How can I increase the console font size on the NixOS minimal installer?

Keep in mind that I have to type this in the blind, cause I can’t see the text on the screen cause it’s so small.

I’ve found references to the setfont command, but the font it references doesn’t exist on the minimal installer.

2 Likes

If you missed it, the UEFI installer image has a high DPI option in the boot menu, it should automatically set a large enough font size.

Anyway, you can try something like setfont sun12x22: it’s not huge but it should be readable even at 200dpi.

1 Like

In a similar fashion, you might want to test setfont with -d parameter. It double the size of the font

1 Like

I saw the HiDPI option, but this option had no effect, at all. Is this something meant for the TTY or Xorg? I also see that GRUB is using modesetting, so even GRUB is hard to read. Is there any way to prevent GRUB from activating KMS? Is a 80x25 terminal too much to ask for?:wink:

That was underwhelming;). The sun12x22 was bigger, but I still have trouble reading it. My wife reads it fine, but maybe I’m half way to the grave. So, basically, I have trouble reading this and I need to fix this;)

I saw the HiDPI option, but this option had no effect, at all. Is this something meant for the TTY or Xorg? I also see that GRUB is using modesetting, so even GRUB is hard to read. Is there any way to prevent GRUB from activating KMS? Is a 80x25 terminal too much to ask for?:wink:

IIRC it’s supposed to set GRUB to lower resolution. There should also be an option to disable the kernel modesetting in one of the submenu.

My wife reads it fine, but maybe I’m half way to the grave.

Ahah ok, I’ve found a significatnly larger one: try solar24x32.

1 Like

Any NixOS configuration that imports the profiles for the installer CD/DVD has a top-level attribute that is an installer ISO image. You can customize it just like any NixOS config.

One nice option here is to install your own SSH keys on your installer ISO. That way you can SSH in from a system with a GUI and just adjust the font in your terminal emulator however you like.

Another option would be to use the graphical ISO, just close out the graphical installer, and open up a terminal there. Either desktop environment should have some more accessibility options compared to the VT and you get more control of the font size.