Fbsplash - ArchWiki

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Fbsplash (formerly gensplash) is a user-space implementation of a splash screen for Linux systems. It provides a graphical environment at system startup using the Linux framebuffer layer.

## Installation

### Fbsplash

Install the fbsplashAUR package.

To have a background image of your virtual terminals you will need to install a kernel patched with fbcondecor, see below.

### Themes

Themes are available as packages and can also be found at GNOME-Look.org or KDE-Look.org.

## Configuration

### Preview

To choose from the themes that you will have installed without restarting or configuring anything, you can use `splash_manager` command.

This command must not be executed under X, but from a TTY.

For example to test the arch-black theme, after having installed it of course, in silent mode without restarting:

    # splash_manager -c demo -t arch-black --steps 100

For more information:

    $ splash_manager --help

### Configuration file

Add the theme (s) you installed in `/etc/conf.d/splash`. You can also specify screen resolutions to save some space:

    /etc/conf.d/splash

    ...
    SPLASH_THEMES = "
       arch-black
       arch-banner-icons/1280x1024.cfg
       arch-banner-noicons/1280x1024.cfg "
    ...

### Kernel command line

To work with Fbsplash, you must pass certain options to your kernel via your bootloader:

    console = tty1 splash = silent, theme: theme name

#### GRUB

For GRUB, directly edit `/boot/grub/grub.cfg`:

    /boot/grub/grub.cfg

    ...
    linux /boot/vmlinuz-linux root=/dev/... quiet console=tty1 splash =silent,theme:arch-banner-icons
    ...

Or better yet, go through `/etc/default/grub` and add the kernel options to the `GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT` line:

    /etc/default/grub

    ...
    GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet console=tty1 splash=silent,theme:arch-banner-icons"
    ...

Do not forget to regenerate `grub.cfg`.

#### Other chargers

For GRUB Legacy, LILO or Syslinux, all you have to do is add the options to the kernel in the appropriate configuration file (respectively `/boot/grub/menu.lst`, `/etc/lilo.conf` or `/boot/syslinux/syslinux.cfg`).

## Start Fbsplash

Tip: The `F2` key will allow you to toggle between splash and Arch messages on startup. Think about it if the splash does not appear or if you find your startup taking a long time.

### Normal launch

Once installed and configured, without doing anything more, fbsplash should load automatically the next time you boot, right after a few Arch messages on boot (right after udev).

### Early launch

If you find these few messages unsightly (or just to enjoy your splash longer), it is possible to start fbsplash before the first messages at startup.

Just add `fbsplash` to HOOKS array in mkinitcpio.conf:

    /etc/mkinitcpio.conf

    ...
    HOOKS = (base fbsplash ...)
    ...

or:

    /etc/mkinitcpio.conf

    ...
    HOOKS = (base udev ... resume fbsplash ...)
    ...

or, in case of encryption of the system:

    /etc/mkinitcpio.conf

    ...
    HOOKS = (base ... keymap encrypt fbsplash ...)
    ...

Then, regenerate the initramfs.

Note: In case of problems with fbsplash if your machine uses KMS (check Kernel mode setting#Late KMS start to see which cards do), add the appropriate driver to the `MODULES` line of `mkinitcpio.conf`, see Kernel mode setting#Early KMS start.
Warning: To guard against any problem with fbsplash that would block your startup, it might be a good idea not to generate the fallback image with this `HOOK`.

Edit `/etc/mkinitcpio.d/kernel.preset`

    /etc/mkinitcpio.d/kernel.preset

    ...
    fallback_options = "-S autodetect,fbsplash"
    ...

Then, regenerate the initramfs.

## Console background images

With a kernel that supports Fbcondecor (e.g., one with a framebuffer console decoration patch applied), you can have a background image of your virtual consoles.

### Configuration

Note: fbcondecor-systemdAUR provides a systemd service "to activate console decorations on system start".

There is also a configuration file, `/etc/conf.d/fbcondecor`, to define the virtual terminals that will support this display mode.

Add the appropriate entries to your boot loader file, this kernel called `vmlinuz-linux-fbcondecor` and its images `initramfs-linux-fbcondecor.img` and `initramfs-linux-fbcondecor-fallback.img`.

Tip: This time you can also use `splash = verbose` to take advantage of background messages at startup as a replacement for the splash.

## See also

- http://fbsplash.berlios.de
- gentoo:Fbsplash
- https://web.archive.org/web/20121031042150/http://dev.gentoo.org/~spock/projects/fbcondecor/

Category:

- Bootsplash