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Solaris Handbook for Sun Frame Buffers

Chapter 2 S24 Frame Buffer

This chapter describes the S24(TM) Frame Buffer hardware options.

S24 Application Compatibility

The default visual of OpenWindows(TM) running on a system with an S24 Frame Buffer is 24-bit TrueColor Visual. Some older 8-bit windows applications that were written without consideration for portability may not work with the default 24-bit visual of the S24 Frame Buffer.

Use the following workaround for these applications when starting OpenWindows. As superuser, enter: 

# openwin -dev /dev/fbs/tcx0 defdepth 8

Note -

tcx is the UNIX device name for the S24 Frame Buffer.

This workaround sets the default visual to 8 bits. All applications can now be executed in 8-bit mode unless 24 bits or the best available visual are specifically requested.

The following 24-bit visuals are exported in the Solaris(TM) software environment:

The nonlinear visual is displayed before the linear visual on the screen visual list. Nonlinear visual is the default 24-bit TrueColor visual. If you prefer gamma-corrected 24-bit TrueColor as your default value, you can modify the order of the visual list by using the tcxconfig command, which is provided in the SUNWtcxow package. Refer to the tcxconfig man page for more information.

Run tcxconfig at the console prompt before starting OpenWindows. . Start OpenWindows after tcxconfig has set the linearity you want.

  1. To display the current default setting, enter tcxconfig without options. 

    # /usr/sbin/tcxconfiglinear

    • linear means that the linear visual is the default 24-bit TrueColor visual, which means that color is gamma corrected.

    • nonlinear means that the nonlinear visual is the default 24-bit TrueColor visual.

  1. To change the setting, enter the tcxconfig command with one of the above options: 

    # /usr/sbin/tcxconfig nonlinear

S24 Frame Buffer Screen Resolutions

The S24 frame buffer in the SPARCstation(TM) 5 supports three different screen resolutions. You may select a screen resolution other than the default value. This is performed at the ok prompt.

Default Screen Resolutions

Table 2-1 lists the default screen resolutions by monitor ID sense code.

Table 2-1 S24 Frame Buffer Monitor Sense Codes

Code 

Screen Resolution 

7 

1152 x 900 at 66 Hz 

6 

1152 x 900 at 76 Hz 

5 

1024 x 768 at 70 Hz 

4 

1152 x 900 at 76 Hz 

3 

1152 x 900 at 66 Hz 

2 

1152 x 900 at 76 Hz 

1 

1152 x 900 at 66 Hz 

0 

1152 x 900 at 66 Hz 

Changing the Screen Resolution

You can change the screen resolution using two methods, depending on the frame buffer you select for the console. One method sets the default console device to the desired resolution. The other method forces the console to be the S24 monitor at a specified resolution.

To Change the Screen Resolution:

  1. With the SPARCstation 5 powered on, bring the system down to the ok prompt.

  2. At the ok prompt for the console-device selected by the CPU boot PROM, enter: 

    ok setenv output-device screen:resolution

    where resolution is one of the following:

    • r1152x900x66

    • r1152x900x76

    • r1024x768x70

  3. To force the console to become the S24 monitor at the specified resolution, enter: 

    ok setenv output-device /iommu/sbus/tcx:resolution

  4. To reset the system so that the NVRAM entry overwrites the monitor ID resolution selection, enter: 

    ok reset

  5. To boot your SPARCstation 5 system, enter: 

    ok boot -r

The monitor is now reset to the specified resolution.