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 have been written without consideration for portability may not work with the default 24-bit visual of the S24 Frame Buffer.

There is a simple workaround for these applications when starting OpenWindows. As root, enter:

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

The following 24-bit visuals are exported in the Solaris(TM) 2.4 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 to become 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.

OpenWindows should not be running when you run the tcxconfig script. Start OpenWindows after tcxconfig has set the linearity you desire.

Entering tcxconfig without options displays the current default setting.

    linear means that the linear visual is the default 24-bit TrueColor visual. This means that color is gamma corrected.

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

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

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 \xb4 900 at 66 Hz
      
6     1152 \xb4 900 at 76 Hz
      
5     1024 \xb4 768 at 70 Hz
      
4     1152 \xb4 900 at 76 Hz
      
3     1152 \xb4 900 at 66 Hz
      
2     1152 \xb4 900 at 76 Hz
      
1     1152 \xb4 900 at 66 Hz
      
0     1152 \xb4 900 at 66 Hz

---------------------------

Changing the Screen Resolution

There are two methods of changing the screen resolution, depending on the frame buffer you select to be 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:

    where resolution is one of the following: 

-----------------------------------

              
resolution    Screen Resolution
-----------------------------------


              
r1152x900x66  1152 \xb4 900 at 66 Hz
              
r1152x900x76  1152 \xb4 900 at 76 Hz
              
r1024x768x70  1024 \xb4 768 at 70 Hz

-----------------------------------
    3. To force the console to be the S24 monitor at the specified resolution, enter:
    4. To reset NVRAM so that it is read to overwrite the monitor ID resolution selection, enter:
    5. To boot your SPARCstation 5 system, enter:

The monitor resolution is now reset to the specified resolution.