linuxconsole-dev

Re: Mostly successful with Backstreet Ruby but lost VT1

[<Aiv...@un...>]

>I just spent the whole day getting Backstreet Ruby working on my system,
>mostly successfully.  I'll report my experience then ask for help
>regaining my virtual terminal #1 (or virtual console; I'm not clear on
>the terminology.  I mean the thing I used to get when I pressed
>Ctrl-Alt-F1).

Unfortunately text mode console never works corectly after start
of 2 or more xf86. Current this is true for all.

>I'm running Debian Woody and my project is a digital picture frame
>(read: "unwanted flat panel display gotten for cheap") near my
>computer.  The display is now in a nice wooden frame, hanging on the
>wall, so it doesn't look like a computer screen, and it's attached to my
>PC by a 15' VGA cable to a cheap PCI GeForce2.  When I boot my computer
>the picture frame display comes up with its own X server then one of my
>digital photographs is chosen at random and displayed.  It's totally
>independent of gdm and whether I'm logged in or not (thank you,
>Backstreet Ruby).
>
>I followed the directions in the XFree Local Multi-User HOWTO, which was
>very helpful.  Thank you, Svetoslav Slavtchev.
>
>I first tried using Andreas Schuldei's binary kernel package
>(kernel-image-2.4.20-backstreet-ruby-p4_10.00.Custom_i386.deb) but when
>I booted up my PS/2 keyboard didn't work.  I then tried to patch a
>Debian 2.4.21 kernel but the patch failed, so I downloaded a vanilla
>2.4.21 kernel which patched successfully.  When configuring the kernel I
>tried to set "Input Devices/Keyboards/AT keyboard support" to Y so I
>wouldn't have to deal with loading the module (as recommended by the
>instructions).  The kernel configurator wouldn't let me; it insisted on
>it being set to 'M'.  I tried booting this kernel and it failed in the
>same way (no keyboard).  I then reconfigured the kernel and turned on
>"Prompt for development and/or incomplete code/drivers".  Once that was
>on I was allowed to set "AT keyboard support" to 'Y' instead of 'M'.

You can load module during init "modprobe atkbd".

>Booting the patched kernel now works with my keyboard.  I have to add
>"dumbcon=1" to my kernel command line (maybe because I've got only one
>keyboard plugged in).
>
>I've got an AGP GeForce3 and a PCI GeForce2 in my system and I'm using
>nVidia's binary drivers.  I first tried the kernel-only solution but my
>system crashed with bizarre patterns on my screens.  Fine, so I switched
>to Andreas Schuldei's binaries for the patched XFree86 3.0 and these
>worked, but only if I probe my GeForce2 first, i.e.:
>
>        /usr/X11R6/bin/X -probeonly -layout Small
>        /usr/X11R6/bin/X :1 -layout Small -prefbusid 2:7:0 vt8 &
>
>after which I load gdm, which starts the other X server on the AGP
>card.  It seems odd that I have to probe the PCI card right before
>starting the PCI card (this isn't about which card comes first), but
>that's what worked.

Seems nvidia closed source kernel module must be loaded with all
video cards in use. "X -probeonly" uses all video cards on system, but
"X -prefbusid" hide unnecessary cards and xf86 known about one actual
card. After "X -probeonly" kernel module "nvidia" stay active in the
kernel user can start properly initialized Nvidia cards in any order.
After module "nvidia" removing X must be probed again.

>I made some small changes to a program called "qiv" to behave itself
>better when it displays the photograph (such as hiding the mouse
>pointer).  Yay, open source!
>
>Here's the part where I need help.  Now when I press Ctrl-Alt-F1, the
>main display switches back to the text-only console BUT it's "greyed
>out"!  Both the foreground text and background look grey--the text is
>darker than it should be and the background is lighter.  I can read text
>on it but I cannot type anything to it.  This alarms me because I like
>dropping out of X once and a while and getting a command line.  Any
>ideas?

