> I own a Noname Board and a TGA graphic-option. Linux runs just fine on
> them (Red-Hat 2.1) as long as I use a multisync monitor.
> When I try to connect my VRT-19 HA (which ist fixed frequency) it won't
> work, because the TGA card is in the wrong mode (640x480@60Hz) and it
> does not provide sync on green.
> As I use the ARC console, there is no way to change this setup in the
> firmware like in SRM console with the tga_sync_green variable.
>
> I understand that I must change the initial settings in tga.c but how ?
>
> Another point is, how can I change the ARC-firmware to initialize the
> TGA card with sync_on_green (setting it in SRM and switch to ARC won't
> help) and in 1280x1024@72Hz, which is the mode the VRT-19 understands.
> This mode is the desired one for the console (tga.c), too.
OK, your first *big* problem is, that ARC console will *NEVER* run at a
higher resolution/refresh rate than 640x480@60Hz; ARC and NT were *never*
sold to run on a box that was equipped with a VRT-19 or the like, AFAIK;
only multisyncs were supplied, even when the box was equipped with the TGA,
for specifically this reason (sync-on-green, and ARC's menu-driven
interface). ARC can't do the sync-on-green, AFAIK, so even if you could
change the resolution, you'd still be out of luck... :-(
So, SRM is the only way you can consider. Next you must change tga.c in
two ways:
1. to provide the sync-on-green (I think this may be necessary, even if
the SRM actually sets the hardware correctly, because the tga.c code
may inadvertantly reset that, as may the server code, which is a problem
best left for future consideration :-).
2. to provide the HW parameters for setting the desired resolution and
refresh rate, as well as modify the geometry parameters for rendering
the character bitmaps to the screen which is now a different size.
Now, I can provide you with the pieces of information you'll need for doing
this, if you want.
Also, you need to consider if you intend to utilize the full screen for text
mode. If so, do you want 150 columns by 60 lines (or whatever it really is)
with the default 8x16 font, or would you be satisfied with 80x25, but want a
larger font? Be aware that the more screen area you use, the slower the
scrolling is, as it's done by brute force copying of memory...
My suggestion, as a first cut, anyway, would be to simply manage an 80x25
area with the default font; this way, all the normal text mode apps would
continue to work, and you'd have to mangle only a part of the rendering code.
If the text ended up being too small for comfort, perhaps just using a bigger
font but keeping the same 80x25 geometry would work well, and scrolling
wouldn't be too slow.
> The programmer of tga.c is Jay Eastabrook, but I have no e-mail adress
> of him.
You do now... :-)
Anyway, let me know if you want to pursue this, and I'll send some code your
way.
I, too, have looked longingly at the 2 VRT19-HA's sitting in my office
attached to an old slow Sandpiper (3000/400), but have never felt the
time needed to make use of them was something I could spend... :-(
--Jay++
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American Non Sequitur Society: we don't make sense, but we do like pizza...
Jay A Estabrook Alpha Migration Tools
Mailstop: TAY1-2 (DTN) 227-4202
Digital Equipment Corp. (external) (508) 952-4202
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