Linux Boot Logo

On this page we will explain you how to change the Boot Logo/Screen of Linux.

By default the following screen is displayed on your LCD:

Create an image to suitable format (C include file)

1. create a new image fitting the size of your LCD (320x240, 480x272 or 800x480), with The Gimp (for example).
2. save it in PPM RAW file format, let's say my_boot_logo.ppm
3. install Netpbm package:

   $ sudo apt-get install netpbm 

4. reduce the number of colors in your image to 224:

   $ ppmquant 224 my_boot_logo.ppm > my_boot_logo_224.ppm

5. convert it to PPM ASCII format (if pnmnoraw is not available on your distribution (ex: LUbuntu 17.10), try with pnmtoplainpnm):

   $ pnmnoraw my_boot_logo_224.ppm > my_boot_logo_ascii_224.ppm

6. get the armadeus envt variables:

   $ make shell_env && source armadeus_env.sh

7. copy the PPM to $ARMADEUS_LINUX_DIR/drivers/video/logo/ directory with a name ending with _clut224.ppm:

   $ cp my_boot_logo_ascii_224.ppm $ARMADEUS_LINUX_DIR/drivers/video/logo/logo_custom_clut224.ppm

8. Linux will automatically convert your .ppm to a .c file, after you have added it to the build system, using the $ARMADEUS_LINUX_DIR/scripts/pnmtologo script. This is the purpose of the next step.

Add your file to Linux build system

1. If you have overwritten $ARMADEUS_LINUX_DIR/drivers/video/logo/logo_armadeus_clut224.ppm with your own logo at the previous stage, then you can jump to the next step; otherwise:
2. Edit $ARMADEUS_LINUX_DIR/drivers/video/logo/Makefile
3. Put it your logo file name at line 18 (replace current one):

    obj-$(CONFIG_LOGO_ARMADEUS_CLUT224)     += logo_custom_clut224.o

4. Edit $ARMADEUS_LINUX_DIR/drivers/video/logo/logo.c
5. Add it your logo C struct name at line 39:

   extern const struct linux_logo logo_custom_clut224;

6. Put it your logo C struct name at line 122 (replace current one):

#ifdef CONFIG_LOGO_ARMADEUS_CLUT224
    /* Armadeus Linux logo */
    logo = &logo_custom_clut224;
#endif

Recompile & install kernel

• Make sure that the "Armadeus Logo" option is selected in:

$ make linux-menuconfig

Device Drivers  --->
    Graphics support  --->
        [*] Bootup logo  --->
            [*]   224-color Armadeus Linux logo

• Then recompile your kernel:

 $ make linux

and install it on your board.

• Restart your board and you should see your image:
  

Remove Login from framebuffer terminal

1. On your target, edit /etc/inittab
2. Comment line 28:

   #tty1::respawn:/sbin/getty 38400 tty1

3. save it and restart your system

Deactivate remaining cursor

It may be a remaining cursor at the left upper corner of the screen. Indeed virtual console cursor is activated by default in Linux. To deactivate it at boot stage, you will have to:

• on recent kernels (3.8+), follow tips here
• otherwise:

1. Edit source file $ARMADEUS_LINUX_KERNEL/drivers/char/vt.c
2. Near line 1620, in function reset_terminal(), change

   vc->vc_deccm		= 1;

   with

   vc->vc_deccm		= 0;

3. recompile and reflash your kernel

After this modification, at any moment, you can get your blinking cursor back with:

# echo -e '\033[?25h' > /dev/tty1
# echo 1 > /sys/class/graphics/fbcon/cursor_blink

Links

• Other Framebuffer tips
• http://netpbm.sourceforge.net/doc/pnmquant.html
• Linux console ESC sequences
• U-Boot Splashscreen