C H A P T E R  4

Using Features

This chapter provides Sun XVR-300 graphics accelerator feature information.


Video Output Methods

You may choose one of the three methods described in this section for video output from which to choose with the Sun XVR-300 graphics accelerator. This section lists the options:

The following section, Setting Up Video Output Methods, describes how to set up these video output methods.


Setting Up Video Output Methods

When there are two Sun XVR-300 graphics accelerators in a system, they are numbered from 0 and by ones (0, 1, 2, ...)


procedure icon  To Set Up Single Video Output (Default)

This enables the DVI video output "1" only. This is the default the system uses if no fbconfig commands have been given, or after fbconfig -dev nfb0
-defaults.

1. If enabled, disable doublewide or doublehigh mode.

To disable doublewide mode, type:


host% fbconfig -dev nfb0 -defaults

2. Set the desired screen resolution. For example, type:


host% fbconfig -dev nfb0 -res 1280x1024x60

3. Log out, then log back in.

To find all possible Sun XVR-300 graphics accelerator resolutions, type:


host% fbconfig -dev nfb0 -res \?


procedure icon  To Set Up Two Video Outputs Over One Large Frame Buffer

This enables two monitor support without the use of Xinerama software. This means that the Sun XVR-300 graphics accelerator creates one wide (or tall) frame buffer, displayed across two screens using both DVI ports. This example shows doublewide mode.

1. Enable both video outputs, sharing a single frame buffer. Type:


host% fbconfig -dev nfb0 -doublewide enable

-offset xval yval

This is implemented only in -doublewide and -doublehigh modes. For
-doublewide, xval is used to position the rightmost video output. Negative is left (overlaps with the left video output). For -doublehigh, the yval is used to position the bottom video output. Negative is up (overlaps with top video output). The default is [0, 0].

2. Set the desired screen resolution. Type:


host% fbconfig -dev nfb0 - res 1280x1024x60

3. Log out, then log back in.


procedure icon  To Set Up Two Independent Video Outputs

This set up enables independent resolution for each video output.



Note - The use of two independent video outputs on a single board with Xinerama is not supported. The X window system and Sun OpenGL for Solaris performance might be noticeably degraded in this mode.

Set up two video outputs over one large frame buffer whenever possible for a dual video output configuration. See To Set Up Two Video Outputs Over One Large Frame Buffer.



1. To enable both video outputs edit the /etc/dt/config/Xservers file so that both devices appear.

The device names are /dev/fbs/nfb0a and /dev/fbs/nfb0b.

For example, as superuser, type:


# cd /etc/dt/config
# vi + Xservers

Enter the Xservers file content in one long line (Solaris 10 Operating System in this example).


:0  Local local_uid@console root /usr/X11/bin/Xserver :0 -dev /dev/fbs/nfb0a -dev /dev/fbs/nfb0b

2. Select an independent screen resolution for each frame buffer.

For example:


host% fbconfig -dev nfb0a -res 1280x1024x60
host% fbconfig -dev nfb0b -res 1152x900x66

3. Log out, then log back in.


procedure icon  To Duplicate Video Output

1. Use the -clone option to duplicate the DVI video port "1" display to the DVI video port "2" display.

For example:


host% fbconfig -dev nfb0 -clone enable



Note - Both monitor displays must have the same screen resolution.



2. Log out of the current window system session and log back in for the change to take effect.


Checking Device Configuration

Use fbconfig to check the X window system (-propt) and Sun XVR-300 graphics accelerator (-prconf) device configuration values.

The fbconfig -propt option displays the values of all options (for the specified device) saved in the OWconfig file (see below for an example). These are the values the X window system will use the next time it starts on that device:


host% fbconfig -dev nfb0 -propt
 
--- Graphics Configuration for /dev/fbs/nfb0 ---
 
OWconfig: machine
Video Mode: 1280x1024x60
 
Screen Information:
Doublewide: Disable
Doublehigh: Disable
Clone: Disable
Offset/Overlap: [0, 0]
Output Configuration: Direct
Fake8 Rendering: Disable

The fbconfig -prconf option displays the current Sun XVR-300 graphics accelerator device configuration (see the following code example). If certain values differ from those displayed in -propt, it is because those values have been configured since the X window system started.

 


host% fbconfig -dev nfb0 -prconf
 
--- Hardware Configuration for /dev/fbs/nfb0 ---
 
Type: XVR-300
ASIC: version 0x5b64         REV: version 0x3800080
PROM: version 1.6
 
Monitor/Resolution Information:
Monitor 1:
Monitor Manufacturer: SUN
Product code: 1415
Serial #: 28722509
Manufacture date: 2003, week 24
Monitor dimensions: 36x29 cm
Monitor preferred resolution: SUNW_STD_1280x1024x60
Separate sync supported: no
Composite sync supported: no
Gamma: 2.82
EDID:  Version 1, Revision 3
Monitor Supported resolutions from EDID: SUNW_STD_1280x1024x60,
          VESA_STD_1280x1024x60, SUNW_STD_1280x1024x76,
          SUNW_STD_1152x900x66, VESA_STD_1280x1024x75,
          VESA_STD_720x400x70, VESA_STD_640x480x60, VESA_STD_640x480x67,
          VESA_STD_640x480x72, VESA_STD_640x480x75, VESA_STD_800x600x56,
          VESA_STD_800x600x60, VESA_STD_800x600x72, VESA_STD_800x600x75,
          VESA_STD_832x624x75, VESA_STD_1024x768x70,
          VESA_STD_1024x768x75, VESA_STD_1280x1024x75, APPLE_1152x870x75
Current resolution setting: 1280x1024x76
Monitor 2:
Monitor Manufacturer: SUN
Product code: 1399
Serial #: 147538508
Manufacture date: 2000, week 12
Monitor dimensions: 40x30 cm
Monitor preferred resolution: SUNW_STD_1280x1024x76
Separate sync supported: yes
Composite sync supported: yes
Gamma: 2.50
Monitor name: GDM-5410
     EDID:  Version 1, Revision 2
Monitor Supported resolutions from EDID: SUNW_STD_1280x1024x76,
          SUNW_STD_1280x1024x76, SUNW_STD_1152x900x76,
          VESA_STD_1280x1024x75, SUNW_STD_1280x1024x67,
          SUNW_STD_1152x900x66, VESA_STD_1024x768x75,
          SUNW_STD_1600x1200x75, SUNW_STD_1280x1024x112s,
          VESA_STD_720x400x70, VESA_STD_720x400x88, VESA_STD_640x480x60,
          VESA_STD_640x480x67, VESA_STD_640x480x72, VESA_STD_640x480x75,
          VESA_STD_800x600x56, VESA_STD_800x600x60, VESA_STD_800x600x72,
          VESA_STD_800x600x75, VESA_STD_832x624x75, VESA_STD_1024x768x60,
          VESA_STD_1024x768x70, VESA_STD_1024x768x75,
          VESA_STD_1280x1024x75, APPLE_1152x870x75, 1152x870x75
Current resolution setting: 1280x1024x76