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

     Page 1                       Plan 9             (printed 3/28/24)

     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.

     Page 2                       Plan 9             (printed 3/28/24)