We believe that your issue has been closed by the upload of
Version 0.12.1 of grml-live from Michael Prokop <mika@grml.org>.
The explanation is attached below

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1

Format: 1.8
Date: Tue, 07 Dec 2010 12:51:20 +0100
Source: grml-live
Binary: grml-live grml-live-addons grml-live-db grml-live-buildd
Architecture: source all
Version: 0.12.1
Distribution: unstable
Urgency: low
Maintainer: Michael Prokop <mika@grml.org>
Changed-By: Michael Prokop <mika@grml.org>
Description: 
 grml-live  - build system for creating a Grml (based) Linux live system
 grml-live-addons - templates/boot/addons for grml-live
 grml-live-buildd - autobuild daemon for grml-live
 grml-live-db - log package build information of grml-live to database
Changes: 
 grml-live (0.12.1) unstable; urgency=low
 .
   [ Michael Prokop ]
   * [439b54c] grml-live: drop useless of of ls(1).
   * [424c8ef] SW: switch from live-initramfs to live-boot in GRMLBASE.
 .
   [ Christian Hofstaedtler ]
   * [5bc75ae] radeon-kms: overwrite file at the correct time
     [Closes: issue935]
   * [e1e1975] remove fcopy backups all across /etc
   * [26c2731] tag all files installed by grml-live
   * [d5677ef] remove obsolete live.conf
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I dont think that the issue is solved. fcopy leaves the original file on the 
disk as /etc/modprobe.d/radeon-kms.conf.pre_fcopy.conf which gets evaluated 
after /etc/modprobe.d/radeon-kms.conf

To test it start the daily and run modprobe radeon, dmesg shows that kms for 
radeon is enabled. 

Solution run
find /etc -name *pre_fcopy* -xargs rm -f \{\}\; in 
etc/grml/fai/grml/grml_cleanup_chroot 

This also deletes btw. /etc/network/interfaces.pre_fcopy ;0

We believe that your issue has been closed by the upload of
Version 0.12.0 of grml-live from Michael Prokop <mika@grml.org>.
The explanation is attached below

-----BEGIN PGP SIGNED MESSAGE-----
Hash: SHA1

Format: 1.8
Date: Thu, 02 Dec 2010 13:34:43 +0100
Source: grml-live
Binary: grml-live grml-live-addons grml-live-db grml-live-buildd
Architecture: source all
Version: 0.12.0
Distribution: unstable
Urgency: low
Maintainer: Michael Prokop <mika@grml.org>
Changed-By: Michael Prokop <mika@grml.org>
Description: 
 grml-live  - build system for creating a Grml (based) Linux live system
 grml-live-addons - templates/boot/addons for grml-live
 grml-live-buildd - autobuild daemon for grml-live
 grml-live-db - log package build information of grml-live to database
Changes: 
 grml-live (0.12.0) unstable; urgency=low
 .
   The "give back - get back 2.6.36-grml[64]" Release.
 .
   [ Ulrich Dangel ]
   * [b6a2954] Check version of grml-live against changelog before
     building
   * [e4296db] Overwrite the radeon-kms settings [Closes: issue935]
 .
   [ Michael Prokop ]
   * [8d75e30] config/scripts/GRMLBASE/21-usersetup: add grml user to
     group netdev
   * [822c092] docs: Update FAI-URL references regarding its new home
     (http://fai-project.org/).
