Graphics fine, boot messages "stairstep", bootlogd saves blank files
Submitted by yuyu
Assigned to Ray Strode @halfline
Description
This is on Debian Squeeze with 3.0.0 custom kernel (stock kernel does same). Asus 1000HE with Intel 945 gme, no framebuffers at all installed in this kernel, just the i915 modesetting driver which seems to work great here. Plymouth version 0.8.3-9.1. GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash acpi_osi=Linux". GRUB_GFXMODE=800x600. /etc/initramfs-tools/modules contains: intel_agp,drm, i915 modeset=1. Initially had only the i915 modeset=1 option, same results. Works fine in every way except the "staircase" boot messages when you hit escape to view them. Could ignore this, but it somehow also affects bootlogd causing it not to save in /var/log/boot or /var/log/boot.log. Have fooled with it for many hours over several days, today I removed Plymouth and rebooted, stairstep gone and /var/log/boot is saved. Boot file is always created, but it is either blank or has the 1st two lines in it, the stairstepping begins "coincidentally" on the 3rd line. Many lines seem to start in the middle of the screen causing the stairstep effect, each one starting 15 or so spaces further to the left. Not all lines stairstep, perhaps 8 or 10, then it straightens out somewhat, with the following. Another 10-15 lines it's the 1st character of the line at the far right of the screen on the line above then the line continues at the left, down 1 space. Then eventually the last 20 or so messages are just fine. Too bad I cannot figure out a way to give you a sample. After proving Plymouth to be the culprit today by removal, I reinstalled and tried several themes, makes no difference. I have a custom bash script to set theme & update-initramfs, today also tried the "official" updating scripts in /usr/lib/plymouth/plymouth, no help. 1 more thing of interest, this was originally installed using the uvesafb framebuffer. It's no longer installed at all, but have wondered if Plymouth somehow has a remnant of that in it's memory? Maybe I should have purged it, went to Synaptic and removed, rebooted, then reinstalled. For 3 years have I have run Debian, never so much as posted a question, learned alot ;) But this one's got me licked. Quite odd that there is little mention of this from others, aside from some ancient bug reports where it was reported fixed. I love Plymouth, thank you. But now I have to ask myself "Plymouth? or boot messages?" Makes me uncomfortable. Steps to reproduce:
- Start computer
- Hit escape to view chaotic boot messages
- After boot view empty /var/log/boot file
Mike