Grub splash & console tty eye candy [ONGOING]

Message

HeXiLeD · Post by **HeXiLeD** » Thu Feb 06, 2020 4:24 am

Been years since I have played with grub features and console resolution, grub splashes and background images.
This is my first EFI motherboard and Gentoo install on such hardware as well as multi boot operating systems.

Right now I have everything working but would like to get some ‘cosmetics” on Gentoo.

Goal: To get grub and the console to have a background image.

Relevant docs:
https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/Fbsplash

Example:
https://www.deviantart.com/unixwz0r/art ... -516131523
https://linux.softpedia.com/screenshots ... lash_1.jpg
https://wiki.gentoo.org/images/thumb/7/ ... splash.png

A few details:

- Fresh new laptop install
- Quad boot OS install (3 linux + windows each one with it’s boot manager)
- Grub on gentoo set as main boot manager
- Encrypted / partition
- Separate /boot partition
- 2 video cards and although not sure, It seems that the console uses the Intel card
- Starfield theme works
- Fair chance that the boot management is not what it could or should be
- Huge chance that I am missing some small detail but cant see exactly what.

# dmesg | grep buffer

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[    0.230395] MDS: Vulnerable: Clear CPU buffers attempted, no microcode
[    0.644021] e820: reserve RAM buffer [mem 0x0009f000-0x0009ffff]
[    0.644022] e820: reserve RAM buffer [mem 0x73d87000-0x73ffffff]
[    0.644023] e820: reserve RAM buffer [mem 0x7a71c000-0x7bffffff]
[    0.644023] e820: reserve RAM buffer [mem 0x8a89e000-0x8bffffff]
[    0.644024] e820: reserve RAM buffer [mem 0x8bc0f000-0x8bffffff]
[    0.644025] e820: reserve RAM buffer [mem 0x46e800000-0x46fffffff]
[    1.798455] PCI-DMA: Using software bounce buffering for IO (SWIOTLB)
[    1.948408] efifb: framebuffer at 0xb0000000, using 8128k, total 8128k
[    1.948481] Console: switching to colour frame buffer device 240x67
[    1.952032] fb0: EFI VGA frame buffer device
[  214.582139] Console: switching to colour frame buffer device 240x67
[  214.606116] i915 0000:00:02.0: fb0: inteldrmfb frame buffer device

# dmesg | grep fb

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[    0.382082] fbcon: Taking over console
[    0.527625] pci 0000:00:02.0: BAR 2: assigned to efifb
[    1.948382] efifb: probing for efifb
[    1.948408] efifb: framebuffer at 0xb0000000, using 8128k, total 8128k
[    1.948410] efifb: mode is 1920x1080x32, linelength=7680, pages=1
[    1.948411] efifb: scrolling: redraw
[    1.948413] efifb: Truecolor: size=8:8:8:8, shift=24:16:8:0
[    1.952032] fb0: EFI VGA frame buffer device
[  213.267354] fb: switching to inteldrmfb from EFI VGA
[  213.283754] fbcon: inteldrmfb (fb0) is primary device
[  214.606116] i915 0000:00:02.0: fb0: inteldrmfb frame buffer device

# dmesg | grep frame

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[    1.948408] efifb: framebuffer at 0xb0000000, using 8128k, total 8128k
[    1.948481] Console: switching to colour frame buffer device 240x67
[    1.952032] fb0: EFI VGA frame buffer device
[  213.070681] r8169 0000:07:00.0 eth0: jumbo features [frames: 9200 bytes, tx checksumming: ko]
[  214.582139] Console: switching to colour frame buffer device 240x67
[  214.606116] i915 0000:00:02.0: fb0: inteldrmfb frame buffer device

# lspci | grep VGA

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00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation UHD Graphics 630 (Mobile)
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: NVIDIA Corporation Device 1f91 (rev a1)

00:02.0 VGA compatible controller: Intel Corporation UHD Graphics 630 (Mobile)
        Subsystem: Lenovo UHD Graphics 630 (Mobile)
        Kernel driver in use: i915
        Kernel modules: i915

01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: NVIDIA Corporation Device 1f91 (rev a1)
        Subsystem: Lenovo Device 3a2e
     Kernel driver in use: nvidia
        Kernel modules: nouveau, nvidia_drm, nvidia

