Although I've seen some concept art, I have not yet seen a functional boot splash screen for LinuxMCE. I had some spare time so I learned a little debian packaging and played (a little) with The GIMP. The result, a splash screen for LinuxMCE to test. This is by no means a finished product, and I am not a graphic designer by any stretch of the imagination, but I want to know how well it works for people. Try it out and let me know!
Grab the .deb here: http://www.4shared.com/file/RtI1aYPs/usplash-theme-linuxmce_02-1_i3.html
Install (as root):
dpkg -i usplash-theme-linuxmce_0.2-1_i386.deb
update-initramfs was updating an older kernel on my system so I had to execute the following to force it to build a new initrd.gz for the kernel I'm using:
update-initramfs -k $(uname -r) -u
If you run an nvidia card.... I had to add a vga=xxx line to defoptions in /boot/grub/menu.list and run update-grub to have a working splash on shutdown. My EeePC didn't need this worked without a vga=xxx line,
The package is simply the xubuntu-artwork-usplash repacked in a new .deb with new images/throbber location (which is centered at the bottom of the image but not shown in the attached file).
It's likely to change but if you don't like it or don't want to keep it you can 'apt-get remove' the package and you'll return to the kubuntu splash.
J.
Really cool... I did like it :)
awesome work phenigma,
looks stunning,
br,
Raymond
I'm glad you like it. The image is the lmce logo from the wiki, ddamron posted the logos originally. I simply applied a single effect to it and moved the progress bar to the bottom.
Because I only have a very limited amount of hardware to test, could you share with me:
1. what video card you use (intel xxxx, nvidia xxx, etc...)
2. The video connection method (vga, hdmi, dvi, svga, ...)
3. The avwizard resolution you use
2. is the splash screen garbled or showing correctly on shutdown
Thanks!
J.
Nice work! I thought about replacing Ubuntu splash screen by some LinuxMCE logo long time ago. But I'm too lazy to do something like you :) Thanks!
Your welcome. I'm trying to remove the kubuntu specific branding from the boot/shutdown screens (and ultimately the dvd install) and I'm going to see if I can tackle any of the other issues mentioned by Thom here: http://forum.linuxmce.org/index.php?topic=9726.0
J.
Nicely done
phenigma,
i didn't had a chance to actually try the Splash Screen just yet.
after a long time of testing i finally got my core up and running.
now i use my time to get things going 1 by 1, step by step.
at the moment i am getting all my dvd's and cd's on the core (and figuring out whats the best way for me)
when i have time i will try your splash screen,
by the way does this splash overwrite any files or is there a option to select?
anyway, i really like your work,
br
Raymond
It doesn't overwrite any files. You can choose your splash screen from the console with:
update-alternatives --config usplash-artwork.so
To remove it from your system you can apt-get remove the package.
J.
A new version, very much improved in my mind. New throbber (progress bar) inspired by merkur2k's design (http://forum.linuxmce.org/index.php?topic=8280.msg55004#msg55004) of more than a year ago now.
New preview is attached.
Download: Follow the link in the first post.
http://uploading.com/files/337e24da/usplash-theme-linuxmce_0.2-1_i386.deb/
Install: # dpkg -i usplash-theme-linuxme_0.2-1_i386.deb
You can switch between installed themes like this: # update-alternatives --config usplash-artwork.so
# update-initramfs -u -k all
I'm going to try to wrap this up, submit it to svn and add the package definition to the database. I've tested adding it to the dvd installer and it works great there as well so I'll try to add the changes for that over the next couple of days as well. Seperately I think I've solved the remaining splash/boot issues posted by TSCHAK (http://forum.linuxmce.org/index.php?topic=9726.0) and I'll try to wrap that up into svn as well.
J.
Hi
Thanks for this
I just tried it and it install, But when I rebooted it did not show the new splash.
After doing this again it worked..
# update-alternatives --config usplash-artwork.so
# update-initramfs -u -k all
I am trying it on my 50" LG over HDMI and it look great.. wish we could get it to stay on until it had it over to X. But looks great
C
Thanks fastie81 for trying it out! You had to run the update-initramfs because lmce is not updating the kernel symlink in / to the newest kernel (only if you've done a dvd install, a net install should not exhibit this problem). I believe I know why but have to test a couple things to get that fixed.
As for extending the bootsplash right until Xwindows starts. I\ve got that done as well but the changes are not part of the bootsplash image itself so they'll be added to svn seperately. I have my system booting with the splash screen on until X starts, no spurious terminal switches or boot text showing.
J.
This really looks good- great job.
Someone else was working on a splash screen and posted a patch- here's the link:
http://svn.linuxmce.org/trac.cgi/ticket/656 (http://svn.linuxmce.org/trac.cgi/ticket/656)
thanks huh. Yes, I saw that ticket, castlec did some good work. The 'full source' link isn't working for me and the splash included in the tarball in the ticket didn't work completely. Nice idea though, has the progress bar on Tux's screen... I learned a lot from it.
J.
sweetness- when you finish will be one more ticket down from 810 release. Thanks for doing this!
Well, I was going to submit the splash screen to svn but I've changed my mind.
