FB(4) BSD Programmer's Manual (SPARC Architecture) FB(4)NAMEfb - indirect console frame buffer
DESCRIPTION
The fb pseudo-device provides indirect access to the console frame
buffer. Opening /dev/fb has the same effect as opening the corresponding
direct device, except for permissions determined by the file system. For
instance, on a system where ``cgsix0'' is acting as the console, opening
/dev/fb accesses the same device as opening /dev/cgsix0, regardless of
the permissions of the direct device path (or even its existence).
Although the device driver behaves identically, there is one other sig-
nificant difference between the /dev/fb indirect pseudo-device and the
direct device. The PROM always initializes the console frame buffer be-
fore loading the operating system, so there is no need to set any video
display control registers when using /dev/fb. When using a direct device,
it may need initialization if it is not also the console.
SEE ALSObwtwo(4), cgsix(4), cgthree(4)BSDI BSD/OS January 20, 1998 1