vga - configure a VGA card aux/vga [ -BcdilpvV ] [ -b bios-string ] [ -m monitor ] [ -x file ] [ mode [ size ] ] 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 ), 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:

-b " bios-string" use the VGA database entry corresponding to bios-string (e.g. \fL0xC0045="Stealth 64 DRAM Vers. 2.02") rather than looking for identifying strings in the BIOS memory.

-B dump the BIOS memory (in hex) to standard output and exit.

-c disable the use of the hardware graphics cursor.

-d include the color palette in whatever actions are performed, usually printing the contents.

-i when used with -p display the register values that will be loaded.

-l load the desired mode.

-m " monitor" override the /env/monitor value. /env/monitor is usually set by including it in the plan9.ini file read by the PC boot program 9boot (8).

-p print the current or expected register values at appropriate points depending on other options.

-v print a trace of the functions called.

-V print a verbose trace of the functions called.

-x " file" use file as the VGA database rather than /lib/vgadb .

Mode is of the form X x Y x Z , where X , Y , and Z are numbers specifying the display height, width, and depth respectively. 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 .L i indicates interlaced operation. The default mode is 640x480x8 . Size is of the form X x Y and configures the display to have a virtual screen of the given size. The physical screen will pan to follow the mouse. This is useful on displays with small screens, such as laptops, but can be confusing.

Using the monitor name vesa instructs vga to use VESA BIOS calls to configure the display. Also, if our VGA controller can't be found in vgadb , vga will try the VESA calls. There are no entries for the vesa monitor in vgadb . For a list of available VESA modes, use

.EX aux/vga -m vesa -p

Loading the special mode text :

.EX aux/vga -l text

switches out of graphics mode back into text mode. It uses the VESA BIOS.

Change the display resolution: .EX aux/vga -l 1600x1200x8

Print the current VGA controller registers. It is usually 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:

.EX aux/vga -p >/tmp/x

Force the VGA controller to a known state:

.EX 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:

.EX aux/vga -ip 1376x1024x8 >/tmp/x

.TF /env/monitor

/env/monitor display type (default vga ).

/lib/vgadb VGA configuration file.

/sys/src/cmd/aux/vga vga (3), vgadb (6), 9boot (8) 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.