Bug#182704: Debconf configuration sets use_fbdev without asking, making X unstartable

[Sven Luther <luther@dpt-info.u-strasbg.fr>]

On Fri, Feb 28, 2003 at 08:27:02PM -0500, Branden Robinson wrote:
> On Fri, Feb 28, 2003 at 10:04:53PM +0100, Michel D?nzer wrote:
> > > Uh, so it sounds like you're telling me that /proc/fb is essentially
> > > useless for autoconfiguring the X server.
> > > 
> > > 1) /proc/fb reporting something doesn't mean you can just switch on
> > >    "UseFBDev", because that won't work with "generic [kernel] drivers"
> > 
> > I do think parsing /proc/fb to determine this is feasible, we just need
> > to gather enough data.
> 
> Well, why don't you get me started with some, and we can add more as
> time goes by?

I think not all X drivers support (or even need) the UseFBDev flag.

For example, the glint driver doesn't know anything about UseFBDev, and
will work just fine without it, even if you were using pm3fb for
example. That said it doesn't use the fbdev for mode configuration or
anything.

Now, the glint driver for pm2fb on amiga/apus hardware, will autodetect
that we are on amiga/apus, and start using the fbdev in this case. More
or less, michel wrote that code, so he knows more than me on this issue.

Anyway, i guess the best solution would be to check each X driver, and
see if it supports the UseFBDev option. Then you can either parse the
/proc/fb for appropriate drivers, with a mapping like Michel suggest, or
use the pci ids the driver supports. Still you would need to check if
the specific fbdev was loaded before setting the UseFBDev or something
such.

Friendly,

Sven Luther