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View Full Version : Set a linux guestos window to potentially any size.


rascuacho
Oct 18, 2006, 08:58 AM
Hi,

I've found a way to set my X Windows resolution to any value in my Fedora Core 5 guest OS on Parallels Desktop (Mac). It also works fine with latest Unbuntu installation. I thought it could be interesting to let you know, as it might work for most linux GuestOS and probably under Parallels Workstation (windows).

STEP 1

In the Guest OS configuration, add the resolution to the custom resolutions (video settings) if it's not a standard one. As an example, I've added 1680x950 (I got a 17'' Mac Book Pro).
Otherwise just go to step 2

STEP 2

Start the OS, and edit /etc/X11/xorg.conf (with root priviledges)
Ideally make a copy of this file so you can rollback the change...
The file path and name is as in Fedora Core 5...
It might be a little different on other distributions.

Locate the Section "Monitor"
Keep the lines : Identifier,VendorName,ModelName (you can set them to anything you want)
Comment out all other lines (except of course the EndSection one).

Now, go to : http://zaph.com/Modeline
You only need to enter the Horizonta/Verticall pixels you want (so for me 1680 and 950)
Then you MUST set Vertical Frequency to 60Hz (I read that somewhere)
Then click on "calculate"
This will give you something like this (result for my 1680x950@60Hz):

# 1680x950 @ 60Hz, 58.86 kHz hsync
Mode "1680x950"
DotClock 121.02
HTimings 1680 1712 1840 2056
VTimings 950 953 956 981
EndMode

Copy it and paste it before the EndSection line of the config file.

Now, go to the Section "Screen".

Change all the Modes lines to add the new resolution as the first entry (you can only leave that resolution if you want).

In my case:
Modes "1680x950"
(one line for 16bits depth, one for 24bits depth)

Save the file

STEP 3

Reboot the Guest OS

--

That worked perfect for me... I hope it will for you !!

--

IF SOMETHING GOES WRONG

You should still have console access to your Guest OS.
In that case, just revert the xorg.conf changes and restart your Guest OS.

L-Key
Oct 18, 2006, 02:20 PM
Thank you!!! i now have full res on my 13" macbook with Centos...This Works!!!!

borphos
Oct 21, 2006, 05:35 AM
From the consile outside of X type:

# init 3 && init 5

This will switch from the graphical runlevel to the text runlevel and back again. So you don't need to restart to make sure your changes worked.

davesomebody
Jun 7, 2008, 10:13 PM
I just did this for Fedora Core 4 guest on Windows XP host. Took it right up to 1600x1200.

Now maybe I will bother to upgrade to a newer release of Fedora!

Thanks!