SUMMARY (2): Problems with Virge GX on Solaris 2.6

From: Aleksandar Milivojevic (alex@srce.hr)
Date: Mon Nov 23 1998 - 16:51:23 CST


Hi,

I finaly solved my problem by using XFree86 X server. Since I needed
to twaek things a bit to get it working, here is a short how-to for
people that will try to use XFree86 X server and CDE on Solaris 2.6
(this should work on Solaris 7 too, but I didn't tested it). Also, at
the end I included short description how to configure Xsun to use 64k
color mode (kdmconfig offers only 256 and 16m color modes).

On Solaris 2.6 SUN changed the way X client communicates with X server
when both client and X server are on local machine (DISPLAY variable
is set to ":0"). In short, instead of using /tmp/.X11-unix, client
connects to X server using /tmp/.X11-pipe. Since XFree86 does not
support /tmp/.X11-pipe, CDE will not work out-of-the-box on local
display under XFree86 server.

After installing and configuring XFree86 (binaries for Solaris are
available from ftp.xfree86.org), /usr/dt/config/Xservers needs to be
copied to /etc/dt/config/Xservers. After that line:

   :0 Local local_uid@console root /usr/openwin/bin/Xsun :0 -nobanner

in /etc/dt/config/Xservers should be changed to look something like:

unix:0 Local local_uid@console root /usr/X11R6/bin/X :0 -bpp 16

For 8-bit displays, "-bpp 16" should be ommited, or changed to "-bpp
24" for 24-bit displays. After that, dtlogin will set DISPLAY
variable for local session to "unix:0.0" instead of ":0.0" and CDE
will be able to connect to local X server.

To add fonts from /usr/openwin/lib/X11/fonts directory to default font
path for XFree86 server, edit /etc/XF86Config file and add lines:

    FontPath "/usr/openwin/lib/X11/fonts/F3bitmaps/"
    FontPath "/usr/openwin/lib/X11/fonts/Type1/"
    FontPath "/usr/openwin/lib/X11/fonts/Speedo/"
    FontPath "/usr/openwin/lib/X11/fonts/misc/"
    FontPath "/usr/openwin/lib/X11/fonts/75dpi/"
    FontPath "/usr/openwin/lib/X11/fonts/100dpi/"

to section "Files". Aliases for CDE fonts are in F3bitmaps directory,
so you will need at least this one.

And that should be it.

For those that use S3 Virge cards, it seems that SVGA server (default
server for Virge cards) have problems with some chipsets. Try using
old S3V server instead. Also, problem with returning from graphics to
text mode seems to be present on all three servers I tried (Xsun, SVGA
and S3V).

P.S.

For those of you that will use 64k color mode with XFree86 server,
there is no need to switch back to 256 colors if and when you decide
to switch back to Xsun. To configure Xsun to use 16-bit color,
configure Xsun using kdmconfig for wanted resolution in 256 color
mode. Note the board line from /etc/openwin/server/etc/OWconfig file
and see in referenced file in /usr/openwin/share/etc/devdata/SUNWaccel/boards
directory if there is support for 16bit color mode for your card.
After that edit /etc/openwin/server/etc/OWconfig file and change
defdepth="8" to defdepth="16" in it. Also, values for MaxPClk for
some cards in /usr/openwin/share/etc/devdata/SUNWaccel/boards in
16-bit and 24-bit modes are way too low. But if you want to change
this, you are doing it on your own risk.

The CDE logo that is displayed after user logs in is a bit
grayscale(?!), but everything else shuld work just fine.

P.P.S.

If anybody have ModeLine for 1152x900 at 75Hz refresh rate (or more),
I'd be greatfull if he could send it to me. Currently, I only have
ModeLine for 1152x900 at 70Hz.

-- 
Aleksandar Milivojeviæ   |  alex@srce.hr  |   http://jagor.srce.hr/~alex/
                  Opinions expressed herein are my own.
================================ooooO=Ooooo==============================
  Real Users never know what they want, but they always know when your
                       program doesn't deliver it.



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