Adam Agnew wrote:
>
> It was requested a shared a little of my experiance using X11 with SiS630
> and it's framebuffer. As of 2.4.0-final, this pretty much works. I will
> try to keep an eye on these instructions as I'm hoping we will see even
> more functionality in the future. If anyone can fill in some gaps, please
> feel free to do so. Almost all information has been extracted from various
> frame buffer manuals.
>
Are you using the sisfb_lite version rather than the old sisfb (sisfb.c or
sis_main.* + sis_300.*) ??
> Using the 2.4.0 kernel and the patch/config provided for said kernel, the
> Sis630 frame buffer is compiled into the kernel by default. That leaves
> very little for us to do! One of the first issues while using the
> framebuffer driver is your resolution. The defaul resolution is 640x480,
> but this can be overidden in your linuxbios config file, on the
> commandline option with an option that looks like:
> video=sisfb:800x600@72
> that's 800 width by 600 height at 72Hz. Most any mode listed in
> /etc/fb.modes will work, but I recommend you try them out with fbset
> first. Or, you can give fbset your chosen values (see the fbset man
> page) and add the equivalent into /etc/fb.modes . My personal favorite is
> video=sisfb:1024x768@70 but I eat a lot of carrots.
>
If you are using my sisfb_lite you can set the mode by:
video=sisfb:800x600-16@72
That is:
video=sisfb:<xres>x<yres>-<depth>@<refresh>
> The next issue is X-11. F8or this, you must have the XFree86_FBDev server
> installed. First, you must uncomment the line in your
> /etc/X11/XF86Config that says XkbDisable as X11 will not reliably be
> able to use your keyboard otherwise. Then you must add a server section to
> the bottom as such:
For sisfb_lite, you don't have to use XFree86_FBDev, which is not accelerated.
You can use the same old accelerated XFree_SVGA. The sisfb_lite is specificly
"tuned" to wrokaround some "bugs" in the XFree_SVGA. With XFree_SVGA you can
set any resolution you want in XF86Config.
>
> So now you have an X11 server that runs at the same resolution that you
> defined in the command line. Normally, one is able to define modes in the
> XF86Config file for other resolutions, but the sis630 frame buffer driver
> doesn't seem to support this yet. I also have been unable to define fonts
> through the kernel's commandline yet which I suspect is also a limitation
> of the frame buffer driver. Hopefully when Ollie comes back, he may know
> how to accomplish these things. If anyone else can figure out how to do
> either of these things (on the kernel commandline, not once running),
> please try and let me know how.
>
I remove the "feature" (set font on cmdline) when I was developing the sisfb_lite.
It will be put back once it is confirmed by 3rd party that the current version
work fine.
Ollie
