====== Framebuffer ======

===== Overview =====
This page explains how to set up a uvesafb framebuffer to increase the amount of text visible on the console, and make it look pretty at the same time. 

===== Required packages =====
Install the following packages:
  * {{Package|direct=yes|media-gfx/splashutils}} {{USEFlag|{{EnableFlag|fbcondecor}}}}
  * {{Package|direct=yes|media-gfx/splash-themes-livecd}}
  * {{Package|direct=yes|media-gfx/splash-themes-gentoo}}
  * {{Package|direct=yes|media-gfx/bootsplash-themes}}
  * {{Package|direct=yes|sys-apps/v86d}}

===== Configuration =====
==== Kernel ====
Configure the kernel with the following options. Make sure to build <tt>uvesafb</tt> directly into the kernel, and not as a module if you want to make use of the framebuffer during boot.

{{Kernel|2.6.28-gentoo-r1|<code>0@@</code>}}

Select a theme from <tt>/etc/splash/</tt>, and then build the kernel and initramfs with the following command. <tt>natural_gentoo</tt> is a nice grey theme, which looks good on high resolutions. It is assumed that any other required options, such as lvm, have been specified in <tt>/etc/genkernel.conf</tt> - otherwise modify the command as needed.

{{Root|<source lang="bash">
genkernel --splash=natural_gentoo --splash-res=1280x1024 all
</source>}}

==== Grub ====
There's a pretty black grub theme on [[http://art4linux.org/node/140|art4linux.org]]. Download and extract the tarball, and copy the black theme to <tt>/boot/grub/gentoo_black.xpm.gz</tt>.
{{Root|<source lang="bash">
wget http://art4linux.org/system/files/Gentoo-grubsplash.tar.gz
tar -zxf Gentoo-grubsplash.tar.gz
cp Gentoo-grubsplash/black.xpm.gz /boot/grub/gentoo_black.xpm.gz
</source>}}

Edit the grub config to add the <tt>video</tt>, <tt>splash</tt> and <tt>console</tt> options as below:

{{File|/boot/grub/grub.conf|<syntax lang="grub">
default 0
timeout 8
splashimage=(hd0,0)/boot/grub/gentoo_black.xpm.gz

title Gentoo Linux 2.6.29
root (hd0,0)
kernel /boot/kernel-genkernel-x86_64-2.6.29-gentoo root=/dev/ram0 real_root=/dev/mapper/badger-root ramdisk=8192 init=/linuxrc doscsi dolvm video=uvesafb:mtrr:3,ywrap,1280x1024@60 splash=verbose,fadein,theme:natural_gentoo console=tty1
initrd /boot/initramfs-genkernel-x86_64-2.6.29-gentoo
</syntax>}}

==== Startup ====
Finally, add <tt>fbcondecor</tt> to the boot runlevel

{{Root|<source lang="bash">
rc-update add fbcondecor boot
</source>}}