12

I am running an Ubuntu server inside VMware workstation, when I run the VM the screen is really small. I want to increase it to something that fits in the whole VMware console.

I tried changing the GFX_MODE in /etc/default/grub, then I ran update-grub2. When I restarted it only made the grub menu HUGE. But once it booted into Ubuntu compltely it shrunk back down to the default resolution.

What am I missing?

Improve this question
8

Try appending vga=791 to the linux (kernel) line (in /etc/default/grub).

See console Framebuffer for additional resolutions (if you want to lower it further).

Improve this answer
5
  • 1
    To what line in the config file? The link you gave me reffernces /boot/grub/menu.lst. Which does not exist in grub2. – ianc1215 Dec 10 '11 at 0:43
  • 1
    /etc/default/grub , see the " GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash", append it there -GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash vga=791 Then update-grub as you did before (undo your previous edit as well). – Panther Dec 10 '11 at 0:53
  • 1
    Is there a way to specify a resolution like 1024x768x32 for the GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT? Or can I only use VESA codes? – ianc1215 Dec 10 '11 at 1:24
  • I am not sure with VMWare and your console resolution. You can certainly try it, it will not hurt anything. If that fails, that resolution is vga=824 – Panther Dec 10 '11 at 4:32
  • look to pendrivelinux.com/vga-boot-modes-to-set-screen-resolution to get an idea of what resolution 791 means. There are other usable numbers there as well. – Raymond Burkholder Aug 19 '15 at 0:25
5

I used two parameters in /etc/default/grub:

# The resolution used on graphical terminal
# note that you can use only modes which your graphic card supports via VBE
# you can see them in real GRUB with the command `vbeinfo'
GRUB_GFXMODE=1366x768x24
# bug workaround
GRUB_GFXPAYLOAD_LINUX=keep

I found the second item by reading the shell scripts in /etc/grub.d.

Be sure to "set pager=1" before running vbeinfo so you can read the output.

Be sure to run "sudo update-grub" when you are done

Improve this answer
3
  • Please do not post the same answer for multiple questions. – RolandiXor May 17 '13 at 3:46
  • 5
    It may have been a repeat, but that was useful to me as I reached this page and do not know where his duplicate is. – Alexis Wilke Jan 3 '14 at 0:56
  • 1
    In server mode, one should use GRUB_GFXPAYLOAD_LINUX=1366x768x24 instead of GRUB_GFXMODE=1366x768x24 – Pascal Mar 5 '14 at 11:17

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and cookie policy

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.