[ltp] Thinkpad 760XL - Linux Install Information

[Tod Harter]

fbdev is the framebuffer device driver.

The only reason it needs to be compiled into the kernel is in order to use it 
for your boot console. Because the boot console device is one of the first 
things initialized it cannot be loaded as a module at boot time, its simply 
too early in the process.

However for use with X I really don't know why you would HAVE to compile in 
fbdev, since you can simply use the normal default text mode console and X 
could care less what mode its being started FROM, just as if you had say an 
ATI card and run X with the radeon driver, it could care less that you 
started from text mode etc, its going to take total control of the video 
hardware anyhow...

I suppose there could be some sort of limitation involving the device driver, 
but X itself is not going to require you to have the fbdev compiled into the 
kernel.

On Saturday 06 March 2004 11:51 am, Adam Southerland wrote:
> From: "Philippe Corboz" <philippe.corboz@pop.agri.ch>
>
> >Reply-To: linux-thinkpad@linux-thinkpad.org
> >To: <linux-thinkpad@linux-thinkpad.org>
> >Subject: Re: [ltp] Thinkpad 760XL - Linux Install Information
> >Date: Sat, 6 Mar 2004 16:37:20 +0100
> >
> >Hi,
> >
> >I have been experimenting along the same lines as you (Slack 9.0, though),
> >on an 760CD. My harddisk is of the 1.2 M variety, and I'm shoehorning
> >Slackware into a 600MB partition.
> >
> >I got a mini-mini-mini system now booting off said partition, all is well
> >in
> >text mode, but I get no framebuffer ... and I want that for X11.
> >
> >Now, since fbdev must (apparently) be compiled into the kernel, would the
> >conclusion be appropriate that I need to use another kernel?
> >
> >If yes, is there a way around building my own? Any ideas?
> >
> >Philippe
>
> I definately understand your situation =) ... I a unfamiliar with 'fbdev'
> though... in fact, I have not gotten XFree86 4.x.x to work on my 760XL
> yet... (I haven't tried what info I got from Tino yet either)
>
> Maybe someone else knows more about fbdev than I? (I'm sure someone does)
>
> Adam
>
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-- 
Tod Harter
Giant Electronic Brain
http://www.giantelectronicbrain.com