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misc:console [2016-08-10 10:39] – jensmisc:console [2024-05-20 11:33] (current) – Clarification jens
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 ===== Resolution ===== ===== Resolution =====
-Modern displays reach [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Full_HD|Full HD]] or even higher resolutions. The classical UNIX and Linux console however features a maximum of 80x25 characters. Even if you utilize the console very seldom, 80x25 is not really usable. Especially in Debian GNU/Linux, where (by default) you'll see the console on every boot and shutdown it is simply ugly.+Modern displays reach at least [[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Full_HD|Full HD]] or higher resolutions. The classical UNIX and Linux console however features a maximum of 80x25 characters. Even if you utilize the console very seldom, 80x25 is not really usable. Especially in Debian GNU/Linux, where (by default) you'll see the console on every boot and shutdown it is simply ugly.
  
 So a higher resolution on the console is desirable. There used to be a kernel parameter ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VESA_BIOS_Extensions#Linux_video_mode_numbers|vga=xxx]]'' where xxx was a code for the resolution and colour-depth. But the use of that option is deprecated, so it already gets ignored or will be soon. So a higher resolution on the console is desirable. There used to be a kernel parameter ''[[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VESA_BIOS_Extensions#Linux_video_mode_numbers|vga=xxx]]'' where xxx was a code for the resolution and colour-depth. But the use of that option is deprecated, so it already gets ignored or will be soon.
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 ==== Configuring GRUB ==== ==== Configuring GRUB ====
-Possibly you already did part of the GRUB configuration if you also use my [[grub|GRUB Splashscreen]]. Here I'll assume you didn't.+Possibly you already did part of the GRUB configuration if you also use my [[archive:grub|GRUB Splashscreen]]. Here I'll assume you didn't.
  
 First, you need to do some default settings in GRUB. The file ''/etc/default/grub'' needs to be edited for that. First, you need to do some default settings in GRUB. The file ''/etc/default/grub'' needs to be edited for that.
  
   * Find the line ''GRUB_TERMINAL=console''. If it is not a comment, make it one or change it to ''GRUB_TERMINAL=gfxterm''.   * Find the line ''GRUB_TERMINAL=console''. If it is not a comment, make it one or change it to ''GRUB_TERMINAL=gfxterm''.
-  * Find the line ''#GRUB_GFXMODE=640x480'' and uncomment it (if it already isn't). Change the resolution to the value you wish to use.((You can also add a colour-depth, like e.g. ''1920x1080x32''))\\ If you are unsure which resolutions are supported, just hit 'c' in the GRUB menu and enter the command ''vbeinfo''. It should then list all available modes.+  * Find the line ''#GRUB_GFXMODE=640x480'' and uncomment it (if it already isn't). Change the resolution to the value you wish to use.((You can also add a colour-depth, like e.g. ''1920x1080x32''))\\ If you are unsure which resolutions are supported, just hit 'c' in the GRUB menu and enter the command ''videoinfo'' (UEFI) or ''vbeinfo'' (BIOS). It should then list all available modes.
   * Add the line ''GRUB_GFXPAYLOAD_LINUX=keep'' just below that line before.   * Add the line ''GRUB_GFXPAYLOAD_LINUX=keep'' just below that line before.
  
 This is already it. All that remains is running ''update-grub'', reboot and you're done. Though you may want to pimp the console a little more before rebooting ;-) This is already it. All that remains is running ''update-grub'', reboot and you're done. Though you may want to pimp the console a little more before rebooting ;-)
 +
 +===== Splash Screen =====
 +I used to describe here how to add your own self-made splashscreen and also provided my own 'creations'. Well, I am a lot of things but not an artist ;-) and also these days there is a way more convenient way to add a splash screen of your choice: Plymouth.
 +
 +To use Plymouth, install some packages first (all of the following steps should be done as 'root'):
 +<code bash>
 +apt install plymouth plymouth-theme-breeze plymouth-themes
 +</code>
 +
 +Now you can check the available themes using:
 +<code bash>
 +plymouth-set-default-theme -l
 +</code>
 +
 +After you choose your theme (I use ''breeze'' because I am running that same theme in KDE Plasma), you can set it like this:
 +<code bash>
 +plymouth-set-default-theme -R <theme-name>
 +</code>
 +
 +And last but not least, you need to tell GRUB to actually show the splash screen. To do so, find the line starting with ''GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT'' in ''/etc/default/grub''. Usually it only says ''"quiet"'', add a space and the word ''splash'' after the ''quiet'' but make sure it still stays inside the quotes. The line should now look like this:
 +
 +  GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash"
 +  
 +Once this is done just update the Grub config with ''update-grub'' and after a reboot you should now see the splash screen instead of text flashing by on boot.
 +
 +For more information and especially troubleshooting, you can check the [[https://wiki.debian.org/plymouth|Debian Wiki]].
  
 ===== Console Font ===== ===== Console Font =====
 In Debian the default console font is "Fixed". This font is fine for the occasional console user, but a much more readable and beautiful font is "Terminus". In Debian the packages "console-setup" and "console-terminus" should be installed by default. If not, just install them: In Debian the default console font is "Fixed". This font is fine for the occasional console user, but a much more readable and beautiful font is "Terminus". In Debian the packages "console-setup" and "console-terminus" should be installed by default. If not, just install them:
-  # apt-get install console-setup console-terminus+  # apt install console-setup console-terminus
 Afterwards run the console setup: Afterwards run the console setup:
   # dpkg-reconfigure console-setup   # dpkg-reconfigure console-setup
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 Afterwards, reboot your machine and enjoy the console! Afterwards, reboot your machine and enjoy the console!
  
-===== "tweakconsole.sh" shell script ===== +~~DISCUSSION~~
-Throughout this site you can find things about how to make several programs more useful or beautiful. Like the [[apps:ZSH]], a nice [[grub|GRUB Splashscreen]], a good [[sources.list]] and many more. +
- +
-Of course it is not much work implementing that kind of stuff, but if you have to do it over and over again it becomes dull and eventually you'll also forget to do a little tweaking here and there. +
- +
-Long ago, in the DeskTux stoneage, I had a script I called "SysInstall" to take that work and more out of your hands. It aimed to be able to install a whole customized system. But that became unmaintainable for me and I also didn't want any confusions with [[http://www.freebsd.org/doc/handbook/using-sysinstall.html|FreeBSD's Sysinstall]]. So I decided to take that offline. +
- +
-But now I took a different approach. Usually I install a Debian standard system (so no selections during the installation except for "Standard System") and from there I only install the software I want. But a few things are //always// the same. So I made a script "tweakconsole.sh" that does all the dull work for me and never even forgets about a single step. +
- +
-The script can be downloaded {{wiki:tweakconsole.tar.gz|right here}}. Just unpack it, change into the directory "tweakconsole" and run the script: ''./tweakconsole.sh''. Done! +
- +
-This will install a few useful programs and configure the [[apps:ZSH]], implement my [[grub|GRUB Splashscreen]] and my [[sources.list]] for you as well as some other neat stuff. Just check out the script to see what it does!+
misc/console.1470825556.txt.gz · Last modified: 2016-08-10 10:39 by jens