How can I increase the console resolution of my Ubuntu server

Question

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?

Solution 1

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).

Solution 2

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

Comments

[ianc1215]

To what line in the config file? The link you gave me reffernces /boot/grub/menu.lst. Which does not exist in grub2.

[Panther]

/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).

[ianc1215]

Is there a way to specify a resolution like 1024x768x32 for the GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT? Or can I only use VESA codes?

[Alexis Wilke]

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.

[Pascal]

In server mode, one should use GRUB_GFXPAYLOAD_LINUX=1366x768x24 instead of GRUB_GFXMODE=1366x768x24

[Raymond Burkholder]

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.