# Kernel mode setting does not work in CONSOLE mode under linux **URL:** \ **Category:** Linux\ **Created:** [August 20, 2017, 9:46pm UTC](https://forums.developer.nvidia.com/t/kernel-mode-setting-does-not-work-in-console-mode-under-linux/52745 "2017-08-20T21:46:21Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Bev](https://developer.download.nvidia.com/images/forums/profile-default-devtalk-84.png) [@Bev](https://forums.developer.nvidia.com/u/Bev)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2017, 9:46pm UTC](https://forums.developer.nvidia.com/t/kernel-mode-setting-does-not-work-in-console-mode-under-linux/52745/1 "2017-08-20T21:46:21Z")
I would like to enable modeset in my linux system while retaining the nvidia drivers. My objective is to gain HDMI resolution for my consoles in addition to those under X. I would like to run in console mode, completely avoiding invoking X. I am running a Slackware 64 bit linux system with the 4.8.10 kernel. I have a GTX 660 video card, and am running the NVIDIA-Linux-x86\_64-375.39.run driver. The following nvidia modules are loaded: nvidia\_uvm 599998 0 nvidia\_drm 39655 0 nvidia\_modeset 773859 1 nvidia\_drm nvidia 12059531 2 nvidia\_modeset,nvidia\_uvm drm\_kms\_helper 111734 1 nvidia\_drm drm 277190 3 nvidia\_drm,drm\_kms\_helper i2c\_core 39534 6 nvidia,i2c\_i801,i2c\_smbus,i2c\_dev,drm\_kms\_helpe$ I have included an nvidia.conf file in my /etc/modprobe.d directory, the contents of which are: ``` options nvidia-drm modeset=1 ``` If I check /sys/module/nvidia\_drm/parameters/modeset the content is Y. So modeset seems to be enabled. Nevertheless, I have 25x80 characters. The linux nouveau driver enables modeset and I have HDMI resolution both for characters and graphics. I’m stumped; I don’t know how to get the desired resolution with the nvidia driver. If I turn my monitor off and back on again it gives the current mode as 1920x1080 60 Hz, but the font is not correspondingly fine as it is with the nouveau driver. Am I correct in assuming that I would not be able to use CUDA programming with the nouveau driver, that it requires the actual nvidia driver? I can provide the nvidia bug report file, but there doesn’t seem to be a way to attach it here. I would like to emphasize that I am interested ONLY in CONSOLE mode; X is completely out of the picture (but works fine). The first-level customer support person seemed to not understand this concept. ---
**Author:** ![Gusar](https://developer.download.nvidia.com/images/forums/profile-default-devtalk-84.png) [@Gusar](https://forums.developer.nvidia.com/u/Gusar)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2017, 3:24am UTC](https://forums.developer.nvidia.com/t/kernel-mode-setting-does-not-work-in-console-mode-under-linux/52745/2 "2017-08-21T03:24:26Z")
Kernel modesetting is not what gives you a high resolution console. That’s a misconception that’s been around forever. The high-res console still uses, as it always has, fbdev. It’s just that open source KMS drivers typically have fbdev compatibility in them. But the Nvidia proprietary driver does not. So no high-res console until Nvidia codes fbdev compatibility into their driver. ---
**Author:** ![Bev](https://developer.download.nvidia.com/images/forums/profile-default-devtalk-84.png) [@Bev](https://forums.developer.nvidia.com/u/Bev)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2017, 4:08am UTC](https://forums.developer.nvidia.com/t/kernel-mode-setting-does-not-work-in-console-mode-under-linux/52745/3 "2017-08-21T04:08:12Z")
Thanks, that explains what I observed. The whole effort seems to have been a waste of energy since I now know that CUDA is 32-bit only and I’m running a 64-bit system. Thanks again! ---
**Author:** ![aplattner](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/nvidia/user_avatar/forums.developer.nvidia.com/aplattner/32/14043_2.png) [@aplattner](https://forums.developer.nvidia.com/u/aplattner)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2017, 7:10pm UTC](https://forums.developer.nvidia.com/t/kernel-mode-setting-does-not-work-in-console-mode-under-linux/52745/4 "2017-08-21T19:10:38Z")
CUDA isn’t 32-bit only… there’s a 64-bit libcuda.so.1 shipped with the driver and a 64-bit CUDA toolkit is available at [CUDA Toolkit 11.7 Update 1 Downloads | NVIDIA Developer](https://developer.nvidia.com/cuda-downloads) As for the fbdev thing, Gusar is correct; the nvidia-drm driver does not implement an fbdev console. But you should be able to use vesafb or efifb, depending on your system setup. vesafb isn’t technically supported at the moment, but we’re making an effort to make it work better overall. The main reason, currently, that we don’t implement a framebuffer console is that when a kernel module is plugged in as the framebuffer console driver, it can’t be unloaded. We need to be able to support unloading the kernel module. ---