# cat /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf

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blacklist nouveau

On grub, videoinfo does show capacity for 1920x1080x32 resolution

hwinfo –framebuffer does not output anything but hwinfo does provide the following:

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 <6>[  214.582139] Console: switching to colour frame buffer device 240x67
 <6>[  214.606116] i915 0000:00:02.0: fb0: inteldrmfb frame buffer device

Kernel fb support:

# cat /usr/src/linux/.config| grep CONFIG_FRAMEBUFFER_CONSOLE

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CONFIG_FRAMEBUFFER_CONSOLE=y
CONFIG_FRAMEBUFFER_CONSOLE_DETECT_PRIMARY=y
CONFIG_FRAMEBUFFER_CONSOLE_ROTATION=y
CONFIG_FRAMEBUFFER_CONSOLE_DEFERRED_TAKEOVER=y

# cat /usr/src/linux/.config| grep CONFIG_FB_SIMPLE
# CONFIG_FB_SIMPLE is not set

and according to:
viewtopic-p-8112046.html#8112046

“nvidia-drivers does not provide a console, at all”

Finding the resolutions supported by the framebuffer device:

# cat /sys/class/graphics/fb0/modes

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U:1920x1080p-0

Does not exist:
/etc/splash/ (because package is gone)

Updating an initramfs image without using genkernel
splash_geninitramfs (does not exist because package is gone)

# grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg

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Generating grub configuration file ...
Found theme: /boot/grub/themes/starfield/theme.txt
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.19.97-gentoo-x86_64
Found initrd image: /boot/initramfs-4.19.97-gentoo-x86_64.img
Found linux image: /boot/vmlinuz-4.19.97-gentoo-x86_64.old
Found initrd image: /boot/initramfs-4.19.97-gentoo-x86_64.img
Found Windows Boot Manager on /dev/nvme0n1p1@/efi/Microsoft/Boot/bootmgfw.efi
Found Some GNU/Linux on /dev/nvme0n1p6
Found Some Other Linux on /dev/nvme0n1p7
done

Grub configuration:

# https://www.gnu.org/software/grub/manua ... ation.html

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GRUB_DISTRIBUTOR="Gentoo"

GRUB_DEFAULT=60

GRUB_TIMEOUT=-1

GRUB_TIMEOUT_STYLE=menu

GRUB_ENABLE_CRYPTODISK=1

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX="dolvm crypt_root=UUID=blahblahblah-blahh-blahh-blah-blahblahblah root=/dev/mapper/root rootfstype=ext4 net.ifnames=0 root_trim=yes"

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="splash"
  
GRUB_GFXMODE=1920x1080x32,auto

GRUB_GFXPAYLOAD_LINUX=keep
  
GRUB_THEME="/boot/grub/themes/starfield/theme.txt"

GRUB_BACKGROUND="/boot/grub/img/gentoo-powered-big.png"

# GRUB_VIDEO_BACKEND="vbe" ???

#GRUB_DISABLE_LINUX_UUID=true

#GRUB_DISABLE_RECOVERY=true

#GRUB_DISABLE_SUBMENU=y
 
#GRUB_INIT_TUNE="60 800 1"

GRUB_FONT="/boot/grub/fonts/unicode.pf2"

SPLASH_THEME="gentoo"

Genkernel:

# grep -v '^#' /etc/genkernel.conf

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INSTALL="yes"

MRPROPER="yes"

MOUNTBOOT="yes"

SAVE_CONFIG="yes"

NOCOLOR="false"

LVM="yes"

LUKS="yes"

GPG="yes"

MICROCODE="all"

BUSYBOX="yes"

BOOTLOADER="grub"

SPLASH="yes"

SPLASH_THEME="gentoo"

MODULEREBUILD="yes"

KEYMAP="yes"

GK_SHARE="${GK_SHARE:-/usr/share/genkernel}"

CACHE_DIR="/var/cache/genkernel"

DISTDIR="${GK_SHARE}/distfiles"

LOGFILE="/var/log/genkernel.log"

LOGLEVEL=1

DEFAULT_KERNEL_SOURCE="/usr/src/linux"

