SUMMARY: Built-in B/W framebuffer on SS20 ?

From: Hugo Hvidsten (Hugo.Hvidsten@sn.no)
Date: Sun Feb 23 1997 - 14:15:47 CST


ORIGINAL QUESTION:
===================

I need to remove the color framebuffer in a SS20 server machine to make
room for another SBUS card.

I notice there is another video-connector on the back of the pizza-box.
(Located next to the serial ports, same connector as on the color
framebuffer)

Is this a built-in black/white framebuffer, and if so :
- Will it be enabled automatically when I remove the
   color framebuffer, or how do I enable it under SUN.OS 4.1.4 ?
- Will the SUN color monitor work OK here or do I need a black/white
   monitor?

ANSWER:
=================

I include the answer from Casper Dik <casper@holland.Sun.COM> , which
explains it all.

>No, it's not a built-in b&w framebuffer, it's the video
>output of the SX framebuffer. The SX controller and logic is
>all on the motherboard, but you need to install VSIMMs (as expensive
>as a TGX, if I remember correctly) on the mother board.
>
>Ai, you're using SunOS 4.1.4; SunOS 4.1.4 does *not* support the
>SX framebuffer, there's *no* way to get it to work under SunOS 4.1.4.
>Since it is part of the memory controller, it's not as simple as
>just an Xserver that supports it, you'll need an SX driver and
>some surgery on the hat layer as well; when support for newer machines
>is done for SunOS 4.1.4, only the real easy stuff is done such as supporting
>a very similar machine or supporting the TCX as a dumb cg3 by designing the
>hardware just right for SuNOS 4.1.4.
>

CONCLUSION
=============
I ended up using a VT terminal as console, and installing X-server
SW on a PC in addition.
 
And I want to thank all those people who took the time to answer me.
The first answer came after aprx. 30 minutes, and I sent my request
on a sunday morning !!

Regards
HUgo



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