**Author:** ![birdie](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/nvidia/user_avatar/forums.developer.nvidia.com/birdie/32/10073_2.png) [@birdie](https://forums.developer.nvidia.com/u/birdie)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2017, 7:29pm UTC](https://forums.developer.nvidia.com/t/kernel-mode-setting-does-not-work-in-console-mode-under-linux/52745/5 "2017-08-21T19:29:28Z")
> [@aplattner](#): > > The main reason, currently, that we don’t implement a framebuffer console is that when a kernel module is plugged in as the framebuffer console driver, it can’t be unloaded. We need to be able to support unloading the kernel module. This could have been solved with an unsupported/hidden module option so that you won’t get a torrent of bug reports related to your fbdev implementation. Say, ```auto fbdev_experimental=1 ``` in which case driver unloading becomes unavailable. I guess 99% of your desktop users will agree to that. It’s not a big deal to reboot in case one wants to upgrade their NVIDIA driver. It’s not like you have too many drivers releases to even be inconvenienced by this. ---
**Author:** ![Bev](https://developer.download.nvidia.com/images/forums/profile-default-devtalk-84.png) [@Bev](https://forums.developer.nvidia.com/u/Bev)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2017, 8:44pm UTC](https://forums.developer.nvidia.com/t/kernel-mode-setting-does-not-work-in-console-mode-under-linux/52745/6 "2017-08-21T20:44:33Z")
When/how would one use the fbdev\_experimental=1 thing? NOT a developer. I don’t intend to be a bother, but the helpdroid said this was where I had to come to get an answer to my question :-( ---
**Author:** ![Manfred.Knick](https://developer.download.nvidia.com/images/forums/profile-default-devtalk-84.png) [@Manfred.Knick](https://forums.developer.nvidia.com/u/Manfred.Knick)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2018, 10:05am UTC](https://forums.developer.nvidia.com/t/kernel-mode-setting-does-not-work-in-console-mode-under-linux/52745/7 "2018-06-20T10:05:48Z")
@ Aaron : Any updates concerning fbdev compatibility for hi-res console? This is more than overdue … for years now. Kind regards Manfred ---
**Author:** ![hussam](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/nvidia/user_avatar/forums.developer.nvidia.com/hussam/32/15536_2.png) [@hussam](https://forums.developer.nvidia.com/u/hussam)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2018, 11:54am UTC](https://forums.developer.nvidia.com/t/kernel-mode-setting-does-not-work-in-console-mode-under-linux/52745/8 "2018-06-20T11:54:58Z")
You can already have high resolution console. ```auto #/boot/grub/grub.cfg set timeout=5 menuentry 'Arch Linux' { set root='hd0,1' set gfxpayload=1920x1080 linux /vmlinuz-linux-lts cryptdevice=/dev/sda3:root resume=/dev/mapper/swap root=/dev/mapper/root.... initrd /intel-ucode.img /initramfs-linux-lts.img } ``` ---
**Author:** ![Manfred.Knick](https://developer.download.nvidia.com/images/forums/profile-default-devtalk-84.png) [@Manfred.Knick](https://forums.developer.nvidia.com/u/Manfred.Knick)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2018, 12:17pm UTC](https://forums.developer.nvidia.com/t/kernel-mode-setting-does-not-work-in-console-mode-under-linux/52745/9 "2018-06-20T12:17:09Z")
Hussam, please, read Aaron’s confirmation above … ---
**Author:** ![hussam](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/nvidia/user_avatar/forums.developer.nvidia.com/hussam/32/15536_2.png) [@hussam](https://forums.developer.nvidia.com/u/hussam)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2018, 12:30pm UTC](https://forums.developer.nvidia.com/t/kernel-mode-setting-does-not-work-in-console-mode-under-linux/52745/10 "2018-06-20T12:30:02Z")
I did. I’m just saying there is an easy way to get high resolution that’s been working for me since a while now. I have high res console since March. I’m not negating what he said. ---
**Author:** ![Manfred.Knick](https://developer.download.nvidia.com/images/forums/profile-default-devtalk-84.png) [@Manfred.Knick](https://forums.developer.nvidia.com/u/Manfred.Knick)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2018, 1:07pm UTC](https://forums.developer.nvidia.com/t/kernel-mode-setting-does-not-work-in-console-mode-under-linux/52745/11 "2018-06-20T13:07:22Z")
NEITHER initramfs NOR vesafb NOR efifb “the nvidia-drm driver does not implement an fbdev console [compatibility]” \<— plain “open source KMS drivers typically have fbdev compatibility in them.” ---