??? 1st must be started xf86 on VGA, then 2nd. This will not work
alltime. 2nd server clean up VGA fonts :(

>During my experimenting I did try having gdm launch both X servers as
>explained in the HOWTO.  When I did this, instead of launching one
>myself, I was able to use VT1 but suffered the garbage font problem.
>Typing "consolechars -d" fixed it immediately.  I don't care about this,
>because I don't want gdm to launch both servers,

any shell script can start number of xf86 servers.

>but I'm noting it
>because I didn't have the "greyed-out" VT1 problem in that setup.

Rather some from xf86 folk should take a look. Pressing Ctrl-Alt-F1,
Ctrl-F7, Ctrl-Alt-F1 sometimes helps. Ctrl-F1, Ctrl-F2, Ctrl-F1
sometimes helps.

Aivils Stoss
enthuziast of computer programming

Re: Mostly successful with Backstreet Ruby but lost VT1

[<Aiv...@un...>]

>> >I've got an AGP GeForce3 and a PCI GeForce2 in my system and I'm using
>> >nVidia's binary drivers.  I first tried the kernel-only solution but my
>> >system crashed with bizarre patterns on my screens.  Fine, so I
switched
>> >to Andreas Schuldei's binaries for the patched XFree86 3.0 and these
>> >worked, but only if I probe my GeForce2 first, i.e.:
>> >
>> >        /usr/X11R6/bin/X -probeonly -layout Small
>> >        /usr/X11R6/bin/X :1 -layout Small -prefbusid 2:7:0 vt8 &
>> >
>> >after which I load gdm, which starts the other X server on the AGP
>> >card.  It seems odd that I have to probe the PCI card right before
>> >starting the PCI card (this isn't about which card comes first), but
>> >that's what worked.
>>
>> Seems nvidia closed source kernel module must be loaded with all
>> video cards in use. "X -probeonly" uses all video cards on system, but
>> "X -prefbusid" hide unnecessary cards and xf86 known about one actual
>> card. After "X -probeonly" kernel module "nvidia" stay active in the
>> kernel user can start properly initialized Nvidia cards in any order.
>> After module "nvidia" removing X must be probed again.
>
>can you explain a bit more ?

2nd xf86 Nvidia closed source driver report "Unable load kernel moudule",
if 1st xf86 started with -prefbusid option.

>in what situation is this needed?

If user have 2 or more Nvidia cards in one box.

>> >I made some small changes to a program called "qiv" to behave itself
>> >better when it displays the photograph (such as hiding the mouse
>> >pointer).  Yay, open source!
>> >
>> >Here's the part where I need help.  Now when I press Ctrl-Alt-F1, the
>> >main display switches back to the text-only console BUT it's "greyed
>> >out"!  Both the foreground text and background look grey--the text is
>> >darker than it should be and the background is lighter.  I can read
text
>> >on it but I cannot type anything to it.  This alarms me because I like
>> >dropping out of X once and a while and getting a command line.  Any
>> >ideas?
>>
>> ??? 1st must be started xf86 on VGA, then 2nd. This will not work
>> alltime. 2nd server clean up VGA fonts :(
>>
>> >During my experimenting I did try having gdm launch both X servers as
>> >explained in the HOWTO.  When I did this, instead of launching one
>> >myself, I was able to use VT1 but suffered the garbage font problem.
>> >Typing "consolechars -d" fixed it immediately.  I don't care about
this,
>> >because I don't want gdm to launch both servers,
>>
>> any shell script can start number of xf86 servers.
>
>but wont be there a problem,
>that all X servers are running under the same user ?

"login -f wildtransilvaniadude". for auto login may be used mingetty
or agetty. parse inet. IMHO 2nd display on the wall do not needs for
login promt.

