VGA(8) VGA(8)
NAME
vga - configure a VGA card
SYNOPSIS
aux/vga [ -cdilmpv ] [ mode ]
DESCRIPTION
Aux/vga configures a VGA controller for various display
sizes and depths. Using the monitor type specified in
/env/monitor (default vga) and the mode given as argument
(default 640x480x1), aux/vga uses the database of known VGA
controllers and monitors in /lib/vgadb (see vgadb(6)) to
configure the display via the devices provided by vga(3).
The options are:
-c force the use of the software cursor even if the VGA
card is capable of using a hardware graphics cursor.
-d include the color palette in whatever actions are per-
formed, usually printing the contents.
-i when used with -p display the register values that will
be loaded.
-l load the desired mode.
-mmonitor
override the /env/monitor value. /env/monitor is usu-
ally set by including it in the plan9.ini file read by
the PC boot program b.com(8).
-p print the current or expected register values at appro-
priate points depending on other options.
-v print a trace of the functions called.
Mode is of the form XxYxZ , where X, Y, and Z are numbers
specifying the display height, width, and depth respec-
tively. The mode must appear in /lib/vgadb as a value for
one of the monitor entries. The usual modes are
640x480x[18], 800x600x[18], 1024x768x[18][i],
1280x1024x[18][i], 1376x1024x8, and 1600x1200x8. A trailing
`i' indicates interlaced operation.
EXAMPLES
Change the display resolution:
aux/vga -l 1600x1200x8
Print the current VGA controller registers. It is usually
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VGA(8) VGA(8)
best to redirect the output of a -p command to a file to
prevent confusion caused by using the VGA controller while
trying to dump its state:
aux/vga -p>/tmp/x
Force the VGA controller to a known state:
aux/vga -m vga -l
Print the current VGA controller state and what would be
loaded into it for a new resolution, but don't do the load:
aux/vga -ip 1376x1024x8>/tmp/x
FILES
/env/monitor display type (default vga).
/lib/vgadb VGA configuration file.
SOURCE
/sys/src/cmd/aux/vga
SEE ALSO
vga(3), vgadb(6), b.com(8)
BUGS
Aux/vga makes every effort possible to verify that the mode
it is about to load is valid and will bail out with an error
message before setting any registers if it encounters a
problem. However, things can go wrong, especially when
playing with a new VGA controller or monitor setting. It is
useful in such cases to have the above command for setting
the controller to a known state at your fingertips.
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