Changing the Screen Resolution of the KVM Console

For Linux Cloud Servers and Virtual Server Clouds

Learn how to change the KVM console screen resolution.

If you connect to a Linux Server through the KVM console, the console is initially set to a fixed resolution of 800x600 or 1024x768 pixels. Contrary to the connection with a Windows Server, the console here no longer scales the size of the browser window but orients itself to the resolution specified in the configuration of the GRUB boot loader.

However, it may be amended as follows:

  • Log in on your server and open the grub configuration file with root privileges using a text editor (such as vi):
    vi /etc/default/grub

Please Note

The vi editor has an insert mode and a command mode. You can enter the insert mode by pressing the i key. In this mode, the entered characters are immediately inserted into the text. To enter the command mode, press the ESC key. When you use command mode, your keyboard input is interpreted as a command.

  • Add the following lines:
    GRUB_GFXMODE=1024x768x16 GRUB_GFXPAYLOAD_LINUX=keep

  • Adjust the defined resolution in line GRUB_GFXMODE.

  • For Grub to accept the change, enter the following command:

    Ubuntu:

    update-grub

    CentOS 7:

    grub2-mkconfig -o /etc/grub2.cfg

  • Restart the server: reboot

That's it! The next time you connect to your server's KVM console, it should be the resolution you want.