Re: Overriding X on panic

From: Dave Airlie
Date: Sun Nov 26 2006 - 17:25:00 EST


On 11/27/06, Alan <alan@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
On Sun, 26 Nov 2006 09:18:41 +0100
Arjan van de Ven <arjan@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> > The mode switch sequences for modern cards are a bit more hairy than
> > lists of I/O poking unfortunately.
>
> for the Intel hw Keith doesn't seem to think it's all that much of a
> problem though...

Including the TV out, odder LCD panels, non BIOS modes etc ? If so then
it might be an interesting test case for intelfb to grow some kind of
console helper interface


It's non-trivial, I think you are better off going initially with just
using the current framebuffer that X is using, I know ajax was doing
some hacking on this with a "user"-framebuffer, until I disuaded him
due to I think the trouble caused by dual-head and something else I
can't remember..

I personally think we need to probably just bite the bullet and start
sticking graphics drivers into the kernel, the new randr-1.2 interface
for X is probably a good starting point for a generic mode setting
interface that isn't so X dependent and could replace fbdev with
something more sane wrt dualhead and multiple outputs... fbdev could
be implemented on top of that layer then.. also suspend/resume really
needs this sort of thing....

My main worry with integrating graphics drivers into the kernel is
that when they don't work the user gets no screen, with network/sound
etc this isn't so bad, but if they can't see a screen debugging gets
to be a bit more difficult....

Dave.
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