Setting text console dimensions via Grub2

[Steve Holmes]

I realize these parms are distro specific so will point out what I've
been doing on my ArchLinux system and grub2.  First of all, they
implemented the config-grub thing too but for laziness, I just kept my
grub.cfg around with the kernel command which I will paste in
shortly.  I also have
insmod vbe 
in my grub.cfg plus the following kernel command line.
linux /boot/vmlinuz26 root=/dev/sdb1 ro vga=790
I'm a bit unclear now how I came up with 790 but I was originally
using parameters spelling out the specific resolution modes but that
broke when the 2.6.32 kernel came out.  After some experimentation and
trial+error, I came up with the line I pasted here and it's been
working for me ever since.  I get a text terminal with 48 lines and
128 columns.

Now, if I could get gnome to give me more than 800/600 resolution,
things would be even better but that's for another another thread on
another day.

On Fri, May 21, 2010 at 08:12:27PM +1000, Jason White wrote:
> Kenny Hitt <kenny at hittsjunk.net> writes:
> 
> > The 2.6.32-4 kernel on Debian Sid had a problem where it didn't swithc console modes.
> > The problem was fixed with the update to 2.6.32-5.
> 
> It also seems to depend on which video card/chip set you are using, and
> the status of kernel mode switching (KMS) in relation to this hardware.
> 
> For example, my laptop has an Intel video chip set, and it acquired KMS,
> hence framebuffer consoles in 2.6.31 or early 2.6.32 (these are Debian
> kernels, and I can't remember exactly when the change occurred).
> 
> My desktop machine didn't acquire a framebuffer console until I moved to
> a 2.6.33 kernel in Debian Experimental, which activated the Nouveau
> driver for the NVidia card. This driver is also included in more recent
> Debian 2.6.32 kernel releases, but I haven't found any need to move back
> from 2.6.33 as yet.
> 
> As an aside, another means of ascertaining the terminal's dimensions is
> to install and run C-Kermit, then use the "show terminal" command, which
> on the desktop machine I am using to type this message (namely, the one
> with the NVidia card) shows height 65 and width 210.
> 
> I should also mention that the line length of e-mail messages and other
> files is determined by settings in your text editor.
> 
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