How do I increase console-mode resolution?

I've found a solution that works from this forum post

In short:

Open /etc/default/grub with your favorite editor as root.

Localize the line that says GRUB_GFXMODE= ... and change it to the resolution you want. Add another line for a new variable called GRUB_GFXPAYLOAD with the same resolution. It should look similar to this:

GRUB_GFXMODE=1440x900x32
GRUB_GFXPAYLOAD=1440x900x32

Save and exit. Then edit as root /etc/grub.d/00_header

Localize the line that says if [ "x${GRUB_GFXMODE}" = "x" ] ; then GRUB_GFXMODE=... . As before, change the resolution there to the one you want and add another line for payload:

if [ "x${GRUB_GFXMODE}" = "x" ] ; then GRUB_GFXMODE=1440x900x32 ; fi
if [ "x${GRUB_GFXPAYLOAD}" = "x" ] ; then GRUB_GFXPAYLOAD=1440x900x32 ; fi

Finally, locate the line that says set gfxmode=${GRUB_GFXMODE} and add a line for payload below it. It should look like this:

set gfxmode=${GRUB_GFXMODE}
set gfxpayload=${GRUB_GFXPAYLOAD}

Save and exit.

Still as root, refresh grub with

update-grub2

Reboot, and both the grub menu and the console should have nicer resolutions.

Finished!

This helped me on Ubuntu 14.04 with ESXi 5.5 :

sudo vi /etc/default/grub

Change line to:

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="splash vga=792"

Then run:

sudo update-grub
sudo reboot -r now

Use 795 or 799 for higher resolution (More details here).

1. Start in the GRUB menu
2. Press C to go to the GRUB command line
3. Run vbeinfo and make a decision (e.g. 1920x1200x32).
4. Start your system again
5. sudo nano /etc/default/grub
6. Change GRUB_GFXMODE= (e.g. GRUB_GFXMODE=1920x1200x32)
7. Set GRUB_GFXPAYLOAD_LINUX to GRUB_GFXPAYLOAD_LINUX=keep
8. sudo update-grub
9. reboot your system