This guide is meant to be a quick software reference to frame buffers still supported in Solaris.
It is organized into bus architecture tables - PCI, UPA, SBUS or AUXILIARY.
 

Each table provides the following information:
 

• Framebuffer Name
• Description
• Device
• Packages
• Command to Set Resolution
• Minimum Solaris Release
• Final Solaris Release
• Supported Resolutions

Notes follow most tables that provide information for setting the frame buffer resolution when it can be set by a command other than eeprom or setenv.

There is also a table that describes the pinouts of
DB13W3 connectors and Sun Framebuffers

PGX Notes: Changing the PGX Resolution

For most installations, the M64 Frame Buffer card will automatically configure itself to the proper screen resolution and refresh rate for your monitor. However, if a non-Sun monitor is connected to the M64 Frame Buffer, the monitor may come up in the wrong screen resolution.

To change the screen resolution, read the m64config man page. Use of the m64config utility is also described in the Platform Notes: SMCC Frame Buffers document, which is available in AnswerBook. The platform notes also describe how to configure your system for use with two monitors.

To use the PGX in 24 bit mode, use the m64config command to change to a resolution that supports the desired colordepth, then either use the  m64config command with the -depth option or modify Xservers appropriately. Note that if there is a setting in Xservers, it will override the m64config setting.

Example: Setting a PGX24 to use 24 bit at 1152x900 using m64config:
 

# m64config -res 1152x900x76 now
# m64config -depth 24
# m64config -prconf

PGX 32 Notes: Changing the PGX32 Resolution

Resolutions up to 1280 x 1024 default to 8/24-bit mode.
Resolutions over 1280 x 1024 default to 8-bit mode.
By default, the bit depth is set to 8/24 for resolutions of 1280x1024 and less or 8 only for higher resolutions.

Examples:
 

# gfxconfig -res HORIZxVERTxFREQ
# gfxconfig -depth <8 or 24>

Table 2: UPA bus architecture
Elite 3D Family

These frame buffer cards are only supported in sun4u (Ultra) machines.
 
 

Elite 3D Notes: Changing the Elite 3D Resolution
 

To see which resolutions are supported on the system for this card, issue the command:
 

# /usr/sbin/afbconfig -res \?

The following example switches the monitor type to the resolution of 1280x1028 at 76 Hz:
 

# /usr/sbin/afbconfig -res 1280x1024x76

Table 3: UPA bus architecture (continued)
Creator Family

These frame buffer cards are only supported in sun4u (Ultra) machines.
 
 
 

Creator Series Notes: Changing the FFB Resolution
 

#ffbconfig -res HORIZxVERTxFREQ

Table 4: SBUS architecture
GX, GXplus, TurboGX, TurboGXplus, ZX and ZXplus
 
 
 

Notes: Changing the ZX resolution

With the ZX user can temporarily change the screen resolution of a running system, and can change the default resolution of the system.
 

Temporarily changing the resolution

1. Exit from the window system.

2. Become root.

        % /usr/bin/su

3. Run leoconfig using the desired resolution.

        # /etc/opt/SUNWleo/bin/leoconfig -M <monitor_type>

where <monitor_type> is one of the following:
 

Changing the default resolution

1. Become root.

% /usr/bin/su

2. Edit the/etc/init.d/leoconfig script file.

# vi /etc/init.d/leoconfig

3. Search for the "MONTYPE=" string in the file.  There is one MONTYPE= line for each available screen configuration. By default, all but one of the lines are commented out (comment -> #).

4. Comment out the line that specifies the current screen configuration.  This is done by placing the # character in front of the MONTYPE= line which has none.

5. Remove the comment character from the line that corresponds to the resolution you desire. The table above describes what the options mean.

6. Save the file and exit the editor.

7. Save all work.

8. Exit from the window system.

9. Reboot the system.

Table 5: SBUS (continued) and Auxillary
MG1, MG2, CG3, CG8, S24 and CG14
 
 
 

DB13W3 connector and Sun Framebuffers

Besides the red, green, blue and sync connections, the Sun monitor connector (called DB13W3) has several sense pins which allow the monitor to tell the framebuffer what resolutions and frequencies it can handle. The sense pins are pins 3 (S2), 8 (S1) and 9 (S0).  These are used in combination with pin 4 (GND) to communicate the resolutions to the framebuffer.

The table below is a list of how the pins are interpreted. Many of the framebuffers will not allow users to put them in a mode that the monitor says it does not support. If trying to put the framebuffer in a particular resolution but it won't go, check to see if the monitor supports the resolution.
 

Date: October 31, 2000