source: BOOK/bootscripts/common/console.xml@ d2e8cd1

<?xml version="1.0" encoding="ISO-8859-1"?>
<!DOCTYPE sect1 PUBLIC "-//OASIS//DTD DocBook XML V4.5//EN"
  "http://www.oasis-open.org/docbook/xml/4.5/docbookx.dtd" [
  <!ENTITY % general-entities SYSTEM "../../general.ent">
  %general-entities;
]>

<sect1 id="ch-scripts-console">
  <?dbhtml filename="console.html"?>
  <title>Configuring the Linux Console</title>

  <indexterm zone="ch-scripts-console">
    <primary sortas="d-console">console</primary>
  <secondary>configuring</secondary></indexterm>

  <para>This section discusses how to configure the
  <filename>vconsole.conf</filename> file that sets up the keyboard map and the
  console font. If non-ASCII characters (e.g., the British pound sign and Euro
  character) will not be used and the keyboard is most likely a U.S. one. The
  defaults in the file will probably be suitable for you.</para>

  <para>The <filename>vconsole.conf</filename> file is read by the init system
  and applied on startup. Decide which keymap and screen font will be used.
  Various language-specific HOWTO's can also help with this (see
  <ulink url="http://www.tldp.org/HOWTO/HOWTO-INDEX/other-lang.html"/>. Look in
  <filename class="directory">/usr/share/consolefonts</filename> for valid
  screen fonts and <filename class="directory">/usr/share/keymaps</filename> for
  valid keymaps.</para>

  <para>The default <filename>/etc/vconsole.conf</filename> is set up for a us 
  keymap. You will need to edit the file to your specific needs. The
  <filename>vconsole.conf</filename> man page has some information about
  additional configuration options you may need or want.</para>

<screen><userinput>cat &gt; /etc/vconsole.conf &lt;&lt; "EOF"
# Begin /etc/vconsole.conf

KEYMAP=us
FONT=drdos8x16

# End /etc/vconsole.conf
EOF</userinput></screen>

</sect1>