framebuffer fails in standard kernel

[Bill Davidsen]

Matthew Saltzman wrote:
> On Tue, 2007-07-24 at 22:38 -0400, Bill Davidsen wrote:
>> I generally don't care about using framebuffers, and when I do I have 
>> been building a kernel from source with the framebuffer built in. 
>> However, in the last month, I've had three cases where I wanted to boot 
>> with a stock modular kernel and framebuffer, and it hasn't worked.
>>
>> I have built a new initrd with the framebuffer and any needed modules 
>> added with "--preload" to get them in early. I have put video=<fb> 
>> information in the boot, and always the kernel boots, reads the boot 
>> options, and just goes away. Verified using intelfb, radeonfb, and 
>> atyfb, each with any needed drivers. But if I build these kernels from 
>> source, changing the default config only by building-in the same 
>> modules, it works fine.
>>
>> The last time I tried this with a post-2.4 kernel, it worked, but that 
>> was a 2.5 kernel, and I haven't needed any video performance since.
>>
>> Is this typical, should it just work, or ??? I have multiple systems to 
>> try, and all with work fine if I build in the exact same modules.
> 
> Not sure if this is your exact issue, but it may help anyway.
> 
> To get the FB module inserted whenever you install a distro kernel,
> create /etc/sysconfig/mkinitrd with contents:
> 
>         MODULES="radeonfb"
> 
> Put any module options in /etc/modprobe.conf before rebuilding the
> initrd.
> 
> I use the radeonfb on my Thinkpad to deal with a suspend power issue,
> and those two steps work for me.
> 
Thanks for the thought, I have the distro kernel installed, but I can 
set that and wait, or try to just do a mkinitrd. From the somewhat 
sparse docs it looks as if this does the same thing as using "--preload" 
which I was trying, but it certainly won't hurt to try again!

-- 
Bill Davidsen <davidsen at tmr.com>
   "We have more to fear from the bungling of the incompetent than from
the machinations of the wicked."  - from Slashdot