Howto: Plymouth in Debian Squeeze

[Mr James]

Part 1: Setting up the framebuffer

Those that do not use the proprietary graphics drivers can skip this part.

Those that use the proprietary graphics drivers lose a wonderful feature called KMS and anything running outside of X will look like crap because the resolution is way off.
Install v86d and hwinfo. These tools will allow us to discover and set the appropriate framebuffer resolution.

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# apt-get install v86d hwinfo

now run

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# hwinfo --framebuffer

to get a list of valid resolutions you can run the framebuffer in. Choose the resolution that is closest to your native screen resolution (what you use in X) and remember or copy it.

Edit the /etc/default/grub file.

Find the line that starts with GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT and edit it to

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GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash nomodeset video=uvesafb:mode_option=1400x1050-24,mtrr=3,scroll=ywrap"

Then uncomment (remove the hash at the beginning) and edit the GRUB_GFXMODE line to

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GRUB_GFXMODE=1400x1050

And in both instances replace the "1400x1050" to whatever resolution you got from hwinfo. My screen's native resolution is 1920x1080 and 1400x1050 is the best I got.

Now edit the /etc/initramfs-tools/modules file. Add the following line

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uvesafb mode_option=1400x1050-24 mtrr=3 scroll=ywrap

Also replacing "1400x1050" for the resolution you got with hwinfo.

Run

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# echo FRAMEBUFFER=y | tee /etc/initramfs-tools/conf.d/splash

And then

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# update-grub2
# update-initramfs -u

to apply the changes.

Part 2: Setting up Plymouth

Run

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# apt-get install plymouth

to install plymouth.

Now run

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# /usr/sbin/plymouth-set-default-theme --list

to get a list of available theme names. Choose one.

Run

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# /usr/sbin/plymouth-set-default-theme THEME

replacing THEME with whatever theme name you chose.

Finally, run

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# update-initramfs -u

now and after every theme change to apply your selection.

[vinnie1]

Hi

Just wanted to say thanks for this howto.

It worked perfectly on a system with Nvidia graphics card.

[evelpete]

Works perfectly.
On my gracefully aging VIAO, I had to replace "nomodeset" in /etc/default/grub with "i915.modeset=0". This also improved my boot time and got rid of those annoying EDID invalid messages.

[FreewheelinFrank]

This didn't work for me until I did these things from the Debian Wiki

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Removed- see below

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GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash"

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update-grub2

http://wiki.debian.org/plymouth

But it did help me on the way, so thanks for that, and good luck to Googlers following.

EDIT: I went back and checked, and the first step (below) seems to have been unnecessary.

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GRUB_GFXMODE=<my_monitor_size>

[stevepusser]

It also works in a guest in a Virtual Box virtual machine without all the messing around with framebuffers...which is weird.

[sqlpython]

I personally have no need/interest in Plymouth BUT...............

but a good Howto always deserves a thanks!
Thanks Mr. James..

[Mr James]

@ FreewheelinFrank and stevepusser: The wierd framebuffer thing is to get proper resolution within virtual terminals and for the plymouth graphic itself when KMS is absent, in other words - anywhere outside of X.

@Everybody: Thanks, guys. As long as someone found it useful, I am happy.

[FreewheelinFrank]

@ FreewheelinFrank and stevepusser: The wierd framebuffer thing is to get proper resolution within virtual terminals and for the plymouth graphic itself when KMS is absent, in other words - anywhere outside of X.

Part 1: Setting up the framebuffer

Those that do not use the proprietary graphics drivers can skip this part.

I don't use a proprietary graphics driver so I skipped that part.

[Mr James]

I don't use a proprietary graphics driver so I skipped that part.

Then what you doing fiddling with GRUB_GFXMODE?

[FreewheelinFrank]

I don't use a proprietary graphics driver so I skipped that part.

Then what you doing fiddling with GRUB_GFXMODE?

Getting Plymouth to work.

[FreewheelinFrank]

I went back and checked, and the change to GFXMODE seems to have been unnecessary.

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GRUB_GFXMODE=<my_monitor_size>

[Red-guy]

Great HOWTO Mr. James, have it setup now on my computer running Wheezy.

[Mr James]

You're most welcome, friend.

[phenest]

Excellent Mr James! Works with my nVidia GPU, and in my VBox VM too.

[phenest]

Excellent Mr James! Works with my nVidia GPU, and in my VBox VM too.

Although, it is only 16 bit colour (less than 24 bit for sure) at startup, but 24 bit at shutdown. Shame it doesn't support widescreen.