> From: Paulo Alexandre Pinto Pires <pappires@phoenix.ai.mit.edu>
> Date: Tue, 16 Apr 1996 19:36:24 -0300 (EST)

> Hello, all.
> 
> I am running NetBSD-1.1 on a Sun 3 primarily for use as a X-station.
> 
> However, sometimes I get console-directed error messages output to the
> screen directly, messing up my windows.  Xconsole doesn't work, giving
> me the message "Can't open console.".

The kernel needs to be built with the UCONSOLE option.

> And, to make things worse, xrefresh is unable to clear the mess.  It
> seems that these messages are in another plane, covering windows under it.

Yes, you probably have a CG4, in which case the PROM fbwrite function
puts its text in the overlay plane.  (for efficiency!)  You might try
running the X server in "zaphod" mode (moving off either side of the
screen switches between the color and monochrome screens).  Then, if
something messes up the overlay plane, the xrefresh on the monochrome
screen should fix it.  Clients on the mono screen will also be faster.

I forget what has to be done to make zaphod mode work though...

Gordon