How to find the available VGA modes in the system

Solution Unverified - Updated -

Environment

  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux

Issue

  • How to find the available VGA modes in the system

Resolution

kernel boot option vga=ask can be used to display a list of values expressed in character columns and rows (ASK_VGA mode). Edit the kernel line in grub while booting, add vga=ask and boot to reach the ASK_VGA mode.

The mode causes the kernel to offer a video mode menu upon bootup. It displays a "Press <RETURN> to see video modes available, <SPACE> to continue or wait 30 secs" message. If you press <RETURN>, you enter the menu, if you press <SPACE> or wait 30 seconds, the kernel will boot up in the standard 80x25 mode.

The menu looks like:

Video adapter: <name-of-detected-video-adapter>
Mode:    COLSxROWS:
0  0F00  80x25
1  0F01  80x50
2  0F02  80x43
3  0F03  80x26

Enter the mode number or `scan':

Enter one of the numbers associated with modes like 1,2 or 3 to boot to that mode.

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