SUMMARY: Problems with Solaris 8 on a Dell Inspiron 8000

From: David Markowitz <David.Markowitz_at_sspsolutions.com>
Date: Wed Mar 27 2002 - 18:18:30 EST
I asked two questions (below).  I received only two responses,
both regarding question 1, from:

	ltiu <ltiu@alumni.sfu.ca>
	Ondrej Florian <oflorian.geo@yahoo.com>

Ondrej had the best info, saying:

> Apparently XFree86 4.2 supports nVidia GeForce2go but it doesn't
> support inspiron's LCD specs which is proprietary. The only way I
> was able to get it up and running was under Linux. NVidia provides
> linux driver as a kernel driver. Works very well, fast, it even
> supports dual monitor configuration.

I'm not sure if that's true.  On my own, I found out two things:

1. I was able to get Xsun up at 1024x768 w/ 16-bit color, using the
XF-VESA driver.  My start-up problem was worked around by changing
my default locale from "en_US.ISO8859-15" to "C".

2. The XFree86 V4.3 snapshot change log has the following entry:

   28. Experimental flat panel support in the "nv" driver.  GeForce2
       Go should work now (Mark Vojkovich).

This would seem to indicate that the V4.3 driver may work better
either with XFree86, or once Sun ports it.  I'll try again after
that version is released.

I'm still looking for info on the boot problem.


In my original questions, I wrote:
> 
> I am trying to get Solaris 8 working on a Dell Inspiron 8000.
> 
> Hardware:
>         Dell Inspiron 8000
>         1 GHz Pentium 3 w/ 256 MB RAM
>         Mini-PCI combo enet (Intel chip)/modem card
>         nVidia GeForce 2 Go Video Adapter w/ 32 MB RAM
>         15" TFT XGA LCD, 1600x1280
>         USB trackball
> 
> Software:
>         Solaris 8 x86 2/02
>         XFree86 porting kit V4.2.0
>         Patches: 109401-12  (Support for nVidia GeForce)
>                  108653-38  (Kernel)
>                  112352-01  (Internal keyboard)
>                  108529-13  (Improve battery life)
>         XiG PCMCIA patch
> 
> I am having trouble with two items:
> 
> 1. I want to use my nVidia GeForce 2 Go with X11, ideally at 1600x1280,
> with 24-bit color.
> 
> Sun's nVidia fails, and makes the screen look like it's burning out!
> I have to reset/power-cycle to recover from any such attempt.
> The XF86-NV drivers fail to configure under kdmconfig.
> 
> Kdmconfig can do up to 1024x768, 8-bit or 16-bit using the XF-VESA driver.
> This does no acceleration, and won't do 24-bit or higher-res.
> Worse, while kdmconfig seems okay, the X-server fails to start.
> It trys to start at boot time, brings up the cross-hatch with a
> mouse cursor (which works) for a couple seconds, then going back to
> the text screen.  This repeats three times, then says:
> 
>         The X-server can not be started on display :0...
> 
> The errors I have found in the Xerrors log are:
> 
>     Symbol abort from module /usr/X11R6/lib/modules/libshadow.a is unresolved!
>     Warning: Missing charsets in String to FontSet conversion
>     Warning: Cannot convert string "-dt-interface system-medium-r-normal-l*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*" to type FontSet
>     Warning: Missing charsets in String to FontSet conversion
>     Warning: Unable to load any usable fontset
>     Warning:
>         Name: FONTLIST_DEFAULT_TAG_STRING
>         Class: XmRendition
>         Conversion failed.  Cannot load font.
> 
> I do have the usual files under /usr/openwin/lib/X11/fonts, including
> F3bitmaps and its contents.
> 
> xinit will start a simple xterm under X.
> 
> I haven't tried XFree 4.1 yet.
> 
> Any suggestions or similar experiences?
> 
> 2. Unattended boot fails.
> 
> The device configuration assistant currently hangs in the scan of PS/2
> Mouse.  To successfully boot, I must choose devices to scan by hand
> (all others pass).  I have tried all possible BIOS mouse/touchpad
> settings with no effect.
> 
> How can I get the autoboot to not try to scan for a PS/2 mouse, so
> that the system, will boot unattended?


-- 
    David L. Markowitz			Director, UNIX Software
    Rttrek Consulting			SSP Solutions Inc.
    dav@rttrek.com			David.Markowitz@sspsolutions.com
    http://www.rttrek.com		http://www.sspsolutions.com/
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Received on Wed Mar 27 17:19:32 2002

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