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Extending console/terminal size in Linux

Posted: 13. Nov 2010, 17:22
by kodo
Hi,

The full screen option does not extend the size of the console/terminal and under X Windows, this is also the same size.

How can I actually change this ? I can't find any options in the menu's.

Thanks

Re: Extending console/terminal size in Linux

Posted: 13. Nov 2010, 18:02
by Perryg
What is the guest? Is it CLI only?

Re: Extending console/terminal size in Linux

Posted: 13. Nov 2010, 18:17
by kodo
CentOS 5.5, but I also have the same issue with Solaris 10. Soon I will install the *BSD's also so need to know how to do this on all platforms. Thanks

Re: Extending console/terminal size in Linux

Posted: 13. Nov 2010, 18:27
by Perryg
You didn't answer my question. Is this CLI only? You mention X window so I need you to be very clear on exactly what it is you are wanting to do.

Re: Extending console/terminal size in Linux

Posted: 13. Nov 2010, 18:42
by kodo
Hey there

Oh sorry i thought it was obvious, I presume not from the question. I'll try my best to include as much information as I can in that case.

I use both a console and also X, runlevel 3 and 5 in CentOS 5.5 basically because I hav'nt decided which one to stick to just yet. X is pretty fast under Virtualbox but then I don't really need all of the features of X so I'd like to know how to do this on either.

What I'd like to do, is to extend the size of the console or X display to something larger than the default size of the VM application is it's pretty tiny on my HPw 2448hc display in a resolution of 1920x1200.

If I click in maximise the VM window, then this takes up the entire screen however what I can see inside of the VM window is quite small and does not change size.

I hope what I am asking is much clearer.

Re: Extending console/terminal size in Linux

Posted: 13. Nov 2010, 18:56
by Sasquatch
I suggest you do things from X, as the display will be faster than on the CLI. After you have installed the Guest Additions, you will have the option to use higher resolutions and it will change according to the window size. Then you can maximize the terminal emulator.
Increasing the resolution for a TTY requires a kernel parameter to enable framebuffer for a certain resolution and isn't as flexible as X. It's also slower in drawing output and there are cases where the actual text goes beyond the display boundaries (I have it on my host for example).

Re: Extending console/terminal size in Linux

Posted: 15. Nov 2010, 22:35
by kodo
Thanks for the information, i really appreciate it. With linux - added vga=791.

However would you know how to change the console/terminal/screen under Open/Solaris ? Is it a grub.conf setting.

Re: Extending console/terminal size in Linux

Posted: 18. Nov 2010, 22:53
by kodo
<< This relates to OpenSolaris>>

I tried adding the following to /boot/solaris/bootenv.rc and then running the command below - but it did'nt help.

setprop screen-#columns 200
setprop screen-#rows 80

bootadm update-archive -R /

<</ This relates to OpenSolaris>>

Re: Extending console/terminal size in Linux

Posted: 19. Nov 2010, 13:49
by fixedwheel
kodo wrote:but then I don't really need all of the features of X so I'd like to know how to do this on either.
sounds like a server, so you probably have a network connection between host and guest: try with putty on the host and ssh server (installed by default on CentOS IIRC) on the guest instead using VBox console

Re: Extending console/terminal size in Linux

Posted: 19. Nov 2010, 23:48
by kodo
The method you describe would work with a shell through a ssh connection, however I would like to re-size on the console itself.