Using VESA Framebuffer Support For Running X11

latest modification: Jan, 5th. 2000 by Christian Czezatke

Why Do I Want to do This?

From version 2.2.0 onwards, the Linux kernel is able to use a graphical console instead of the standard PC text-mode. This has some advantages:

Support of the full resolution of the TFT on notebooks even on the Console without running X11.
It is possible to run a generic X11 server regardless of the underlying graphics hardware. (Unfortunately, the hardware acceleration features of the graphics chip are not used in this case, so only use this if no special X11 server is availabe for your hardware.

How to Set up a 2.2.x Kernel Using The Framebuffer Console

Make Sure you have VESA Framebuffer Support in Your Kernel:

If you don't know how to compile a kernel you can do one of the following:

Build a kernel with "VESA framebuffer support" enabled. (If you need more info, have a look at the Kernel-HOWTO).
Add the frame buffer device under /dev with if it does not yet exist:

mknod /dev/fb0 c 29 0

ln -s /dev/fb0 /dev/fb0current

Add an entry specifying the new kernel to lilo.conf

vag=788 (for 800x600@16bpp)

vga=791

vga=792

For other modes, see the "vesafb.txt" file in the "Documentation/fb" directory of the Linux kernel source.
Run the lilo utility :-) and reboot

If everything works the screen should change to graphics mode at boot time and a penguin will appear in the upper left corner of the screen. If you need help, just use this kernel config file. It worked fine for me (against kernel verison 2.2.11).

After this stage of the install, you should have Linux boot up to a graphical framebuffer console.

How to Configure an X-Server Using the Framebuffer Console

General Setup Instructions

First of all, the X-Server will run with the resolution and color depth determined by the framebuffer console. So no special modeline-tweaking is required. Just the following steps are required for this:

Get the framebuffer X11-Server from the XFree project's FTP server or any mirror of it (the file is called XFB.tgz) if you don't have it already. Install the Framebuffer X11 server under /usr/X11R6/bin/XF86_FBDev.
Create the following link :

ln -s /usr/X11R6/bin/XF68_FBDev /usr/X11R6/bin/X

Get this XF86Config file and put it under /etc/XF86Config or /etc/X11/XF86Config (depending on your distribution)

The Framebuffer Console Works, but the X11 Server Fails

Some people have reported problems with the standard framebuffer X11 Server that comes with XFree86. Just in case you are running into troubles, you should give the XF68_FBDev X11 Server a try.

After that, you should be able to use the framebuffer X11 server. If you have problems, please let me know.

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This page was last modified at October 9th, 1999.
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