append="grml_from_hd noswap video=vesafb:1280x1024-8@60 fbcon=rotate:1"
Thanks! That works. The console is solved, modulo minor timing/sync/hpos/vpos glitches.
But X has a problem. The problem is getting X to start in portrait mode. The user wants the whole PC to launch in portrait from console to X.
Two possibilities exist for xorg.conf with nvidia:
Option "RandRRotation" "true" # Option "Rotate" "CCW" # careful, disables randr module!
The user needs "RandRRotation" so we can't use "Rotate". Rotate will start X in portrait mode, but prohibits landscape (by disabling RandR). The user needs both modes available.
("Rotate" also introduces ugly video timing/sync problems not present in RandR, which works beautifully in comparison.)
So how to start X with r-and-r active in portrait mode?
Thanks, M.