Tradeshow Crowd Pullers

[Claire Q'vant]

 --- Joshua Oreman <oremanj at get-linux.org> wrote: > On
Tue, Aug 12, 2003 at 11:53:29PM +0100 or
> thereabouts, Claire Q'vant wrote:
> > We're going to have a booth at a trade show in a
> few
> > months, and we'd like to have a few machines
> running
> > FreeBSD for people to play with.
> > 
> > But, as a crowd puller, it'd be nice to have a
> > graphical bootup sequence.
> > 
> > I know it's not the 'done thing' for a server OS,
> but
> > for a workstation OS, it's a very nice touch.
> > 
> > Does anyone know of any code to do it?
> > Any projects already started?
> > 
> > I'm aware it'll have to be a kernel module, as
> it's
> > the only thing running at that stage.
> > 
> > I don't know if VGL and VESA will do it - it
> handles
> > the 'splash' modules ok, but this module would
> require
> > sysctl's to tell the module to display the next
> icon,
> > e.g.
> > Starting Network (greyed out icon)
> > Network Started ok (Coloured icon)
> > Network Start Failed (Coloured with cross through
> it)
> > 
> > Has anyone seen anything like this?
> > Is anyone keen?
> 
> Yep, I have, twice, on Linux. :-(
> 
> 1) The Linux bootsplash project (www.bootsplash.org
> IIRC) can do like FBSD ``splash''
>    module but with a progress bar. Also gives VCs a
> background pic.
> 2) Mandrake Linux does something a LOT like this. It
> doesn't cover up the kernel messages
>    as it's not a kernel module; it starts as soon as
> the root fs is mounted.
> 
>    Basically, it involves starting up a minimal X
> server.
> 
>    Yes, on Linux X can run on the framebuffer
> (SC_PIXEL_MODE). Not sure whether it can on
>    FBSD too.
> 
>    Then a custom X program was run to do exactly
> what you're talking about.
> 
> You may be able to use a combination of splash.ko
> and a custom X program to do what you want.
> 
> -- Josh
> 
> > 
> > Claire
Hmm. Starting X(albeit minimal) is not what I'm after,
as it needs to appear as soon as the kernel is loaded
- directly after the POST screen...
The filesystem isn't mounted for a while after that,
as the kernel detects hardware, and sets out
resources, etc, and I'd like that to be
graphical(represented, at least)

It's worth consideration though, if nothing else
happens...

Claire


________________________________________________________________________
Want to chat instantly with your online friends?  Get the FREE Yahoo!
Messenger http://uk.messenger.yahoo.com/