[ltp] Redhat install

[George Staikos]

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On Tue, 29 Feb 2000, José Antonio Milke G. wrote:
> Thanks again for replying George:
> Because I am installing from the CD, I really don't know how could I enable the
> frame buffer and to use the SVGA server (which I what I understand I can get in your
> site)...

  The one on my site doesn't require the FBCon.  The one on the install cd
does.  To enable the frame buffer console, pass the vga=ask command at boot
up and it will let you choose a setting. 

> I will try the text mode install under Red Hat as you suggest. Do you know which is the
> option for doing this as soon as the colored text mode screen appears (I tried option 2,
> but it went to graphics mode and left the screen blank)?.

  I don't remember.  You're best off to consult the redhat documentation for
things like this

> Now, you know I'm a beginner...would you mind briefly explaining to me
what a SVGA server > and what a frame buffer server are? (I may learn more
than I expected :-)).

   The SVGA server is essentially the "Video Driver" for the X Window System.
 It is a NON-ACCELERATED driver.  Some machines won't work with this driver. 
To get around this, the Linux kernel has a driver called the "Frame Buffer". 
It should work with most Vesa compatible hardware (ie almost all modern
graphics cards).  To run X with this, you have to use a different server (aka
device driver) called the Frame Buffer server.  However, with the Thinkpad i
series, I discovered that, while the SVGA server does not work on it's own,
it will work if you turn on the Frame Buffer.  I assume the frame buffer is a
bit safer in setting up the hardware.

    Furthermore, I have some patches and X servers on my website which were
developed by Marc Aurele LaFrance, the XFree86 ATI Server developer which
make the i series Rage graphics work properly.  There were some serious bugs
in the SVGA and Mach64 device drivers which put the card in a bad state and
actually did not work at all, really.  For now you just need to get some sort
of install going and just do whichever is simplest.  Probably a text-mode
install, or enabling the Frame Buffer as it boots up and hopefully getting a
graphic install to work (I havne't tried this).  You can get the accelerated
driver working later.  (and from there 3d and more!)

   Any other install related questions would probably be best directed to
linux newbie mailing lists or groups where they have many faqs regarding
this.  You can also find lots of info at http://www.linuxdoc.org/


 -- 

George Staikos


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