mirror of
https://github.com/torvalds/linux.git
synced 2024-11-14 08:02:07 +00:00
1da177e4c3
Initial git repository build. I'm not bothering with the full history, even though we have it. We can create a separate "historical" git archive of that later if we want to, and in the meantime it's about 3.2GB when imported into git - space that would just make the early git days unnecessarily complicated, when we don't have a lot of good infrastructure for it. Let it rip!
159 lines
6.3 KiB
Plaintext
159 lines
6.3 KiB
Plaintext
|
|
What is sisfb?
|
|
==============
|
|
|
|
sisfb is a framebuffer device driver for SiS (Silicon Integrated Systems)
|
|
graphics chips. Supported are:
|
|
|
|
- SiS 300 series: SiS 300/305, 540, 630(S), 730(S)
|
|
- SiS 315 series: SiS 315/H/PRO, 55x, (M)65x, 740, (M)661(F/M)X, (M)741(GX)
|
|
- SiS 330 series: SiS 330 ("Xabre"), (M)760
|
|
|
|
|
|
Why do I need a framebuffer driver?
|
|
===================================
|
|
|
|
sisfb is eg. useful if you want a high-resolution text console. Besides that,
|
|
sisfb is required to run DirectFB (which comes with an additional, dedicated
|
|
driver for the 315 series).
|
|
|
|
On the 300 series, sisfb on kernels older than 2.6.3 furthermore plays an
|
|
important role in connection with DRM/DRI: Sisfb manages the memory heap
|
|
used by DRM/DRI for 3D texture and other data. This memory management is
|
|
required for using DRI/DRM.
|
|
|
|
Kernels >= around 2.6.3 do not need sisfb any longer for DRI/DRM memory
|
|
management. The SiS DRM driver has been updated and features a memory manager
|
|
of its own (which will be used if sisfb is not compiled). So unless you want
|
|
a graphical console, you don't need sisfb on kernels >=2.6.3.
|
|
|
|
Sidenote: Since this seems to be a commonly made mistake: sisfb and vesafb
|
|
cannot be active at the same time! Do only select one of them in your kernel
|
|
configuration.
|
|
|
|
|
|
How are parameters passed to sisfb?
|
|
===================================
|
|
|
|
Well, it depends: If compiled statically into the kernel, use lilo's append
|
|
statement to add the parameters to the kernel command line. Please see lilo's
|
|
(or GRUB's) documentation for more information. If sisfb is a kernel module,
|
|
parameters are given with the modprobe (or insmod) command.
|
|
|
|
Example for sisfb as part of the static kernel: Add the following line to your
|
|
lilo.conf:
|
|
|
|
append="video=sisfb:mode:1024x768x16,mem:12288,rate:75"
|
|
|
|
Example for sisfb as a module: Start sisfb by typing
|
|
|
|
modprobe sisfb mode=1024x768x16 rate=75 mem=12288
|
|
|
|
A common mistake is that folks use a wrong parameter format when using the
|
|
driver compiled into the kernel. Please note: If compiled into the kernel,
|
|
the parameter format is video=sisfb:mode:none or video=sisfb:mode:1024x768x16
|
|
(or whatever mode you want to use, alternatively using any other format
|
|
described above or the vesa keyword instead of mode). If compiled as a module,
|
|
the parameter format reads mode=none or mode=1024x768x16 (or whatever mode you
|
|
want to use). Using a "=" for a ":" (and vice versa) is a huge difference!
|
|
Additionally: If you give more than one argument to the in-kernel sisfb, the
|
|
arguments are separated with ",". For example:
|
|
|
|
video=sisfb:mode:1024x768x16,rate:75,mem:12288
|
|
|
|
|
|
How do I use it?
|
|
================
|
|
|
|
Preface statement: This file only covers very little of the driver's
|
|
capabilities and features. Please refer to the author's and maintainer's
|
|
website at http://www.winischhofer.net/linuxsisvga.shtml for more
|
|
information. Additionally, "modinfo sisfb" gives an overview over all
|
|
supported options including some explanation.
