Volari-XP Display Driver (was RPM install file conflict)

[John Morfit (VA/NQL)]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: redhat-install-list-bounces at redhat.com
> [mailto:redhat-install-list-bounces at redhat.com]
> Sent: Tuesday, March 29, 2005 3:19 PM
> To: Getting started with Red Hat Linux
> Subject: Re: RPM install file conflict
> 
> 
> John Morfit (VA/NQL) wrote:
> >John Morfit (VA/NQL) wrote:
> >
> > Ooh! I have an unsupported display adapter that's giving me 
> visual fits (XGI Volari-XP5). I found some web pages that 
> recommended using the Volari V3 RPM for RH9 to get the 
> Volari-XP5 running (neither Dell nor XGI have released any 
> Linux drivers for the Volari-XP5).
> > 
> > Hmmm... Can I somehow edit an Xorg X11 configuration file 
> to direct it to the existing RHEL4 trident_drv.o?
> 
> You could edit it, but the RH9 driver is unusable.  The internal
> structure of kernel modules between 2.4 and 2.6 is radically different
> and completely incompatible.  In fact, 2.6 kernel modules 
> have the ".ko"
> suffix to make sure they're differentiated from old 2.4 modules (with
> the ".o" suffix).
> 
> I'd recommend you get a newer video card if you can.  If the video is
> built into your motherboard, I'd still try to get an AGP or even a PCI
> card to replace it and see if you can disable the on-board 
> video in your
> BIOS.  If you're truly stuck with that hardware, my guess is that the
> vesa driver would work, but it'll limit you to an 800x600
> non-accelerated display at best.
> 
> I'm sorry I can't be of more help.

Rick,
You've provided some ideas (not sure if I can implement them or not), for which I'm thankful.

Yes, the VESA 800x600 driver was auto-installed and provides weird, very hard to read colors. It also implemented 29 lines of display area in SH while only showing 25 lines. Very hard to use!

I squinted really hard, and edited anaconda-ks.cfg to provide VESA generic with 1024x768 resolution and 24 bit color depth. I also selected the Trident CyberbladeXP driver in the Applications>System Settings>Display>Hardware>Video Card. Then I logged out. Startx failed, so I delected xorg.conf and restored the backup.

Now with startx, I get proper colors! Go figure. And SH has 25 lines displayed & implemented (I can use Emacs properly!).

Thanks,
/John