BlackCat Astronomy Edition now available

[Neal ManBear]

Taco.22,
"There's more than one way to skin a cat."      
That's only the two ways I have used. LOL Probably there are other ways I've not learned yet.

   

I have tried the script made by Archie when Texstar asked for one. It can be installed somewhere in the $PATH, needs configuring GDM for autologin for guest, and be also removed at post-install time. 

Where does it install to?     

Melodie,
You're welcome. It's a great thing to share knowledge, isn't it?   

 

Yes Neal ! 

Makes me happy.      

[melodie]

Where does it install to?

In last Zen Mini I found it under /opt. I suppose you could as well place it somewhere else, provided it's in the $PATH of the executables.

Makes me happy.  

   

Same here !

[Neal ManBear]

Thanks.

[melodie]

Thanks.

My pleasure.

Have a nice day,
Mélodie

[Taco.22]

Just a quick query - I have set up BlackCat with the auto login feature and live only wallpaper with login passwords.  Can I edit the xorg.conf to default to 1280x1024?  The last iso I did I took Mélodie's advice and removed the xorg.conf before remastering.  However the system defaults to 1024x768, and conky doesn't fit!! 

And no, I'm not copping out on the login thing .  I'm saving the modification of the gdm image for another Bonsai system I am building.  Sort of an awesome-crunchy-Bonsai thing, with window tiling and crunchy-style conky served on a delicious Bonsai bun.  With extras!    

[melodie]

Hi,

xorg.conf is recreated at post-install, I believe it is inside the rc.sysinit file. You might want to look there, but I would not advice to change it. I suggest that you open the PCC when you are in the live, change the resolution in the Hardware>Video section. Don't pay attention to the message that says "reboot" but just logout/login, and you are done.

[Taco.22]

Hi Mélodie,

I'm just trying to remember - do all the live cds default to 1024x768?  I should just stick one in have a look but both 'puters are kind of occupied at the moment - uploads, downloads etc.  It may also have something to do with size of screen - currently the test 'puter has a small 14" CRT screen - I seem to recall it all seemed to spread out more on the bigger monitor.  My current issue is conky, but it may be the size of screen I am using.  Yes, I can adjust the screen resolution on the fly - just trying to work out the best spec. for the live cd.

Taco.22 

[melodie]

Hi Taco,

I told you it is in the file /etc/rc.d/rc.sysinit : this file is the master of the things... for LiveCD and for postinstall. This is the part that interests you:

Code: [Select]

# Do Harware Detection by calling service_harddrake
gprintf "Detecting hardware...Thinking\n"
/usr/share/harddrake/service_harddrake --force >/dev/null 2>&1
echo

# Write /etc/X11/xorg.conf of usr selects fbdev mode
if strstr "$cmdline" fbdev ; then
echo
gprintf "*** Video driver set to fbdev ***\n"
echo
cat >/etc/X11/xorg.conf << EOF
# File generated by XFdrake (rev 262502)

# **********************************************************************
# Refer to the xorg.conf man page for details about the format of
# this file.
# **********************************************************************

Section "ServerFlags"
    Option "DontZap" "False" # disable <Ctrl><Alt><BS> (server abort)
    #DontZoom # disable <Ctrl><Alt><KP_+>/<KP_-> (resolution switching)
    AllowMouseOpenFail # allows the server to start up even if the mouse does not work
EndSection

Section "Module"
    Load "v4l" # Video for Linux
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier "monitor1"
    VendorName "Generic"
    ModelName "1024x768 @ 60 Hz"
    HorizSync 31.5-48.0
    VertRefresh 50.0-70.0
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier "device1"
    Driver "fbdev"
    Option "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier "screen1"
    Device "device1"
    Monitor "monitor1"
    DefaultColorDepth 16
   
    Subsection "Display"
        Depth 8
        Modes "1024x768" "832x624" "800x600" "640x480" "480x360" "320x240"
    EndSubsection
   
    Subsection "Display"
        Depth 15
        Modes "1024x768" "832x624" "800x600" "640x480" "480x360" "320x240"
    EndSubsection
   
    Subsection "Display"
        Depth 16
        Modes "1024x768" "832x624" "800x600" "640x480" "480x360" "320x240"
    EndSubsection
   
    Subsection "Display"
        Depth 24
        Modes "1024x768" "832x624" "800x600" "640x480" "480x360" "320x240"
    EndSubsection
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
    Identifier "layout1"
    Screen "screen1"
EndSection
EOF
fi

# Write fstab for LiveCD
cat >/etc/fstab << EOF
/dev/root / rootfs defaults 0 0
none /proc proc defaults 0 0
none /dev/pts devpts defaults 0 0
EOF


# Write Finish install for LiveCD
if ! strstr "$cmdline" nofinishinstall; then
cat >/etc/sysconfig/finish-install << EOF
FINISH_INSTALL=yes
LICENSE=no
LANGUAGE=no
KEYBOARD=yes
COUNTRY=no
TIMEZONE=no
NETWORK=no
AUTHENTICATION=no
USERS=no
GLX=no
EOF
fi


(I copied a bit more)

[Neal ManBear]

Where does it install to?