|
|
|
|
The desired display mode can be specified using the keyword "mode" with
|
|
a parameter in one of the follwing formats:
|
|
- XxYxDepth or
|
|
- XxY-Depth or
|
|
- XxY-Depth@Rate or
|
|
- XxY
|
|
- or simply use the VESA mode number in hexadecimal or decimal.
|
|
|
|
For example: 1024x768x16, 1024x768-16@75, 1280x1024-16. If no depth is
|
|
specified, it defaults to 8. If no rate is given, it defaults to 60Hz. Depth 32
|
|
means 24bit color depth (but 32 bit framebuffer depth, which is not relevant
|
|
to the user).
|
|
|
|
Additionally, sisfb understands the keyword "vesa" followed by a VESA mode
|
|
number in decimal or hexadecimal. For example: vesa=791 or vesa=0x117. Please
|
|
use either "mode" or "vesa" but not both.
|
|
|
|
Linux 2.4 only: If no mode is given, sisfb defaults to "no mode" (mode=none) if
|
|
compiled as a module; if sisfb is statically compiled into the kernel, it
|
|
defaults to 800x600x8 unless CRT2 type is LCD, in which case the LCD's native
|
|
resolution is used. If you want to switch to a different mode, use the fbset
|
|
shell command.
|
|
|
|
Linux 2.6 only: If no mode is given, sisfb defaults to 800x600x8 unless CRT2
|
|
type is LCD, in which case it defaults to the LCD's native resolution. If
|
|
you want to switch to another mode, use the stty shell command.
|
|
|
|
You should compile in both vgacon (to boot if you remove you SiS card from
|
|
your system) and sisfb (for graphics mode). Under Linux 2.6, also "Framebuffer
|
|
console support" (fbcon) is needed for a graphical console.
|
|
|
|
You should *not* compile-in vesafb. And please do not use the "vga=" keyword
|
|
in lilo's or grub's configuration file; mode selection is done using the
|
|
"mode" or "vesa" keywords as a parameter. See above and below.
|
|
|
|
|
|
X11
|
|
===
|
|
|
|
If using XFree86 or X.org, it is recommended that you don't use the "fbdev"
|
|
driver but the dedicated "sis" X driver. The "sis" X driver and sisfb are
|
|
developed by the same person (Thomas Winischhofer) and cooperate well with
|
|
each other.
|
|
|
|
|
|
SVGALib
|
|
=======
|
|
|
|
SVGALib, if directly accessing the hardware, never restores the screen
|
|
correctly, especially on laptops or if the output devices are LCD or TV.
|
|
Therefore, use the chipset "FBDEV" in SVGALib configuration. This will make
|
|
SVGALib use the framebuffer device for mode switches and restoration.
|
|
|
|
|
|
Configuration
|
|
=============
|
|
|
|
(Some) accepted options:
|
|
|
|
off - Disable sisfb. This option is only understood if sisfb is
|
|
in-kernel, not a module.
|
|
mem:X - size of memory for the console, rest will be used for DRI/DRM. X
|
|
is in kilobytes. On 300 series, the default is 4096, 8192 or
|
|
16384 (each in kilobyte) depending on how much video ram the card
|
|
has. On 315/330 series, the default is the maximum available ram
|
|
(since DRI/DRM is not supported for these chipsets).
|
|
noaccel - do not use 2D acceleration engine. (Default: use acceleration)
|
|
noypan - disable y-panning and scroll by redrawing the entire screen.
|
|
This is much slower than y-panning. (Default: use y-panning)
|
|
vesa:X - selects startup videomode. X is number from 0 to 0x1FF and
|
|
represents the VESA mode number (can be given in decimal or
|
|
hexadecimal form, the latter prefixed with "0x").
|
|
mode:X - selects startup videomode. Please see above for the format of
|
|
"X".
|
|
|
|
Boolean options such as "noaccel" or "noypan" are to be given without a
|
|
parameter if sisfb is in-kernel (for example "video=sisfb:noypan). If
|
|
sisfb is a module, these are to be set to 1 (for example "modprobe sisfb
|
|
noypan=1").
|
|
|
|
--
|
|
Thomas Winischhofer <thomas@winischhofer.net>
|
|
May 27, 2004
|
|
|
|
|