Re: Setting a console resolution

A small update. I did some more testing on the system with Intel 3600 graphics, and at least one working solution was to blacklist the module:

In /etc/modprobe.d/whatever.conf

blacklist gma500_gfx

This enabled me to use the following lines in /etc/default/grub

GRUB_GFXMODE=1024x768@60

GRUB_GFXPAYLOAD_LINUX=keep

Then run update-grub as always. For some reason, this works for resolution change for both grub and the console. I guess this is because vesafb is now in use. I wish it was possible to change the resolution with the 'native' modules, but have not found the right documentation on the video= syntax (if it works at all). As mentioned, it did not work with setting it in grub.

With regards,

Henrik

On Thu, Dec 28, 2017 at 12:48 PM, henrik i <whocarez1@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi,

I got two computers that usually run headless, but from time to time I might need to troubleshoot from the console. When I do this, I just connect a plain VGA cable to my 1920x1200 Dell monitor. Just upgraded to Stretch with kernel 4.9 and noticed that no matter what I do, the console resolution is 1920x1200. In addition, on the computer with the Matrox-adapter running something as simple as 'dmesg -T' is really really slow. It literally takes several seconds while the text scrolls on the screen.

The thing is, I do not really care about fancy framebuffer resolution and graphics on the console. I just want fairly big text that scrolls without hiccups, even in 640x480 :P

I have tried setting the resolution in /etc/default/grub:
GRUB_GFXMODE=1024x768x32
GRUB_GFXPAYLOAD_LINUX=keep

Then running update-grub. The only thing that changes, is the grub-menu resolution, nothing else. I think the resolutions I have tried should be supported, given the output from 'vbeinfo' in Grub. I also gave a couple of kernel parameters a try, like video=1024x768x32. Even tried vga= and nomodeset, but I think doing this is deprecated. None of these methods seem to work.

I believe the resolution is set through KMS, Kernel Mode Setting. Maybe I just need to blacklist some modules?

I know the onboard graphic cards are quite cheap, the Intel one is not even made/supported by Intel :P Here is some output taken from lspci and dmesg:

1.
04:03.0 VGA compatible controller: Matrox Electronics Systems Ltd. MGA G200eW WPCM450 (rev 0a)
Subsystem: Super Micro Computer Inc X9SCM-F Motherboard
Kernel driver in use: mgag200
Kernel modules: mgag200

[ 12.997224] [drm] Initialized
[ 13.150842] fbcon: mgadrmfb (fb0) is primary device
[ 13.870421] mgag200 0000:04:03.0: fb0: mgadrmfb frame buffer device
[ 13.888499] [drm] Initialized mgag200 1.0.0 20110418 for 0000:04:03.0 on minor 0

2.
00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation Atom Processor D2xxx/N2xxx Integrated Graphics Controller (rev 09)
Subsystem: Intel Corporation Atom Processor D2xxx/N2xxx Integrated Graphics Controller
Kernel driver in use: gma500
Kernel modules: gma500_gfx
- probably Intel 3600 graphics? (Not really Intel)

[ 7.592556] [drm] Initialized
[ 7.987711] [drm] Supports vblank timestamp caching Rev 2 (21.10.2013).
[ 8.007901] [drm] No driver support for vblank timestamp query.
[ 8.682025] fb: switching to psbdrmfb from VESA VGA
[ 8.740893] fbcon: psbdrmfb (fb0) is primary device
[ 9.598838] gma500 0000:00:02.0: fb0: psbdrmfb frame buffer device
[ 9.613364] [drm] Initialized gma500 1.0.0 20140314 for 0000:00:02.0 on minor 0
[ 32.791633] [drm:cdv_intel_dp_complete_link_train [gma500_gfx]] *ERROR* failed to train DP, aborting

With regards,
Henrik