Bugzilla – Bug 103150
Installation fails when vga=fbdev was set as bootparameter
Last modified: 2005-08-15 12:51:30 UTC
Novell/SuSE recommends to set "vga=fbdev" as bootparameter when installing SuSE Linux in VMware. The installation runs perfectly, but at the first reboot Grub stops with "Error 23: error in parising number". The installer took the "vga=fbdev" from the first boot to the initial menu.lst, but Grub cannot parse it. Either Grub should be able to parse vga=fbdev or such options should be removed.
Please, attach y2logs or rather all the /var/log/YaST2 directory. It is very helpful for finding a solution of this bug. http://www.suse.de/~sh/Bugreporting-faq/index.html#id2518603 Thanks
Created attachment 45398 [details] /var/log/YaST2 directory as required This is the /var/log/YaST2 directory, shortly after the installation was completed. I have booted a rescue system and removed "vga=menu.lst" from /boot/grub/menu.lst, then the installation finished (CDs 2-4). Previously it stopped after the reboot after the first CD.
Torsten, how do you want YaST to handle it?
What's this supposed to be, vga=fbdev? The vga= is handled by x86 real mode startup code of the linux kernel to select among VESA modes provided by the video BIOS. fbdev is an abstraction the kernel provides to user space. "vga=fbdev" combines something pre-kernel-boot with something post-boot. Where is it recommended, and what does it do?
Sorry, mixed something up. The correct recommendation from http://www.novell.com/coolsolutions/trench/15677.html is x11i=fbdev. So it was my mistake, I think the bootparameter was ignored by the ISOLINUX and SuSE 10.0 now works with VMware without givinig a parameter. I can try this if you want. SuSE 9.3 definitely did not install in graphical mode without the x11i=fbdev parameter.
OK, also, you installed with vga=fbdev or x11i=fbdev?
I installed with vga=fbdev, and Grub did not start the system after reboot, because YaST added this bootparameter to the menu.lst.
OK, also, I will use the vga parameter only if it is set a meaningful way.
Checking for validity of the VGA parameter is in SVN, will go to Beta3.