hotplug, or some non-XFree86 package, should
automatically run "afbinit /dev/fd0" at boot time. This issue I leave
to debian-sparc to debate.
2) The XFree86 X server should be improved to:
A) at best, detect that the firmware isn't loaded and issue an error
message about this so there is something intelligible in the log
other than the unresolved symbols garbage; or
B) at worst, always warn all sunffb users about the fact that Elite3D,
among possibly other Sun video hardware, needs to be initialized
with afbinit first
I can write a patch for the latter. I can't do the former without
assistance. If someone could help me with a function call or two to
ask the hardware if its firmware is loaded (if that is even possible),
that would be most appreciated.
Retitling and downgrading the severity of this bug.
--
G. Branden Robinson |
Debian GNU/Linux | If encryption is outlawed, only
branden@debian.org | outlaws will @goH7Ok=<q4fDj]Kz?.
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