In last Zen Mini I found it under /opt. I suppose you could as well place it somewhere else, provided it's in the $PATH of the executables.

The relevant file (.desktop) is in /usr/share/autostart. After editing this file to insure a launch in LXDE, it still would not start. So I copied it to /home/guest/.config/autostart and now it works.      

[melodie]

The relevant file (.desktop) is in /usr/share/autostart. After editing this file to insure a launch in LXDE, it still would not start. So I copied it to /home/guest/.config/autostart and now it works.      

Is that in the updated quarterly Lxde  ?

[Neal ManBear]

The relevant file (.desktop) is in /usr/share/autostart. After editing this file to insure a launch in LXDE, it still would not start. So I copied it to /home/guest/.config/autostart and now it works.      

Is that in the updated quarterly Lxde  ?

No. 64bit. I hadn't got it working till today.

[Taco.22]

Hi Mélodie,

I had a look at /etc/rc.d/rc.sysinit, and edited it so -

Section "Monitor"
    Identifier "monitor1"
    VendorName "Generic"
    ModelName "1280x1024 @ 60 Hz"
    HorizSync 31.5-48.0
    VertRefresh 50.0-70.0
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier "device1"
    Driver "fbdev"
    Option "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
    Identifier "screen1"
    Device "device1"
    Monitor "monitor1"
    DefaultColorDepth 16
   
    Subsection "Display"
        Depth 8
        Modes "1280x1024" "1024x768" "832x624" "800x600" "640x480" "480x360" "320x240"
    EndSubsection
   
    Subsection "Display"
        Depth 15
        Modes "1280x1024" "1024x768" "832x624" "800x600" "640x480" "480x360" "320x240"
    EndSubsection
   
    Subsection "Display"
        Depth 16
        Modes "1280x1024" "1024x768" "832x624" "800x600" "640x480" "480x360" "320x240"
    EndSubsection
   
    Subsection "Display"
        Depth 24
        Modes "1280x1024" "1024x768" "832x624" "800x600" "640x480" "480x360" "320x240"
    EndSubsection
EndSection

I then removed the xorg.conf and rebooted a couple of times, but it still defaults to "1024x768".  Is it as a live cd that it picks the "1280x1024" resolution, or am I missing something else.

Taco.22 

[melodie]

Hi,

It might have something to do with the VGA. Not sure about that, but I would try change it's definition on the kernel command line.

Have you tried just configuring it in PCC then logout and login ? (In the live session I mean).

PS: I have a laptop with best resolution at 1280x800_60 and the VGA value I have set up in the kernel line is 864. You could try that:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VESA_BIOS_Extensions

look at the frame under the chapter "Linux video mode numbers".

I would choose the 256 colors resolution value for the "vga=xxx" in the kernel line, this would be 775 in the case of your monitor. But once again, if you tweak the kernel line for your own use before you remaster, I don't think the change will follow in the live version. You would have to open an initrd to see what is in it, and also read through the files under /usr/share/mylivecd, maybe would you find some information which could help you.

[djohnston]

Sorry I'm late to the party. Experienced some daunting machine problems.

I would choose the 256 colors resolution value for the "vga=xxx" in the kernel line, this would be 775 in the case of your monitor. But once again, if you tweak the kernel line for your own use before you remaster, I don't think the change will follow in the live version. You would have to open an initrd to see what is in it, and also read through the files under /usr/share/mylivecd, maybe would you find some information which could help you.

Another option is "vga=ask". This will wait for the user's input on the screen size and color depth to use. It will also optionally display a table of the possible vga values the user can enter at boot time.

An alternative method is to create a wallpaper with the login info on it, put it in a folder in /home/guest/, set it as guest wallpaper and set up autologin to guest. As the guest account is deleted on first boot after install, the wallpaper goes, too.

Ooh, but that's cheating isn't it ??  Makes it too easy .

I've heard it said that the easiest way is often the best way.   

[Taco.22]

Hi all,

I had a good think about Mélodie's last post and finally decided to leave things at the last edit I did and burn an iso to check.  Have just done that and loaded it into the duo-core with wide screen monitor.  The live cd worked fine, and I think I was getting a bit wound up in the confusion between the live cd and after install.  Anyway, all is well, and I will upload it soon.  Got all its tweaks and mods done now.

I've heard it said that the easiest way is often the best way.   

djohnson, you too seem to be a fan of the KISS principle .  I have set BlackCat to auto login with appropriate wallpaper, but as I said in a previous post, I will try Mélodie's suggestion on another build.  I really wasn't sure which way to go - the modified gdm page does seem more, how should I put this, um, professional?  Now, don't everyone start throwing shoes at me for that .  Anyway it's something else to try out.

By the way, I posted a query here http://www.pclinuxos.com/forum/index.php/topic,97500.0.html, as it is Thunar related and it seemed the appropriate place to start.  But I will draw your attention to it in case you haven't seen it and might have some ideas.

Taco.22