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Console screen resolution / font during initramfs

From Andy Smith@21:1/5 to All on Mon Jul 28 17:20:01 2025

Hi,

I have a Debian 12 laptop with quite a small screen which is quite high
DPI — 13" diagonal with resolution 2880x1920.

I like to remove "quiet" and "splash" from the kernel command line in
grub settings as I prefer to see all the text fly past. In this case
this is somewhat ruined by the fact that before the initramfs is done,
the text is microscopic on this display. This would include the part
where it asks me for my LUKS passphrase.

I think probably if I left "splash" in the command line then this would
show a nice image and a more friendly LUKS passphrase prompt, but I
don't really want to do that unless I absolutely have to. I'd rather
make the font bigger and/or resolution lower during the initramfs.

Is that possible?

I already found:

# dpkg-reconfigure console-setup

This appears to only take effect after the initramfs is done. The font
changes to the larger one I have selected there. It doesn't help me
during the initramfs.

I don't know what these variables in /etc/default/grub do, what their
valid values are or if they should be used at all in my situation:

# The resolution used on graphical terminal
# note that you can use only modes which your graphic card supports via VBE
# you can see them in real GRUB with the command `vbeinfo' #GRUB_GFXMODE=640x480

("vbeinfo" is not a recognised command at my grub command line.)

# I don't know what this would do either.
#GRUB_GFXPAYLOAD_LINUX=keep

Possibly this DOES need to be a grub setting though as that will apply
until the userland does something else?

Based on this:

https://bbs.archlinux.org/viewtopic.php?id=292604

maybe I should be using the "video=" kernel command line?

The poster there is using

video=DP-2:[email protected]

The top few lines of "xrandr" for me are:

XWAYLAND1 connected primary 2304x1536+1920+0 (normal left inverted right x axis y axis) 290mm x 190mm
2304x1536 119.95*+
2048x1536 119.95
1920x1440 119.97
1600x1200 119.82

(weird chosen resolution because I have it at 1.25x scale.)

I'm not sure what the display name would be. This gave me a bit more
info on that:

https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/Kernel_mode_setting#Forcing_modes

$ for p in /sys/class/drm/*/status; do con=${p%/status}; echo -n "${con#*/card?-}: "; cat $p; done
DP-1: disconnected
DP-2: disconnected
DP-3: disconnected
DP-4: connected
eDP-1: connected

I've currently got an exteranl display attached by USB-C so I think that
might be DP-4 and my internal display would be eDP-1. So maybe I should
try:

video=eDP-1:[email protected]

Anyone played with this sort of thing?

Thanks,
Andy

--
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From Hans@21:1/5 to All on Mon Jul 28 17:30:01 2025

I believe, you should simply remove or comment out the
entries in /etc/default/grub, and then just do an

upgrade-initramfs -u

as root to make it permanent.

Before you do this, you can check your setings. In the boot menu of grub,

type "e", then you can edit the boot commands for this special boot. Just remove it or edit the parms to your need, then go on booting pressing "F10"- key.

Next reboot will be as before. Doing so, you can set all settings, before changing anything in /etc/default/grub

Hope this helps.

Best

Hans

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From Andy Smith@21:1/5 to Hans on Mon Jul 28 17:40:02 2025

Hi Hans,

On Mon, Jul 28, 2025 at 05:25:38PM +0200, Hans wrote:

I believe, you should simply remove or comment out the
entries in /etc/default/grub, and then just do an

upgrade-initramfs -u

as root to make it permanent.

Which entries? I do not currently have any settings in /etc/default/grub related to resolution or font size.

I'm asking which settings should be used in there (or anywhere else), if
anyone knows.

The video= kernel command line looks promising and I will try this when
I've finished using my laptop for work today :)

It would help though if anyoen were able to confirm that I'm on the
right track with that.

Thanks,
Andy

--
https://bitfolk.com/ -- No-nonsense VPS hosting

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From Felix Miata@21:1/5 to All on Mon Jul 28 18:00:01 2025

Andy Smith composed on 2025-07-28 15:35 (UTC):

The video= kernel command line looks promising and I will try this when
I've finished using my laptop for work today :)

It would help though if anyoen were able to confirm that I'm on the
right track with that.

You are. I've been using it ever since KMS went mainstream going on two decades ago, using video=1440x900 by default as my goto for 1680x1050 and higher native resolution displays. However, video= only takes effect when KMS engages. If BIOS
supports it, vga= though deprecated, still will apply to the period between kernel
load and KMS engagement (which blanks the display). video= with most hardware will
apply only to the vttys, overridden by X. The exception is when using the (optional, with no official version upgrade in over a decade, stuck on 2.99.917.9....) intel display driver provided by upstream's xf86-video-intel, which Debian inexplicably provides by a different name.
--
Evolution as taught in public schools is, like religion,
based on faith, not based on science.

