freebsd tv video on via epia eden 1000

[dbri]

SUMMARY:

Just wanted to report that Via's linux TV chip driver for the Eden1000 EPIA mini-itx board seems to somewhat work under FreeBSD Xfree864, with virtually no changes. Below I list roughly how I got it up.

System:
FreeBSD4.7-RELEASE
XFree86-4
Via Epia Eden 1000 mini-itx motherboard.
RCA-videojack

OVERVIEW:

1. get the FreeBSD X11 server source from the 'ports' system
2. get the Via source code changes from viarena.com
3. put the Via source into the X11 source
4. compile and install X
5. edit your XF86Config
6. plug into TV, reboot X.

DETAILS:

Below I have reconstructed the steps I took from memory. Sorry if they
are not exactly right, but hopefully you can get the general idea.

1. # become super
su

2. # download the sourcecode for Xf86-4 servers, unpack it
cd /usr/ports/x11-servers/XFree86-4-Server
make patch

3. # change to the directory for trident videochip driver sourcecode
cd work/xc/programs/Xserver/hw/xfree86/drivers/trident

4. # save all your old X junk
mkdir oldstuff; cp * oldstuff

5. # make space for via stuff
mkdir viastuff; cd viastuff

6.# get the VIA sourcecode off http://www.viaarena.com/?PageID=182#vga
wget http://downloads.viaarena.com/LinuxAppl ... 032002.zip

7.# unpack the VIA sourcecode
unzip VIA_RH7.3_KPLE_v11%2010032002.zip
(or unzip VIA_RH7.3_KPLE_v11\ 10032002.zip if your download changed the space in the name)

8. # go back to the FreeBSD X source.
cd ..

9. # copy the VIA stuff over the FreeBSD X stuff. don't copy the Imakefile
# or the Makefile... the Makefile in particular contains redhat linux things.
cp ./viastuff/SRC/*.c .
cp ./viastuff/SRC/*.h .
cp ./viastuff/SRC/*.man .

10. # build X
cd /usr/ports/x11-servers/XFree86-4-Server
make install

11. # wait for an hour or two

12. # everything should be compiled and end with something like
# 'registering installation of Xfree86'

13. # edit your XF86Config
# this is as listed in Via's Readme.txt that comes with the VIA
# sourcecode. look at viastuff/Readme.txt
# basically just add this to your "Device" section in
# /usr/X11R6/lib/X11/XF86Config
#
# Option "TVChipset" "1"
# Option "TVSignal" "0"
# Option "XvHsync" "0"
# Option "XvVsync" "0"

14. # plug into the TV and restart X. voila. freebsd on your tv screen.
# ctl-alt-f1 (textmode) and then alt-f9 (back to X) seem to work OK.

PROBLEMS:

I couldn't seem to get the XF86Config hsync to work right. The image had the last 30 pixels or so chopped off on the righthand side of the TV screen. -40 on the hsync setting didnt seem to produce any change. Didnt play
around much so dont know what happened.

With this setting in XF86Config the vga-output is a little squashed and odd looking. Not sure what to do about this. Editing the XF86Config back to Option "TVChipset" "0" made it normal again.

SDL fullscreen stuff, like sdlroids for exapmle, in fullscreen mode, seemed to have distortion at the top of the screen, and was shifted to the left.


REFERENCES:

freebsd handbook section 4.7
http://www.freebsd.org/doc/en_US.ISO885 ... #Q4.7.1.17.

Via linux driver instructions for EPIA mainboard
http://www.viaarena.com/?PageID=182#vga

Thanks to VIA for releasing the source.

[Gandalf]

I wasn't aware of VIA source changes for X11 under BSD. I'll have to look into that! Thanks!

[dbri]

the VIA .c and .h files for linux compile without changes under bsd.
the only change needed was to use a different makefile.

[Gandalf]

.
The world would be so much better if they stopped writing useless linux drivers and wrote bsd drivers instead

[dbri]

i would submit a patch to the freebsd project but i dont feel like dealing with the red tape.