Console tips for VirtualBox FreeBSD guests #162
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Instructions for changing console resolution in a VirtualBox FreeBSD guest. I've seen from the Internet that many people have been struggling with this....
Instructions for changing console resolution and keyboard type in a VirtualBox FreeBSD guest. I've seen from the Internet that many people have been struggling with this...
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I can provide a VirtualBox VM if someone wants to test the tips described? |
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Np, I'll review it and commit it. |
grahamperrin
suggested changes
Sep 17, 2023
| kern.vty=sc | ||
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| Then, after rebooting, you'll be able to list available console video modes and select one with `vidcontrol` (be sure to adjust the video memory setting for this VM in VirtualBox parameters to a sufficient value). For example: |
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| Then, after rebooting, you'll be able to list available console video modes and select one with `vidcontrol` (be sure to adjust the video memory setting for this VM in VirtualBox parameters to a sufficient value). For example: | |
| Shut down the guest, then review its video memory setting. | |
| Allow enough memory for the intended resolution. | |
| After the guest boots, man:vidcontrol[1] will allow you to specify a listed mode. | |
| For example: |
| @@ -394,6 +394,46 @@ Mount the shared folder from within the guest system like this: | |||
| # mount_vboxvfs -w myshare /mnt | |||
| .... | |||
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| If you want to change the resolution of the console but `vidcontrol -i mode` returns an empty list, then you'll need to switch from the "vt" console driver to the "sc" console driver as explained in man:vidcontrol[1]. | |||
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| If you want to change the resolution of the console but `vidcontrol -i mode` returns an empty list, then you'll need to switch from the "vt" console driver to the "sc" console driver as explained in man:vidcontrol[1]. | |
| If you want to change the resolution of the console, but `vidcontrol -i mode` returns an empty list: you may use the legacy man:syscons[4] alternative to the man:vt[4] console driver. | |
| According to the manual page: | |
| NOTE: the syscons driver is not compatible with systems booted via man:uefi[8]. | |
| Forcing use of syscons on such systems will result in no usable console. |
This includes NOTE: as an AsciiDoc admonition.
| @@ -394,6 +394,46 @@ Mount the shared folder from within the guest system like this: | |||
| # mount_vboxvfs -w myshare /mnt | |||
| .... | |||
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| If you want to change the resolution of the console but `vidcontrol -i mode` returns an empty list, then you'll need to switch from the "vt" console driver to the "sc" console driver as explained in man:vidcontrol[1]. | |||
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| Add the following line to [.filename]#/boot/loader.conf#: | |||
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| Add the following line to [.filename]#/boot/loader.conf#: | |
| For syscons (sc), add the following line to [.filename]#/boot/loader.conf#: |
| # vidcontrol MODE_325 | ||
| .... | ||
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| If this new video mode is acceptable, it can be permanently set on boot for all virtual consoles by adding it to [.filename]#/etc/rc.conf#: |
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| If this new video mode is acceptable, it can be permanently set on boot for all virtual consoles by adding it to [.filename]#/etc/rc.conf#: | |
| If the new mode is acceptable, it can be set for all virtual consoles: |
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| [.programlisting] | ||
| .... | ||
| allscreens_flags="MODE_325" |
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| [.programlisting] | |
| .... | |
| allscreens_flags="MODE_325" | |
| [source,shell] | |
| .... | |
| # sysrc allscreens_flags+="MODE_325" |
For the configuration to take effect, either reboot -r or restart the OS.
| allscreens_flags="MODE_325" | ||
| .... | ||
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| If you are using a foreign keyboard, you also need to add appropriate keymap and font lines to [.filename]#/etc/rc.conf#. |
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| If you are using a foreign keyboard, you also need to add appropriate keymap and font lines to [.filename]#/etc/rc.conf#. | |
| If you use a foreign keyboard, you should also add appropriate keymap and font lines to [.filename]#/etc/rc.conf#. | |
| See man:rc.conf[5]. |
| .... | ||
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| If you are using a foreign keyboard, you also need to add appropriate keymap and font lines to [.filename]#/etc/rc.conf#. | ||
| Beware, the keymap files are different from "vt" to "sc" console types! Check [.filename]#/usr/share/syscons/keymaps# for appropriate values... |
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| Beware, the keymap files are different from "vt" to "sc" console types! Check [.filename]#/usr/share/syscons/keymaps# for appropriate values... | |
| NOTE: keymap files for syscons differ from those for vt. | |
| For appropriate values, see files in [.filename]#/usr/share/syscons/keymaps#. |
| If you are using a foreign keyboard, you also need to add appropriate keymap and font lines to [.filename]#/etc/rc.conf#. | ||
| Beware, the keymap files are different from "vt" to "sc" console types! Check [.filename]#/usr/share/syscons/keymaps# for appropriate values... | ||
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| For example, in order to set a French keyboard do: |
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| For example, in order to set a French keyboard do: | |
| For example, to set a French keyboard, a font size, and font: |
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| keymap="fr.iso.acc" | ||
| font8x16="iso-thin-8x16" |
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I assume that this format suits syscons (not vt).
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Documents how to change the console resolution and, for international users, how to change keyboard settings.
A lot of people seem to be searching for this...