A feature freeze was declared when LinuxMCE 810 went into Beta. This means that no new items will be added to LMCE unless they fix existing defects... The splash screen is a feature and not a defect so it is unlikely to be included in the 810 release. 1004 uses xsplash rather than usplash so I will have to redo the splash for 1004 anyways. So, it's not going to be worthwhile for me to spend time figuring out the database stuff needed to submit it.
Sorry if I got anyone's hopes up. You can still duct tape it onto the system if you desire.
J.
phenigma,
I applaud your decision. Most anyone else does not give a flying fuck, but you do about getting this thing (LinuxMCE 810) released. Thank you for your work, and for your decision not to create another source of error. Hopefully, others will follow suit.
I did think long and hard about it and it comes down to this: I *really* want to see 810 hit release so we can keep moving forward and I'm quite likely to introduce bugs with my first package definition. ;) I'll keep learning and dig into tickets as I feel I have the ability.
J.
Quote from: phenigma on August 31, 2010, 01:57:34 PM
[..]I'm quite likely to introduce bugs with my first package definition. ;)
You would have been the first person to create a new package definition that worked out of the box
QuoteI'll keep learning and dig into tickets as I feel I have the ability.
Thanks. Fixing those bugs is really helpful. Even verifying the bugs is something that helps us a lot.
Hi,
not that it is so important for me, just a minor thing. Using DVI to HDMI adapter I don't get any splash screen at all, just good old text messages running over the screen. Very nice for debugging /seeing error ;)
Is this normal ?
Viking
You should normally see the kubuntu splash screen on an LMCE 810 install.
My Zotac ION doesn't show a splash or text during boot if I use the vga connector to my television but it does if I use the HDMI connector. I have not tested DVI but it should be the same as the HDMI. I would expect you should be able to see a splash screen, especially if you've got boot text scrolling.
You should try adding a vga=xxx line to the kernel boot options. Edit /boot/grub/menu.lst and find the '# defoptions ....' line and add 'vga=791' (for 1024x768x16, as an example) to the end of that line. Save the file and run 'update-grub' then try a reboot. Your television may or may not support that resolution (mine does) so you can always try others in that case: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/VESA_BIOS_Extensions#Linux_video_mode_numbers
Running 'hwinfo --framebuffer' at the console should spit out a list of supported video modes on your system, these may or may not be supported by your television.
J.
Hi,
thanks a lot for your answer.
Hmm, in the config file for PXE boot there is no vga= setting. I could add it here, but I am interested in fixing this for others too - what is the normal content here ? Should it contain a vga= entry ?
# cat /tftpboot/pxelinux.cfg/01-00-1f-d0-9b-18-1f
DEFAULT Pluto
LABEL Pluto
KERNEL 44/vmlinuz
APPEND initrd=44/initrd.img ramdisk=10240 rw root=/dev/nfs boot=nfs nfsroot=192.168.80.1:/usr/pluto/diskless/44
default config file contains this :
# cat /tftpboot/pxelinux.cfg/default
DEFAULT Pluto
LABEL Pluto
KERNEL default/vmlinuz
APPEND root=/dev/nfs acpi=off vga=normal initrd=default/initrd ramdisk_size=10240 rw ip=all apicpmtimer
Viking
The vga=xxx line is used to force the framebuffer to a specific video mode (resolution and bit depth). Many card/monitor combos need no alteration and switch modes without the need to force a specific mode. Every monitor/tv/display supports different resolutions.
I havn't reviewed the code around the pxeboot.cfg file to know if it is safe to alter anything there at this time.
The vga=xxx line would be added to the 'APPEND ...' line in the pxeboot.cfg file for your specific MD I believe. Of course you would probably have to re-add this line to the .cfg file if you rebuild your MD image. Don't alter the default file, I havn't checked the code to see if it would break anything.
J.
Hi phenigma,
thanks for the Info. I will test it when I find some time - maybe this weekend. And if it works I will post a subject on trac.
Viking
Let me know how you make out.
J.
Hi,
adding the vga=791 to the APPEND line did only change the resolution. Not change from text to Splash Screen.
There must be something else missing
DEFAULT Pluto
LABEL Pluto
KERNEL 44/vmlinuz
APPEND vga=791 initrd=44/initrd.img ramdisk=10240 rw root=/dev/nfs boot=nfs nfsroot=192.168.80.1:/usr/pluto/diskless/44
Viking
ah, yes, you need the word 'splash' on the append line.
J.
I've had a request to re-post the splash screen. The link in first post has been updated.
J.
I applaud your restraint. I could use some.
I am working on building new DVD builder from two directions (removing non-free and never installing them). I am including your splash, lest you protest, because it is a product of the organization who create the current splashes. I have looked into it enough to know that it should not interfere with anything. Adding the line to the grub menu to address the shutdown also fixes the native nvidia shutdown problem without interfering with ati or via. If G** crashes, that would make me very sad inside, but I believe the greater good is served.
Thank you for your contribution, and discretion. I want to be like you when I grow up.
You're welcome to use the splash screen for any purpose you see fit!
At one time I had all the patches to fix the splash screen behaviour for Core and MDs and I had incorporated it into build-replacements.sh to build as part of the system... it's gone now, but recreated easily enough. Learned lots doing it. I'll try to keep this .deb online if it goes down and I receive requests for it.
Keep having fun!
J.
Updated the link in the first post.
J.