Linux Gets Kernel-Based Modesetting

An anonymous reader writes "Next month when Fedora 9 is released it will be the first Linux distribution with support for kernel mode-setting, which is (surprisingly) a feature end-users should take note over. Kernel-based modesetting provides a flicker-free boot process, faster and more reliable VT switching, a Linux BSOD, and of most interest is much-improved suspend/resume support! The process of moving the modesetting code from the X.Org video driver into the Linux kernel isn't easy, but it should become official with the Linux 2.6.27 kernel, and the Intel video driver can already use this technology. Phoronix has a preview of kernel-based modesetting covering more of this new Linux feature accompanied by videos showing the dramatic improvements in virtual terminal switching."

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Re:Thanks but no thanks

[sticks_us]

I've tried contributing code, but they're stuck in a cathedral and won't acknowledge me.

I hear ya...I've better luck with the Debian Hurd project, give them a shot:

http://www.debian.org/ports/hurd/ [debian.org]

If it's been a while, you might be pleasantly surprised: you can get a decent GNU/Hurd install going without too much trouble, there are things happening, development-wise (including possible "summer of code" participation) and so on.

Good luck.

Re:What for?

[Anonymous Coward]

What's the justification for moving modesetting into kernel space?

The justification is, if the X server crashes, the kernel can restore the display to a usable state. It also ensures that the display is reinitialized properly after suspend/resume.

Re:Cross platform X compatibility?

[michaelmuffin]

Does anybody have some insights on how this will affect those not using Linux kernels with this patch?
Are the *BSDs and commercial Unices planning on similar work? Will support for modesetting eventually be dropped from X drivers?

I was under the impression that Solaris already did this, to name one.

solaris has its own x11 implementation -- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xsun [wikipedia.org] -- although x.org is an option for the i386 platform

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BSOD explanation

[Anonymous Coward]

BSOD here does not mean "Microsoft-style reliability".

Currently, if the kernel panic, and X is shown, the machine just locks up.

With kernel mode-setting, the kernel will be able to switch out of X and print panic to the screen. This is very helpful to developers, and for bug reports.

The downside is not decreased reliability, but that the normal user will panic too (and not just the kernel).

Of course, the more code we have in the kernel, the more reasons to oops, but that hardly happens on distribution kernels, as the bugs were mostly flushed out.

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