Transfered from Linux Config Disqus comments:
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:
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:
nomodeset
When ready press CTRL+x to boot.
Option 3:
This is permanent change. Use a graphical startupnanager tool to change a console resolution.
$ sudo apt-get install startupmanager
Start startupmanager
$ 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:
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX="vga795"
save and update grub settings with:
sudo update-grub2