[Software] Kernel option to use VGA text mode or EFI Simple Text Output Protocol instead of framebuffer

[eugrus]

I'd like to use the hardware character generator for the console instead of framebuffer.

I've tried booting with the nomodeset kernel option. This does the thing for the console. However it also affects Xorg. I don't want VESA for Xorg, just to switch off the framebuffer for the console. How can I achieve that?

[ruwolf]

Which X.org server/driver do you want to use?
E.g.:

Make sure you do not have nomodeset or vga= as a kernel parameter, since amdgpu requires KMS.

Make sure you do not have nomodeset or vga= as a kernel parameter, since radeon requires KMS.

[eugrus]

What I've tried now is adding the line FRAMEBUFFER=n into /etc/initramfs-tools/initramfs.conf and then running update-initramfs -u to regenerate initram-fs.

However, I am still getting a framebuffer console after reboot.

[ruwolf]

If any of the virtual consoles are in KD_GRAPHICS mode, then binding or unbinding will not succeed. An example of an application that sets the console to KD_GRAPHICS is X.

P.S.
I have tried to add to /etc/default/grub:

Code: Select all

GRUB_TERMINAL=console
GRUB_GFXPAYLOAD_LINUX=text

but it seems, that they have no effects.

P.P.S.
When I added nomodeset, Xorg is runing in:

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[     7.459] (II) FBDEV(0): hardware: EFI VGA (video memory: 8100kB)
[     7.459] (DB) xf86MergeOutputClassOptions unsupported bus type 0
[     7.459] (II) FBDEV(0): checking modes against framebuffer device...
[     7.459] (II) FBDEV(0): checking modes against monitor...
[     7.459] (II) FBDEV(0): Virtual size is 1920x1080 (pitch 1920)
[     7.459] (**) FBDEV(0):  Built-in mode "current": 207.4 MHz, 85.3 kHz, 77.2 Hz
[     7.459] (II) FBDEV(0): Modeline "current"x0.0  207.38  1920 1952 2192 2432  1080 1084 1088 1104 -hsync -vsync -csync (85.3 kHz b)
[     7.459] (==) FBDEV(0): DPI set to (96, 96)
[     7.459] (II) Loading sub module "fb"
[     7.459] (II) LoadModule: "fb"
[     7.459] (II) Module "fb" already built-in
[     7.459] (**) FBDEV(0): using shadow framebuffer
[     7.459] (II) Loading sub module "shadow"
[     7.459] (II) LoadModule: "shadow"
[     7.459] (II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/libshadow.so
[     7.459] (II) Module shadow: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
[     7.459] 	compiled for 1.21.1.7, module version = 1.1.0
[     7.459] 	ABI class: X.Org ANSI C Emulation, version 0.4
[     7.460] (II) FBDEV(0): FBIOBLANK: Invalid argument (Screen blanking not supported by kernel - disabling)
[     7.461] (==) FBDEV(0): Backing store enabled
[     7.462] (==) FBDEV(0): DPMS enabled
[     7.462] (II) Initializing extension Generic Event Extension
[     7.462] (II) Initializing extension SHAPE
[     7.462] (II) Initializing extension MIT-SHM
[     7.462] (II) Initializing extension XInputExtension
[     7.462] (II) Initializing extension XTEST
[     7.462] (II) Initializing extension BIG-REQUESTS
[     7.462] (II) Initializing extension SYNC
[     7.463] (II) Initializing extension XKEYBOARD
[     7.463] (II) Initializing extension XC-MISC
[     7.463] (II) Initializing extension SECURITY
[     7.463] (II) Initializing extension XFIXES
[     7.463] (II) Initializing extension RENDER
[     7.463] (II) Initializing extension RANDR
[     7.463] (II) Initializing extension COMPOSITE
[     7.463] (II) Initializing extension DAMAGE
[     7.463] (II) Initializing extension MIT-SCREEN-SAVER
[     7.463] (II) Initializing extension DOUBLE-BUFFER
[     7.463] (II) Initializing extension RECORD
[     7.463] (II) Initializing extension DPMS
[     7.463] (II) Initializing extension Present
[     7.463] (II) Initializing extension DRI3
[     7.463] (II) Initializing extension X-Resource
[     7.463] (II) Initializing extension XVideo
[     7.463] (II) Initializing extension XVideo-MotionCompensation
[     7.463] (II) Initializing extension SELinux
[     7.463] (II) SELinux: Disabled on system
[     7.463] (II) Initializing extension GLX
[     7.463] (II) AIGLX: Screen 0 is not DRI2 capable
[     7.963] (II) IGLX: Loaded and initialized swrast
[     7.964] (II) GLX: Initialized DRISWRAST GL provider for screen 0
[     7.964] (II) Initializing extension XFree86-VidModeExtension
[     7.964] (II) Initializing extension XFree86-DGA
[     7.964] (II) Initializing extension XFree86-DRI
[     7.964] (II) Initializing extension DRI2

Problem is, that brightness settings from keyboard stopped working.
Even /sys/class/backlight is empty.

[ruwolf]

I can disable framebuffer on the first six consoles by parameter:

Code: Select all

fbcon=vc:7-8

but this does not show other consoles.
It is strange, because they work with nomodeset.

[mrmazda]

I'd like to use the hardware character generator for the console instead of framebuffer.

To what end? IOW, why?

In Trixie at least I can fake BIOS 80x25 mode on vttys by using video=640x400 or video=640x480 grub linu line option here. I say fake, but can't actually recognize any difference from booting DOS to a C:\> prompt.