Aivils

Re: Mostly successful with Backstreet Ruby but lost VT1

[Svetoslav S. <ga...@st...>]

Quoting Aiv...@un...:

> 
> >> >I've got an AGP GeForce3 and a PCI GeForce2 in my system and I'm using
> >> >nVidia's binary drivers.  I first tried the kernel-only solution but my
> >> >system crashed with bizarre patterns on my screens.  Fine, so I
> switched
> >> >to Andreas Schuldei's binaries for the patched XFree86 3.0 and these
> >> >worked, but only if I probe my GeForce2 first, i.e.:
> >> >
> >> >        /usr/X11R6/bin/X -probeonly -layout Small
> >> >        /usr/X11R6/bin/X :1 -layout Small -prefbusid 2:7:0 vt8 &
> >> >
> >> >after which I load gdm, which starts the other X server on the AGP
> >> >card.  It seems odd that I have to probe the PCI card right before
> >> >starting the PCI card (this isn't about which card comes first), but
> >> >that's what worked.
> >>
> >> Seems nvidia closed source kernel module must be loaded with all
> >> video cards in use. "X -probeonly" uses all video cards on system, but
> >> "X -prefbusid" hide unnecessary cards and xf86 known about one actual
> >> card. After "X -probeonly" kernel module "nvidia" stay active in the
> >> kernel user can start properly initialized Nvidia cards in any order.
> >> After module "nvidia" removing X must be probed again.
> >
> >can you explain a bit more ?
> 
> 2nd xf86 Nvidia closed source driver report "Unable load kernel moudule",
> if 1st xf86 started with -prefbusid option.
> 
> >in what situation is this needed?
> 
> If user have 2 or more Nvidia cards in one box.

can you give some more details as i'll have to add it to the howto,
and smth strange(may be luck) i got user report that it works without the
-probeonly.

> >> >I made some small changes to a program called "qiv" to behave itself
> >> >better when it displays the photograph (such as hiding the mouse
> >> >pointer).  Yay, open source!
> >> >
> >> >Here's the part where I need help.  Now when I press Ctrl-Alt-F1, the
> >> >main display switches back to the text-only console BUT it's "greyed
> >> >out"!  Both the foreground text and background look grey--the text is
> >> >darker than it should be and the background is lighter.  I can read
> text
> >> >on it but I cannot type anything to it.  This alarms me because I like
> >> >dropping out of X once and a while and getting a command line.  Any
> >> >ideas?
> >>
> >> ??? 1st must be started xf86 on VGA, then 2nd. This will not work
> >> alltime. 2nd server clean up VGA fonts :(
> >>
> >> >During my experimenting I did try having gdm launch both X servers as
> >> >explained in the HOWTO.  When I did this, instead of launching one
> >> >myself, I was able to use VT1 but suffered the garbage font problem.
> >> >Typing "consolechars -d" fixed it immediately.  I don't care about
> this,
> >> >because I don't want gdm to launch both servers,
> >>
> >> any shell script can start number of xf86 servers.
> >
> >but wont be there a problem,
> >that all X servers are running under the same user ?
> 
> "login -f wildtransilvaniadude". for auto login may be used mingetty
> or agetty. parse inet. IMHO 2nd display on the wall do not needs for
> login promt.
> 
> Aivils

just did it before a while,
and came with "su [username] -c "startx -- ......."

Jiri Mlika(jiri.mlika[at]skoda[dot]cz) is tring to setup a system with multiple
rdesktop logins (and not to use dual login, first display manager and then rdesktop)

best,

svetljo

Re: Mostly successful with Backstreet Ruby but lost VT1

[<Aiv...@un...>]