   * [bfe370b + 8f57397] Update to bsd4grml v20101001 (thanks to
     Thorsten Glaser).
   * [df6303e] scripts/release_helper.sh: cancel if editing changelog
     returned error, provide cmdline options to git-buildpackage cmd.
   * Software related changes:
     - [b25619d] Drop unavailable fnord package from all grml flavours
       (see #596044).
     - [690257e] Drop libpam* and pamusb-tools packages.
       [Closes: issue920]
     - [704c046] Drop figlet and toilet-fonts (which is a dependency of
       toilet) [Closes: issue915]
     - [29517fe] Drop i386-only-software [Closes: issue923] - thanks to
       Christian Hofstaedtler <ch@grml.org>
     - [9d2d73a] Drop deprecated kqemu-common package from GRML_FULL.
   * [5d4cdf0] Provide /etc/runlevel.conf via grml-live using fcopy and
     its class concept
   * [3e5fb23] Further /etc/runlevel.conf related fixes.
   * [25ea895] Do not set ERROR=2 twice. - thanks to Christian
     Hofstaedtler <ch@grml.org>
   * [da2a27c] Proberly quote $CURRENT_DIR. - thanks to Andreas Marschke
   * [74d9301] support for kernel 2.6.36-grml[64], drop backwards
     compatibility support, adjust depends, update docs
   * [c12baa8] docs: Document how to revert the manifold feature.
   * [f5434b2] Drop qemu and vmware bootoptions as they are not necessary
     any longer.
   * [09667d4] templates/boot/grub/grub.cfg: drop insmod part_{msdos,gpt}
     as it breaks booting - thanks to Thorsten Glaser <tg@mirbsd.org>
   * [c686c84] Add script-not-executable ./usr/share/grml-
     live/scripts/bootilnx.mksh to debian/overrides.grml-live.
   * [594972d] Provide nokms bootoption and according menus in the
     graphical bootmenu to disable Kernel Mode-Setting.
 .
   [ Bernd Arnold ]
   * [f4d8e72] Fix typo in grml-cheatcodes.
 .
   [ Thorsten Glaser ]
   * [58a29c5] Update to bsd4grml version 20100815.
   * [7ed3014 + a0ae611 + d222479] Manifold supporting and using
     ISOLINUX now.
 .
   [ Christian Hofstaedtler ]
   * Software related changes:
     - [ba2ebc1] remove packages with unclear live-cd usage case
     - [07409bb] move bibcursed to LATEX class
     - [2794ab4] replace ispell with hunspell
     - [046d13d] drop Essential/Required packages from GRMLBASE
     - [fb91169] remove mgetty
     - [bfd1dd6] replace console-tools with kbd
     - [ed73ede] remove grml-etc dependencies
     - [d4c848e] don't try to install i386-only software on amd64
     - [9034de9] remove no longer available software
     - [c78ef28] remove fvwm-crystal-minimal
   * [535a90f] remove further backup files in /etc
   * [1455f91] fcopy motd instead of relying on grml-etc plus weirdness
   * [ad7a862] allow all users to start X server [Closes: issue926]
   * [987dd5d] grub: memdisk is a "linux16"-style kernel
     [Closes: issue937]
   * [8b54550] update grub to 1.98+20100804-8 [Closes: issue938]
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http://patchwork.ozlabs.org/patch/50342/ this one is also needed to apply 50341

