term% cat index.txt VGA(8) System Manager's Manual 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 ca‐
pable of using a 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.
-mmonitor
override the /env/monitor value. /env/monitor is usually 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 appropriate
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 respectively. The mode must ap‐
pear 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 indicates
interlaced operation.
EXAMPLES
Change the display resolution:
aux/vga -l 1600x1200x8
Print the current VGA controller registers. It is usually best to re‐
direct 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 set‐
ting the controller to a known state at your fingertips.
VGA(8)