>> >> >I've got an AGP GeForce3 and a PCI GeForce2 in my system and I'm
using
>> >> >nVidia's binary drivers.  I first tried the kernel-only solution but
my
>> >> >system crashed with bizarre patterns on my screens.  Fine, so I
>> switched
>> >> >to Andreas Schuldei's binaries for the patched XFree86 3.0 and these
>> >> >worked, but only if I probe my GeForce2 first, i.e.:
>> >> >
>> >> >        /usr/X11R6/bin/X -probeonly -layout Small
>> >> >        /usr/X11R6/bin/X :1 -layout Small -prefbusid 2:7:0 vt8 &
>> >> >
>> >> >after which I load gdm, which starts the other X server on the AGP
>> >> >card.  It seems odd that I have to probe the PCI card right before
>> >> >starting the PCI card (this isn't about which card comes first), but
>> >> >that's what worked.
>> >>
>> >> Seems nvidia closed source kernel module must be loaded with all
>> >> video cards in use. "X -probeonly" uses all video cards on system,
but
>> >> "X -prefbusid" hide unnecessary cards and xf86 known about one actual
>> >> card. After "X -probeonly" kernel module "nvidia" stay active in the
>> >> kernel user can start properly initialized Nvidia cards in any order.
>> >> After module "nvidia" removing X must be probed again.
>> >
>> >can you explain a bit more ?
>>
>> 2nd xf86 Nvidia closed source driver report "Unable load kernel
moudule",
>> if 1st xf86 started with -prefbusid option.
>>
>> >in what situation is this needed?
>>
>> If user have 2 or more Nvidia cards in one box.
>
>can you give some more details as i'll have to add it to the howto,
>and smth strange(may be luck) i got user report that it works without the
>-probeonly.

In APR-2002 between AUG-2002 i have 2 TNT2 PCI video cards and do not
need for it. Since i buy GeForce4MX AGP i need change starting order.
Since i create -prefbusid parch "2" of xf86 i need probe. So if user
do not use -prefbusid option, then 2 Nvidia cards may work. At least
it works for me, but starting order is important for unpatched xf86.

Aivils

Re: Mostly successful with Backstreet Ruby but lost VT1

[Svetoslav S. <ga...@st...>]

Quoting Aiv...@un...:
> >I've got an AGP GeForce3 and a PCI GeForce2 in my system and I'm using
> >nVidia's binary drivers.  I first tried the kernel-only solution but my
> >system crashed with bizarre patterns on my screens.  Fine, so I switched
> >to Andreas Schuldei's binaries for the patched XFree86 3.0 and these
> >worked, but only if I probe my GeForce2 first, i.e.:
> >
> >        /usr/X11R6/bin/X -probeonly -layout Small
> >        /usr/X11R6/bin/X :1 -layout Small -prefbusid 2:7:0 vt8 &
> >
> >after which I load gdm, which starts the other X server on the AGP
> >card.  It seems odd that I have to probe the PCI card right before
> >starting the PCI card (this isn't about which card comes first), but
> >that's what worked.
> 
> Seems nvidia closed source kernel module must be loaded with all
> video cards in use. "X -probeonly" uses all video cards on system, but
> "X -prefbusid" hide unnecessary cards and xf86 known about one actual
> card. After "X -probeonly" kernel module "nvidia" stay active in the
> kernel user can start properly initialized Nvidia cards in any order.
> After module "nvidia" removing X must be probed again.

can you explain a bit more ?
in what situation is this needed?

 
> >I made some small changes to a program called "qiv" to behave itself
> >better when it displays the photograph (such as hiding the mouse
> >pointer).  Yay, open source!
> >
> >Here's the part where I need help.  Now when I press Ctrl-Alt-F1, the
> >main display switches back to the text-only console BUT it's "greyed
> >out"!  Both the foreground text and background look grey--the text is
> >darker than it should be and the background is lighter.  I can read text
> >on it but I cannot type anything to it.  This alarms me because I like
> >dropping out of X once and a while and getting a command line.  Any
> >ideas?
> 
> ??? 1st must be started xf86 on VGA, then 2nd. This will not work
> alltime. 2nd server clean up VGA fonts :(
> 
> >During my experimenting I did try having gdm launch both X servers as
> >explained in the HOWTO.  When I did this, instead of launching one
> >myself, I was able to use VT1 but suffered the garbage font problem.
> >Typing "consolechars -d" fixed it immediately.  I don't care about this,
> >because I don't want gdm to launch both servers,
> 
> any shell script can start number of xf86 servers.

but wont be there a problem,
that all X servers are running under the same user ?

best,

svetljo