<gebi> Vendor: pci 0x1002 "ATI Technologies Inc" | Device: pci 0x515e "ES1000 
515E"

http://patchwork.ozlabs.org/patch/50341/

booting with radeon.modeset=0 vga=791 works
X works too with just this bootoptions.
(albeit X uses other resolution than with kms enabled)
X resolution with radeon.modeset=0 -> 1024x768
X resolution with radeon.modeset=1 -> 1600x1200

# lspci
00:00.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation 5520 I/O Hub to ESI Port (rev 13)
00:01.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 5520/5500/X58 I/O Hub PCI Express Root Port 1 (rev 13)
00:02.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 5520/5500/X58 I/O Hub PCI Express Root Port 2 (rev 13)
00:03.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 5520/5500/X58 I/O Hub PCI Express Root Port 3 (rev 13)
00:04.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 5520/X58 I/O Hub PCI Express Root Port 4 (rev 13)
00:05.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 5520/X58 I/O Hub PCI Express Root Port 5 (rev 13)
00:06.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 5520/X58 I/O Hub PCI Express Root Port 6 (rev 13)
00:07.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 5520/5500/X58 I/O Hub PCI Express Root Port 7 (rev 13)
00:08.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 5520/5500/X58 I/O Hub PCI Express Root Port 8 (rev 13)
00:09.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 5520/5500/X58 I/O Hub PCI Express Root Port 9 (rev 13)
00:0a.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 5520/5500/X58 I/O Hub PCI Express Root Port 10 (rev 13)
00:0d.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Device 343a (rev 13)
00:0d.1 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Device 343b (rev 13)
00:0d.2 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Device 343c (rev 13)
00:0d.3 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Device 343d (rev 13)
00:0d.4 Host bridge: Intel Corporation 5520/5500/X58 Physical Layer Port 0 (rev 13)
00:0d.5 Host bridge: Intel Corporation 5520/5500 Physical Layer Port 1 (rev 13)
00:0d.6 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Device 341a (rev 13)
00:0e.0 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Device 341c (rev 13)
00:0e.1 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Device 341d (rev 13)
00:0e.2 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Device 341e (rev 13)
00:0e.3 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Device 341f (rev 13)
00:0e.4 Host bridge: Intel Corporation Device 3439 (rev 13)
00:14.0 PIC: Intel Corporation 5520/5500/X58 I/O Hub System Management Registers (rev 13)
00:14.1 PIC: Intel Corporation 5520/5500/X58 I/O Hub GPIO and Scratch Pad Registers (rev 13)
00:14.2 PIC: Intel Corporation 5520/5500/X58 I/O Hub Control Status and RAS Registers (rev 13)
00:1c.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801JI (ICH10 Family) PCI Express Root Port 1
00:1c.2 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801JI (ICH10 Family) PCI Express Root Port 3
00:1c.4 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801JI (ICH10 Family) PCI Express Root Port 5
00:1d.0 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801JI (ICH10 Family) USB UHCI Controller #1
00:1d.1 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801JI (ICH10 Family) USB UHCI Controller #2
00:1d.2 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801JI (ICH10 Family) USB UHCI Controller #3
00:1d.3 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801JI (ICH10 Family) USB UHCI Controller #6
00:1d.7 USB Controller: Intel Corporation 82801JI (ICH10 Family) USB2 EHCI Controller #1
00:1e.0 PCI bridge: Intel Corporation 82801 PCI Bridge (rev 90)
00:1f.0 ISA bridge: Intel Corporation 82801JIB (ICH10) LPC Interface Controller
01:03.0 VGA compatible controller: ATI Technologies Inc ES1000 (rev 02)
02:00.0 System peripheral: Hewlett-Packard Company iLO3 Slave instrumentation & System support (rev 04)
02:00.2 System peripheral: Hewlett-Packard Company iLO3 Management Processor Support and Messaging (rev 04)
02:00.4 USB Controller: Hewlett-Packard Company Proliant iLO2/iLO3 virtual USB controller (rev 01)
03:00.0 Ethernet controller: Broadcom Corporation NetXtreme II BCM5709 Gigabit Ethernet (rev 20)
03:00.1 Ethernet controller: Broadcom Corporation NetXtreme II BCM5709 Gigabit Ethernet (rev 20)
04:00.0 Ethernet controller: Broadcom Corporation NetXtreme II BCM5709 Gigabit Ethernet (rev 20)
04:00.1 Ethernet controller: Broadcom Corporation NetXtreme II BCM5709 Gigabit Ethernet (rev 20)
05:00.0 RAID bus controller: Hewlett-Packard Company Smart Array G6 controllers (rev 01)

starting x produces a usable display with 1600x1200 (on CRT here).
though the warning about insufficient memory bandwidth is right (flickering).

even with working X the console stays black.

seems like it's not a good idea to switch radeon+kms on per default.

> remove the vga parameter specify radeon.modeset=0, boot, unload the all radeon
and fb modules, load the radeon module again.

produces a black screen as soon as the radeon module is loaded again.

dmesg output with radeon kms enabled (produces black screen):

