Transfered from Linux Config:


Question:

I'm using ubuntu 10.04. How can I increase the font size in the ttys ?

Answer:

Increasing / decreasing font size on tty consoles is linked to a console resolution. Therefore, to increase your font size you need to decrease a console screen resolution by changing grub2 default settings. Please note that your Ubuntu Linux is using grub2 so looking inside /boot/grub/menu.lst would not do any help. Instead we concentrate on /etc/default/grub file.

Before making any permanent changes to your Ubuntu Linux system we first try to change a console screen resolution directly from a grub boot line option right after reboot.

NOTE: There is no guarantee that any of the options below will work. This are just generic and no hardware specific solutions.

Option 1:

First choose a resolution number from the table below:


640x480 800x600 1024x768 1152x864 1280x1024 1600x1200
8bit 769 771 773 353 775 777
15bit 784 787 790 793 796
16bit 785 788 791 355 794 797
24bit 786 789 792 795 798

Let's say that we first try 795. Now reboot your system and edit a grub boot line with 'e' key and add after ro option:

Code:
vga=795
Once you altered line with the above vga option press CTRL+x to boot.

Option 2:

You can also try specify nomodeset instead of vga parameter. Reboot and edit grub boot line with "e' and add nomodeset after ro option:

Code:
nomodeset
When ready press CTRL+x to boot.

Option 3:

This is permanent change. Use a graphical startupnanager tool to change a console resolution.
Code:
$ sudo apt-get install startupmanager
Start startupmanager

Code:
$ startupmanager
change resolution, close and reboot.

NOTE: by closing a startupmanager window you will apply changes.

Making grub 2 settings permanent

If you found your grub boot settings you want to use permanently, open /etc/default/grub file and add "nomodeset" or vga795 as:

Code:
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX="vga795"
save and update grub settings with:
Code:
sudo update-grub2