Team OS/2 ** Reg. Linux User #211409 ** a11y rocks!

Felix Miata

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From Hans@21:1/5 to All on Mon Jul 28 18:00:01 2025

This is a multi-part message in MIME format.

Which entries? I do not currently have any settings in /etc/default/grub related to resolution or font size.

I'm asking which settings should be used in there (or anywhere else), if anyone knows.

The video= kernel command line looks promising and I will try this when
I've finished using my laptop for work today :)

It would help though if anyoen were able to confirm that I'm on the
right track with that.

Thanks,
Andy

What I meant, is this, see an extract of mine here:

comment this or remove "quiet"
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet"

--------------------
Here you might want to set the resolution of boot screen. If your resolution is lower, fonts are
bigger.

There is also a kernel parameter which can be set, to use bigger fonts, but at the moment, I
forgot, which. Google might help.

# The resolution used on graphical terminal
# note that you can use only modes which your graphic card supports via VBE
# you can see them in real GRUB with the command `vbeinfo'
# GRUB_GFXMODE=1024x768
GRUB_GFXMODE=1920x1080

--------------------
With this parameter set, you can force the resolution of the console after boot.

GRUB_GFXPAYLOAD_LINUX=keep

--------------------

Please excuse, if I am telling you things, you already know.

For most people it is enough, just to change the resolution at boot.

Have fun!

Hans

<html>
<head>
<meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8">
</head>
<body> > Which entries? I do not currently have any settings in /etc/default/grub
> related to resolution or font size.
> > I'm asking which settings should be used in there (or anywhere else), if
> anyone knows.
> > The video= kernel command line looks promising and I will try this when
> I've finished using my laptop for work today :)
> > It would help though if anyoen were able to confirm that I'm on the
> right track with that.
> > Thanks,
> Andy
 What I meant, is this, see an extract of mine here:
 comment this or remove "quiet" 
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet"
 <hr />
Here you might want to set the resolution of boot screen. If your resolution is lower, fonts are bigger. 
 There is also a kernel parameter which can be set, to use bigger fonts, but at the moment, I forgot, which. Google might help.
 # The resolution used on graphical terminal
# note that you can use only modes which your graphic card supports via VBE
# you can see them in real GRUB with the command `vbeinfo'
# GRUB_GFXMODE=1024x768
GRUB_GFXMODE=1920x1080
 <hr />
With this parameter set, you can force the resolution of the console after boot. 
 GRUB_GFXPAYLOAD_LINUX=keep
 <hr />
 Please excuse, if I am telling you things, you already know. 
 For most people it is enough, just to change the resolution at boot.
 Have fun!
 Hans
</body>
</html>

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From Darac Marjal@21:1/5 to All on Mon Jul 28 21:00:01 2025

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<!DOCTYPE html>
<html>
<head>
<meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8">
</head>
<body>
 

<div class="moz-cite-prefix">On 28/07/2025 16:55, Hans wrote: 
</div>
<blockquote type="cite" cite="mid:9489237.CDJkKcVGEf@protheus2">
<meta http-equiv="content-type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8">
 
>
Which entries? I do not currently have any settings in
/etc/default/grub
>
related to resolution or font size.
>

>
I'm asking which settings should be used in there (or anywhere
else), if
>
anyone knows.
>

>
The video= kernel command line looks promising and I will try
this when
>
I've finished using my laptop for work today :)
>

>
It would help though if anyoen were able to confirm that I'm on
the
>
right track with that.
>

>
Thanks,
>
Andy
 
What
I meant, is this, see an extract of mine here:
</blockquote>
[cut] 
<blockquote type="cite" cite="mid:9489237.CDJkKcVGEf@protheus2">
 
# The
resolution used on graphical terminal
#
note that you can use only modes which your graphic card
supports via VBE
# you
can see them in real GRUB with the command `vbeinfo'
#
GRUB_GFXMODE=1024x768
GRUB_GFXMODE=1920x1080
</blockquote>
You might also try 'GRUB_GFXMODE="auto"' (this is the default, so
leaving GRUB_GFXMODE commented out has the same effect). 
<blockquote type="cite" cite="mid:9489237.CDJkKcVGEf@protheus2">
 
 
<hr>
With
this parameter set, you can force the resolution of the console
after boot. 
 
GRUB_GFXPAYLOAD_LINUX=keep
</blockquote>
This is usually the "magic word" as it tells grub not to set the
resolution for Linux. UEFI firmwares (especially on laptops) tend
to start in high resolution, so keeping that is probably your best
bet.
 

<blockquote type="cite" cite="mid:9489237.CDJkKcVGEf@protheus2">
Please
excuse, if I am telling you things, you already know. 
 