# genkernel --luks --lvm --no-zfs all

Links I have used to solve this problem:

https://www.gnu.org/software/grub/manual/grub/html_node

https://www.thegeekstuff.com/2012/10/grub-splash-image (did not work)

https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/Fbsplash (outdated and not effective) fbcondecor is gone?

viewtopic-t-728450-start-0.html (outdated)

https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/GR ... figuration (not helpfull)

viewtopic-t-1089418-highlight-grub+splash.html (not helpful)

viewtopic-t-1069124-highlight-grub+splash.html (outdated)

( I found this confusing and maybe someone might be able to clarify)
viewtopic-p-8111658.html#8111658

HeXiLeD · Post by **HeXiLeD** » Fri Feb 14, 2020 11:42 pm

On a deeper look, it is probably fair to say that something needed is no longer provided by portage.
So the question is, if there is anyone out there with grub and console splashes and background image working.

* ERROR: splash_geninitramfs is required for --splash but was not found!

What portage package is providing the ability to have splash_geninitramfs?
Splashutils is gone.

And where or how can we get fbcondecor ?

Also, in this blog there is interesting information.
https://delogics.blogspot.com/2011/11/g ... howto.html

Outdated and no longer working at this moment
https://wiki.gentoo.org/wiki/Fbsplash

Broken link and non existent content at this moment
https://dev.gentoo.org/~welp/grub-splashes.xml

# cat /var/log/genkernel.log

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* CMD_LUKS: yes
* CMD_LVM: yes
* CMD_ZFS: no
* Gentoo Linux Genkernel; Version 4.0.2[0m
* Using genkernel configuration from '/etc/genkernel.conf' ...
* Running with options: --luks --lvm --no-zfs all
* Resolving config file, command line, and arch default settings.
*   TMPDIR set in config file to "/tmp/genkernel".
*   LOGFILE set in config file to "/var/log/genkernel.log".
*   KERNEL_DIR defaulted to "/usr/src/linux".
*   KERNEL_SOURCES defaulted to "yes".
*   INITRAMFS_FILENAME defaulted to "initramfs-%%KV%%.img".
*   INITRAMFS_SYMLINK_NAME defaulted to "initramfs".
*   KERNEL_FILENAME defaulted to "vmlinuz-%%KV%%".
*   KERNEL_SYMLINK_NAME defaulted to "kernel".
*   SYSTEMMAP_FILENAME defaulted to "System.map-%%KV%%".
*   SYSTEMMAP_SYMLINK_NAME defaulted to "System.map".
*   CHECK_FREE_DISK_SPACE_BOOTDIR set in config file to "0".
*   CHECK_FREE_DISK_SPACE_KERNELOUTPUTDIR set in config file to "0".
*   COMPRESS_INITRD defaulted to "yes".
*   COMPRESS_INITRD_TYPE defaulted to "best".
*   MAKEOPTS defaulted to "-j13".
*   NICE defaulted to "10".
*   KERNEL_MAKE defaulted to "make".
*   UTILS_CFLAGS defaulted to "-Os -pipe -fomit-frame-pointer".
*   UTILS_MAKE defaulted to "make".
*   KERNEL_CC defaulted to "gcc".
*   KERNEL_LD defaulted to "ld".
*   KERNEL_AS defaulted to "as".
*   UTILS_CC defaulted to "gcc".
*   UTILS_CXX defaulted to "g++".
*   UTILS_LD defaulted to "ld".
*   UTILS_AS defaulted to "as".
*   CROSS_COMPILE not set.
*   BOOTDIR set in config file to "/boot".
*   KERNEL_APPEND_LOCALVERSION not set.
*   KERNEL_LOCALVERSION defaulted to "-%%ARCH%%".
*   MODPROBEDIR defaulted to "/etc/modprobe.d".
*   SPLASH set in config file to "yes".
*   CLEAR_CACHEDIR set in config file to "yes".
*   POSTCLEAR set in config file to "yes".
*   MRPROPER set in config file to "yes".
*   MENUCONFIG defaulted to "no".
*   GCONFIG defaulted to "no".
*   NCONFIG defaulted to "no".
*   XCONFIG defaulted to "no".
*   CLEAN set in config file to "yes".
*   MINKERNPACKAGE not set.
*   MODULESPACKAGE not set.
*   MODULEREBUILD set in config file to "yes".
*   MODULEREBUILD_CMD defaulted to "emerge --ignore-default-opts --quiet-build=y @module-rebuild".
*   KERNCACHE not set.
*   RAMDISKMODULES defaulted to "yes".
*   ALLRAMDISKMODULES defaulted to "no".
*   INITRAMFS_OVERLAY not set.
*   MOUNTBOOT set in config file to "yes".
*   BUILD_STATIC defaulted to "no".
*   SAVE_CONFIG set in config file to "yes".
*   SYMLINK defaulted to "no".
*   INSTALL_MOD_PATH not set.
*   OLDCONFIG defaulted to "yes".
*   SANDBOX defaulted to "yes".
*   SSH defaulted to "no".
*   SSH_AUTHORIZED_KEYS_FILE defaulted to "/etc/dropbear/authorized_keys".
*   SSH_HOST_KEYS defaulted to "create".
*   STRACE defaulted to "no".
*   BCACHE defaulted to "no".
*   LVM overridden on command line to "yes".
*   DMRAID defaulted to "no".
*   ISCSI defaulted to "no".
*   HYPERV defaulted to "no".
*   BOOTFONT defaulted to "none".
*   BOOTLOADER set in config file to "grub2".
*   BUSYBOX set in config file to "yes".
*   BUSYBOX_CONFIG not set.
*   NFS defaulted to "yes".
*   MICROCODE set in config file to "all".
*   MICROCODE_INITRAMFS defaulted to "no".
*   UNIONFS set in config file to "no".
*   NETBOOT defaulted to "no".
*   REAL_ROOT not set.
*   DISKLABEL set in config file to "yes".
*   LUKS overridden on command line to "yes".
*   GPG set in config file to "yes".
*   MDADM defaulted to "no".
*   MDADM_CONFIG not set.
*   E2FSPROGS defaulted to "no".
*   XFSPROGS defaulted to "no".
*   ZFS overridden on command line to "no".
*   BTRFS set in config file to "no".
*   VIRTIO defaulted to "no".
*   MULTIPATH defaulted to "no".
*   FIRMWARE defaulted to "no".
*   FIRMWARE_DIR defaulted to "/lib/firmware".
*   FIRMWARE_FILES not set.
*   FIRMWARE_INSTALL defaulted to "no".
*   INTEGRATED_INITRAMFS defaulted to "no".
*   WRAP_INITRD defaulted to "no".
*   GENZIMAGE defaulted to "no".
*   KEYMAP set in config file to "yes".
*   DOKEYMAPAUTO defaulted to "no".
*   BUSYBOX_CONFIG not set.
*   STRIP_TYPE defaulted to "modules".
*   INSTALL set in config file to "yes".
*   CLEANUP defaulted to "yes".
*   KERNEL_OUTPUTDIR defaulted to "/usr/src/linux".

