DIV-VBE3(05)

VBE3 QNX4/Windows

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VBE3 - VESA functions support driver

vbe3 driver installs the 10h interrupt handler and allows to call VESA BIOS functions in protected CPU mode according to VBE3 specification. vbe3 has the same functionality as int10 from standard QNX4 distribution, but it supports modern hardware.

This driver could be used in following cases: 

1. Porting graphical applications from DOS to QNX RTOS 4.25. In that case there is no need to rewrite graphical part of software, you just need to replace int10 interrupt call function. 

2. Work with QNX Windows system on modern video hardware. Unfortunately modern video cards are not supported by QNX Windows drivers. If you need to upgrade hardware, for example, in ACS TP systems based on SCADA RealFlex 4.x, then vbe3 will provide support for modern video controllers. With the help of vbe3 you can run QNX Windows using gr.vesa2 driver from standard distribution. There is also the gr.vbe3 driver developed by our company that supports double buffering technology.

vbe3 driver runs on any that conforms to VBE3 specification and supports protected mode interface. Manufacturers often do not fully provide such interface. In that case loadable BIOS technology is used -- vbe3 driver can load video BIOS from special file.

vbe3 driver allows to set refresh rates different than standard 60 Hz. This possibility is provided by modeline technology. You can set default frequency settings for various video modes in configuration file.

Components included in vbe3 package: 

 - vbe3 – VBE3 driver
 - vbe3-test – video adapter test utility 
 - vbe3-save – diagnostic utility
 - set of loadable BIOS files
 - set of scan frequency setup utilities
 - documentation (english and russian)

List of loadable BIOS files:
 

For nVidia GeForce loadable BIOS should be used only if vbe3 terminates with SIGSEGV error. In this case you can also try to load riva2.bin BIOS.

CBD BC can modify vbe3 to provide operational capability on customer's hardware as a part of custom development.
Additional information is available upon request.

Rev: 04/21