Re: [gentoo-user] basic grub question

Andrew Savchenko <bircoph@g.o> wrote:

> On Wed, 15 Jun 2016 12:55:39 -0400 covici@××××××××××.com wrote:
> > Andrew Savchenko <bircoph@g.o> wrote:
> >
> > > On Wed, 15 Jun 2016 09:41:07 -0400 covici@××××××××××.com wrote:
> > > > Neil Bothwick <neil@××××××××××.uk> wrote:
> > > >
> > > > > On Wed, 15 Jun 2016 08:42:45 -0400, covici@××××××××××.com wrote:
> > > > >
> > > > > > > > But the manual and the html pages constantly talk about the grub
> > > > > > > > command or rather the grub interactive command, and they usually
> > > > > > > > call it grub, maybe it has a different name.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > > > That's the GRUB interactive shell, that you get to from the boot menu
> > > > > > > (press c) or get dropped into it if there is no grub.cfg file.
> > > > > > >
> > > > > >
> > > > > > hmmm, I thought you could do it from the console as well, for certain
> > > > > > commands.
> > > > >
> > > > > The commands that show up in "qlist grub" can be run from a standard
> > > > > shell. The GRUB interactive shell is different, with its own set of
> > > > > commands. You really need to read the online manual or the info pages
> > > > > again. The man pages explain the individual commands, but only the full
> > > > > manual shows how it all fits together.
> > > > >
> > > > > Why are you looking to switch from Lilo to GRUB now? If Lilo works, stick
> > > > > with it. If it is because you have EFI hardware, I'd skip GRUB and go
> > > > > straight to Gummiboot or systemd-boot.
> > > >
> > > > Well, I am trying to use the nvidia driver which conflicts with uvesafb
> > > > frame buffer, so it seems.  It used to work fine, but not it does not
> > > > work anymore and the only solutions I have found was a couple of grub
> > > > parameters which gives you a higher resolution and passes it on to
> > > > linux.  It would not be as good as the uvesafb, but at least it would be
> > > > better than 80x25.  I use the console a lot and only use gnome
> > > > sometimes, but I don't want to have to reboot into a different kernel
> > > > just to use gnome.
> > >
> > > You can pass any kernel parameters using lilo as well.
> > >
> > > Also it should be possible to use uvesafb and nvidia driver without
> > > kernel switch, at least this is possible with fbcon: as described
> > > in [1], it is possible to unbind framebuffer console and use text
> > > vga console, then you should be able to unload uvesafb module and
> > > load nvidia propietary blob.
> > >
> > > [1] https://www.kernel.org/doc/Documentation/fb/fbcon.txt
> >
> > But, if I compile uvesafb as a module, as opposed to having it built
> > into the kernel, I can never activate  the frame buffer, I always get
> > /dev/fb0 no such file or directory when trying to use fbset.  If I could
> > do that, and get the correct mode, that would also solve my problem.
>
> Have you tried to load uvesafb module with desired parameters before
> running fbset? You can setup modules init script to do that
> automatically.

Yep, I tried that, but no joy there at all.  I even tried the nvidia
frame buffer thinking it might be compatible with the nvidia drivers,
but I could not get anything out of it, either as a module or built in.

-- 
Your life is like a penny.  You're going to lose it.  The question is:
How do
you spend it?

         John Covici
         covici@××××××××××.com