**Author:** ![hussam](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/nvidia/user_avatar/forums.developer.nvidia.com/hussam/32/15536_2.png) [@hussam](https://forums.developer.nvidia.com/u/hussam)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2018, 1:23pm UTC](https://forums.developer.nvidia.com/t/kernel-mode-setting-does-not-work-in-console-mode-under-linux/52745/12 "2018-06-20T13:23:59Z")
This is what my dmesg output says. ```auto [0.450140] vesafb: mode is 1920x1080x32, linelength=7680, pages=0 [0.450140] vesafb: scrolling: redraw [0.450141] vesafb: Truecolor: size=8:8:8:8, shift=24:16:8:0 [0.450147] vesafb: framebuffer at 0xd1000000, mapped to 0xffffb06f42000000, using 8128k, total 8128k [0.704592] fb0: VESA VGA frame buffer device ``` ---
**Author:** ![generix](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/nvidia/user_avatar/forums.developer.nvidia.com/generix/32/16024_2.png) [@generix](https://forums.developer.nvidia.com/u/generix)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2018, 1:59pm UTC](https://forums.developer.nvidia.com/t/kernel-mode-setting-does-not-work-in-console-mode-under-linux/52745/13 "2018-06-20T13:59:46Z")
Excuse me if I step in and make some dumb questions but what would be the advantage or use case of this? fbdev is depreciated in favor of drm/kms so in future only efifb and drmfb/kmscon would matter anyway? ---
**Author:** ![hussam](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/nvidia/user_avatar/forums.developer.nvidia.com/hussam/32/15536_2.png) [@hussam](https://forums.developer.nvidia.com/u/hussam)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2018, 3:26pm UTC](https://forums.developer.nvidia.com/t/kernel-mode-setting-does-not-work-in-console-mode-under-linux/52745/14 "2018-06-20T15:26:53Z")
> [@](#): > > Excuse me if I step in and make some dumb questions but what would be the advantage or use case of this? fbdev is depreciated in favor of drm/kms so in future only efifb and drmfb/kmscon would matter anyway? Yes. But for now, sadly setting “nvidia-drm modeset=1” often makes gnome-shell unstable for me. ---
**Author:** ![Manfred.Knick](https://developer.download.nvidia.com/images/forums/profile-default-devtalk-84.png) [@Manfred.Knick](https://forums.developer.nvidia.com/u/Manfred.Knick)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2018, 4:35pm UTC](https://forums.developer.nvidia.com/t/kernel-mode-setting-does-not-work-in-console-mode-under-linux/52745/15 "2018-06-20T16:35:47Z")
> [@](#): > > fbdev console [compatibility] ---
**Author:** ![hussam](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/nvidia/user_avatar/forums.developer.nvidia.com/hussam/32/15536_2.png) [@hussam](https://forums.developer.nvidia.com/u/hussam)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2018, 5:29pm UTC](https://forums.developer.nvidia.com/t/kernel-mode-setting-does-not-work-in-console-mode-under-linux/52745/16 "2018-06-20T17:29:57Z")
> [@](#): > > > [@](#): > > > > fbdev console [compatibility] I’m not understanding then.Can you explain? ---
**Author:** ![generix](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/nvidia/user_avatar/forums.developer.nvidia.com/generix/32/16024_2.png) [@generix](https://forums.developer.nvidia.com/u/generix)\ **Post date:** [June 21, 2018, 11:09am UTC](https://forums.developer.nvidia.com/t/kernel-mode-setting-does-not-work-in-console-mode-under-linux/52745/17 "2018-06-21T11:09:51Z")
[url][https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news\_item&px=Generic-FBDEV-Emulation-DRM[/url]](https://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=Generic-FBDEV-Emulation-DRM%5B/url%5D) ---
**Author:** ![Manfred.Knick](https://developer.download.nvidia.com/images/forums/profile-default-devtalk-84.png) [@Manfred.Knick](https://forums.developer.nvidia.com/u/Manfred.Knick)\ **Post date:** [July 26, 2019, 6:46pm UTC](https://forums.developer.nvidia.com/t/kernel-mode-setting-does-not-work-in-console-mode-under-linux/52745/18 "2019-07-26T18:46:03Z")
> [@](#): > > @ Aaron : > Any updates concerning fbdev compatibility for hi-res console? > This is more than overdue … for years now. \<— \<— \<— \<— \<— \<— ! Working as SysAdmin @ 3840 x 2160 @ 4K QFHD Monitor, getting 25x80 characters is not offence any more, but plain torture. Kind regards again Manfred ---
**Author:** ![generix](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/nvidia/user_avatar/forums.developer.nvidia.com/generix/32/16024_2.png) [@generix](https://forums.developer.nvidia.com/u/generix)\ **Post date:** [July 27, 2019, 2:06am UTC](https://forums.developer.nvidia.com/t/kernel-mode-setting-does-not-work-in-console-mode-under-linux/52745/19 "2019-07-27T02:06:23Z")
Booting EFI or CSM? Did you check if the proposal I linked to succeeded? ---
**Author:** ![nadeemm](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/nvidia/user_avatar/forums.developer.nvidia.com/nadeemm/32/367020_2.png) [@nadeemm](https://forums.developer.nvidia.com/u/nadeemm)\ **Post date:** [October 12, 2021, 6:58pm UTC](https://forums.developer.nvidia.com/t/kernel-mode-setting-does-not-work-in-console-mode-under-linux/52745/20 "2021-10-12T18:58:01Z")