Nov 12 18:46:18 grml kernel: [    7.395865] [drm] radeon kernel modesetting 
enabled.
Nov 12 18:46:18 grml kernel: [    7.395927] radeon 0000:01:03.0: PCI INT A -> 
GSI 23 (level, low) -> IRQ 23
Nov 12 18:46:18 grml kernel: [    7.396954] [drm] initializing kernel 
modesetting (RV100 0x1002:0x515E).
Nov 12 18:46:18 grml kernel: [    7.397038] [drm] register mmio base: 0xF1CF0000
Nov 12 18:46:18 grml kernel: [    7.397040] [drm] register mmio size: 65536
Nov 12 18:46:18 grml kernel: [    7.397154] radeon 0000:01:03.0: VRAM: 64M 
0xE8000000 - 0xEBFFFFFF (64M used)
Nov 12 18:46:18 grml kernel: [    7.397156] radeon 0000:01:03.0: GTT: 512M 
0xC8000000 - 0xE7FFFFFF
Nov 12 18:46:18 grml kernel: [    7.397168] [drm] radeon: irq initialized.
Nov 12 18:46:18 grml kernel: [    7.400885] [drm] Detected VRAM RAM=64M, 
BAR=128M
Nov 12 18:46:18 grml kernel: [    7.400888] [drm] RAM width 16bits DDR
Nov 12 18:46:18 grml kernel: [    7.400936] [TTM] Zone  kernel: Available 
graphics memory: 6159488 kiB.
Nov 12 18:46:18 grml kernel: [    7.400943] [TTM] Zone   dma32: Available 
graphics memory: 2097152 kiB.
Nov 12 18:46:18 grml kernel: [    7.400945] [TTM] Initializing pool allocator.
Nov 12 18:46:18 grml kernel: [    7.400965] [drm] radeon: 64M of VRAM memory 
ready
Nov 12 18:46:18 grml kernel: [    7.400967] [drm] radeon: 512M of GTT memory 
ready.
Nov 12 18:46:18 grml kernel: [    7.400979] [drm] GART: num cpu pages 131072, 
num gpu pages 131072
Nov 12 18:46:18 grml kernel: [    7.422007] [drm] Loading R100 Microcode
Nov 12 18:46:18 grml kernel: [    7.490416] [drm] radeon: ring at 
0x00000000C8000000
Nov 12 18:46:18 grml kernel: [    7.490437] [drm] ring test succeeded in 1 usecs
Nov 12 18:46:18 grml kernel: [    7.490529] [drm] radeon: ib pool ready.
Nov 12 18:46:18 grml kernel: [    7.490882] [drm] ib test succeeded in 0 usecs
Nov 12 18:46:18 grml kernel: [    7.491007] [drm] Radeon Display Connectors
Nov 12 18:46:18 grml kernel: [    7.491008] [drm] Connector 0:
Nov 12 18:46:18 grml kernel: [    7.491009] [drm]   VGA
Nov 12 18:46:18 grml kernel: [    7.491011] [drm]   DDC: 0x60 0x60 0x60 0x60 
0x60 0x60 0x60 0x60
Nov 12 18:46:18 grml kernel: [    7.491012] [drm]   Encoders:
Nov 12 18:46:18 grml kernel: [    7.491013] [drm]     CRT1: INTERNAL_DAC1
Nov 12 18:46:18 grml kernel: [    7.491014] [drm] Connector 1:
Nov 12 18:46:18 grml kernel: [    7.491015] [drm]   VGA
Nov 12 18:46:18 grml kernel: [    7.491017] [drm]   DDC: 0x6c 0x6c 0x6c 0x6c 
0x6c 0x6c 0x6c 0x6c
Nov 12 18:46:18 grml kernel: [    7.491018] [drm]   Encoders:
Nov 12 18:46:18 grml kernel: [    7.491019] [drm]     CRT2: INTERNAL_DAC2
Nov 12 18:46:18 grml kernel: [    7.630315] [drm] kms: can't enable cloning when 
we probably wanted to.
Nov 12 18:46:18 grml kernel: [    8.526259] [drm] fb mappable at 0xE8040000
Nov 12 18:46:18 grml kernel: [    8.526261] [drm] vram apper at 0xE8000000
Nov 12 18:46:18 grml kernel: [    8.526262] [drm] size 5955584
Nov 12 18:46:18 grml kernel: [    8.526263] [drm] fb depth is 8
Nov 12 18:46:18 grml kernel: [    8.526264] [drm]    pitch is 2816
Nov 12 18:46:18 grml kernel: [    8.526267] checking generic (e8000000 4000000) 
vs hw (e8000000 4000000)
Nov 12 18:46:18 grml kernel: [    8.526268] fb: conflicting fb hw usage 
radeondrmfb vs VESA VGA - removing generic driver
Nov 12 18:46:18 grml kernel: [    8.526286] Console: switching to colour dummy 
device 80x25
Nov 12 18:46:18 grml kernel: [    8.526599] [drm:r100_bandwidth_update] *ERROR* 
You may not have enough display bandwidth for current 
mode
Nov 12 18:46:18 grml kernel: [    8.526600] If you have flickering problem, try 
to lower resolution, refresh rate, or color depth
Nov 12 18:46:18 grml kernel: [    8.676612] Console: switching to colour frame 
buffer device 352x132
Nov 12 18:46:18 grml kernel: [    8.901060] fb0: radeondrmfb frame buffer device
Nov 12 18:46:18 grml kernel: [    8.901062] drm: registered panic notifier
Nov 12 18:46:18 grml kernel: [    8.901066] [drm] Initialized radeon 2.6.0 
20080528 for 0000:01:03.0 on minor 0

The problem is that /etc/modprobe.d/radeon-kms.conf explicitly specifies radeon
modeset=1 so maybe we should add radeon.modeset=0 to the boot parameters.

For debugging this issue
http://wiki.x.org/wiki/radeonBuildHowTo#Moduleforframebufferconsole helps.

Stuff we maybe can try:
radeon.agpmode=-1
remove the vga parameter specify radeon.modeset=0, boot, unload the all radeon
and fb modules, load the radeon module again.

with daily grml (grml64-medium_sid_20101126.iso) display goes black and monitor switches of 
during grml initialisation (somewhere during udev).

graphic bootoptions:
vga=791 radeon.modeset=0   -> works
vga=791 radeon.modeset=1   -> doesn't work
radeon.modeset=0           -> works
radeon.modeset=1           -> doesn't work