* Read 'x86_64' from 'uname -m' ...
* ARCH 'x86_64' detected ...
* CBUILD set to 'x86_64-pc-linux-gnu' ...
* CHOST set to 'x86_64-pc-linux-gnu' ...

* ERROR: splash_geninitramfs is required for --splash but was not found!
* Please consult '/var/log/genkernel.log' for more information and any
* errors that were reported above.
* 
* Report any genkernel bugs to bugs.gentoo.org and
* assign your bug to genkernel@gentoo.org. Please include
* as much information as you can in your bug report; attaching
* '/var/log/genkernel.log' so that your issue can be dealt with effectively.
* 
* Please do *not* report kernel compilation failures as genkernel bugs!
* 

* mount: >> Boot partition state on '/boot' was not changed; Skipping restore boot partition state ...
* Running final cache/tmp cleanup ...
* CACHE_DIR: /var/cache/genkernel
* Clearing cache dir contents from /var/cache/genkernel ...
* TMPDIR: /tmp/genkernel
* Removing tmp dir contents

Post by **ConiKost** » Sat Feb 15, 2020 1:34 pm

The fbcondecor patch is gone and not anymore applied for gentoo-sources, but it was never part of vanilla.sources.
Also the needed splashutils userland package was last rited. So you can't use that anymore.

There is also no alternative, if you want a nice background image for your real tty.
You could have a look at fbterm though, which could be run on tty and provied a nice background image.

For a nice boot splash, which is shown during boot only, have a look at the modern alternative plymouth.