Re: OpenGL-based framebuffer concepts

From: Antonino A. Daplas
Date: Wed May 31 2006 - 07:58:52 EST


Ondrej Zajicek wrote:
> On Wed, May 31, 2006 at 07:21:11AM +0800, Antonino A. Daplas wrote:
>>> 2) To modify appropriate fbdev drivers to not do mode change at startup.
>>> Fill fb_*_screeninfo with appropriate values for text mode instead.
>> Most drivers do not change the mode at startup. Do not load fbcon, and
>> you will retain your text mode even if a framebuffer is loaded.
>
> Yes, but i wrote about _using_ fbcon and fbdev without mode change.

boot with fbcon=map:9 /* or any number greater than the number of fbdev's loaded */

>
>>> 3) (optional) To modify appropriate fbdev drivers to be able to switch
>>> back from graphics mode to text mode.
>> And a few drivers already do that, i810fb and rivafb. Load rivafb or i810fb,
>> switch to graphics mode, unload, and you're back to text mode.
>
> I though about being able to explicitly change mode from graphics to text
> (for example when fbdev-only X switch to fbcon) while using fbdev.

This will require the following:

1. a generic text mode framebuffer driver, ie, an fbdev version of vgacon
2. a chipset driver that can fully restore VGA text mode.

The framebuffer layer already has helper functions that will save and restore
the standard VGA registers. It's the save/restore of extended registers that
only the chipset driver know about which is lacking.

Once the above 2 are satisfied, the infrastructure is already present that
will do what you want.

Tony
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