For
most people it is enough, just to change the resolution at boot.
 
Have
fun!
 
Hans
</blockquote>
</body>
</html>

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From Andy Smith@21:1/5 to Darac Marjal on Mon Jul 28 21:10:01 2025

Hi,

On Mon, Jul 28, 2025 at 07:41:32PM +0100, Darac Marjal wrote:

GRUB_GFXMODE=1920x1080

You might also try 'GRUB_GFXMODE="auto"' (this is the default, so leaving GRUB_GFXMODE commented out has the same effect).

As I say I already boot it with that commented out and the text is way
too small then, so I need to change something, somewhere.

Is setting GRUB_GFXMODE going to change the resolution from the moment
grub starts? Am I also able to use video- on the kernel command line to
change it again once the kernel gets as far as a framebuffer?

GRUB_GFXPAYLOAD_LINUX=keep

This is usually the "magic word" as it tells grub not to set the resolution for Linux. UEFI firmwares (especially on laptops) tend to start in high resolution, so keeping that is probably your best bet.

I think it starting in its native (2880x1920) resolution is the problem,
and I want it in something much smaller. What are the possible values of GRUB_GFXPAYLOAD_LINUX?

Thanks,
Andy

--
https://bitfolk.com/ -- No-nonsense VPS hosting

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From Nicolas George@21:1/5 to All on Mon Jul 28 21:40:01 2025

Andy Smith (HE12025-07-28):

Is setting GRUB_GFXMODE going to change the resolution from the moment
grub starts?

Test it and tell us what you found out.

Am I also able to use video- on the kernel command line to
change it again once the kernel gets as far as a framebuffer?

Test it and tell us what you found out.

Regards,

--
Nicolas George

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From Geert Stappers@21:1/5 to Felix Miata on Mon Jul 28 21:20:01 2025

On Mon, Jul 28, 2025 at 11:58:55AM -0400, Felix Miata wrote:

Andy Smith composed on 2025-07-28 15:35 (UTC):

The video= kernel command line looks promising and I will try this when I've finished using my laptop for work today :)

It would help though if anyoen were able to confirm that I'm on the
right track with that.

You are. I've been using it ever since KMS went mainstream going on two decades
ago, using video=1440x900 by default as my goto for 1680x1050 and higher native
resolution displays. However, video= only takes effect when KMS engages. If BIOS
supports it, vga= though deprecated, still will apply to the period between kernel
load and KMS engagement (which blanks the display). video= with most hardware will
apply only to the vttys, overridden by X. The exception is when using the (optional, with no official version upgrade in over a decade, stuck on 2.99.917.9....) intel display driver provided by upstream's xf86-video-intel, which Debian inexplicably provides by a different name.

Not knowning what KMS means, made me do a websearch. Now sharing my find.

KMS is short for Kernel Mode Setting. It is _Display_ Mode Setting, it
is about screen resolution, color depth and refresh rate.
See also https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mode_setting

Groeten
Geert Stappers
--
Silence is hard to parse

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From Felix Miata@21:1/5 to All on Wed Jul 30 22:30:01 2025

Andy Smith composed on 2025-07-29 21:57 (UTC):

On Tue, Jul 29, 2025 at 17:29:38 -0400, Felix Miata wrote

I would expect your laptop to have a rather special UEFI BIOS
to accommodate its resolution oddities. Is a laptop UEFI BIOS
update available for it?

It has no resolution oddities, what are you talking about?

Absence from inclusion in standards, such as on: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Display_resolution_standards>
1.5:1 and 15:10 are simply not there. Were I shopping for a pair to use side by side, I'd more likely choose 15:10 over 16:9 were it a similarly valued option. As
it is, I'm fine with 16:10s.

There's also UEFI firmware to consider. It has to handle display interface(s) until bootloader and OS take over, already more complicated since EFI setup GUIs
took over from plain text BIOS.
--
Evolution as taught in public schools is, like religion,
based on faith, not based on science.

Team OS/2 ** Reg. Linux User #211409 ** a11y rocks!

Felix Miata

--- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05
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From Nicolas George@21:1/5 to All on Thu Jul 31 12:00:01 2025

Detlef Vollmann (HE12025-07-31):

3:2 is there and is actually become more popular these days
with business oriented notebooks.

What we really need are monitor with
1.4142135623730950488016887242096980786 and 1.6180339887498948482045868343656381177 aspect ratio.

Regards,

--
Nicolas George

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From Detlef Vollmann@21:1/5 to Felix Miata on Thu Jul 31 11:30:02 2025

On 7/30/25 22:23, Felix Miata wrote:

Absence from inclusion in standards, such as on: <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Display_resolution_standards>
1.5:1 and 15:10 are simply not there.

3:2 is there and is actually become more popular these days
with business oriented notebooks.

Detlef

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