Very Computer

by **Salvado** » Mon, 24 May 1999 04:00:00

I am a novice user running RedHat v 5.2 with an SiS530/SiS5595 onboard
video card. There is currently no supported driver for this card. I
have been told that the 2.2.9 kernel with the frame buffer device will
allow me to run X-Windows (albeit slower). My questions are as follows:
Which version of the kernel is shipped with RedHat 6.0, how will using
the frame buffer device enable me to bypass the lack of a driver, and
how tough is it for a novice to rebuild the kernel (any tips on a
starting point?)

by **Rod Pinn** » Tue, 25 May 1999 04:00:00

Hello Salvador,

The SiS530 is a VESA 2 compatible card, which the frame buffer
knows how to use. Essentially, the frame buffer allows the
kernel to treat the video card as any other device. You still need
an Xserver, but it can be a general one, for a VESA compatible
card, rather than needing to be card specific.

I don't know if Redhat uses the 2.2.x series of kernels. If
it uses one less than 2.2.9, it would be best to get the
latest, as there were some problems with the earlier ones
that have now been fixed.

www.kernelnotes.org

has links for the latest kernel.

There is also a frame buffer HOWTO, and a page about using
the frame buffer to install a Bashee something or other
card. http://www.uno.edu/~adamico/banshee/Welcome.html is
the address. The instructions here are easy to follow,
and should get your card working. There is also the necessary
framebuffer X-server, already compiled.

Rod

> I am a novice user running RedHat v 5.2 with an SiS530/SiS5595 onboard
> video card. There is currently no supported driver for this card. I
> have been told that the 2.2.9 kernel with the frame buffer device will
> allow me to run X-Windows (albeit slower). My questions are as follows:
> Which version of the kernel is shipped with RedHat 6.0, how will using
> the frame buffer device enable me to bypass the lack of a driver, and
> how tough is it for a novice to rebuild the kernel (any tips on a
> starting point?)

by **Dr. Spankenste** » Tue, 25 May 1999 04:00:00

Salvador (2.2.9 kernel, frame buffer device) {
I am a novice user running RedHat v 5.2 with an SiS530/SiS5595 onboard
video card. There is currently no supported driver for this card. I
have been told that the 2.2.9 kernel with the frame buffer device will
allow me to run X-Windows (albeit slower). My questions are as follows:
Which version of the kernel is shipped with RedHat 6.0, how will using
the frame buffer device enable me to bypass the lack of a driver, and
how tough is it for a novice to rebuild the kernel (any tips on a
starting point?)

Quote:}

Ok, well the frame buffer is a (basicly) device independent graphics
interface. It uses VESA 2.0 on the x86 platform which is an assumption that i
have made. You will then use the XF86_FBDEV X server.

There is a Kernel-HOWTO in the doc directory of the RedHat cdrom that goes
through all the steps of building a kernel. Also read the LILO HOWTO and make
a boot/rescue disk in case you make a mistake.

Just enable the frame buffer devices during 'make menuconfig' and read
/usr/src/linux/Documentation/fb/vesafb.txt

Good luck

--
____Justin http://spank.home.dhs.org/
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