Writing Device Drivers

x86 Platform Console Communication

On x86 platforms, the Oracle Solaris kernel terminal emulator module (tem) uses VGA text mode exclusively to interact with the vgatext module. The vgatext module uses industry standard VGA text mode to interact with x86 compatible frame buffer devices. Because the vgatext module already supports the console frame buffer interfaces, x86 frame buffer drivers are compatible with the kernel tem module. You do not need to add special interfaces to x86 frame buffer drivers.

The remainder of this appendix applies to SPARC platforms only.