Installing fglrx on a Debian System

vharishankar · 12-26-2004, 07:44 PM

I have tried to install fglrx ATI drivers on my new Debian system, but with limited success. I managed to successfully convert the RPM into DEB format with the scripts, by using

Code:

alien --scripts fglrx-4.3.0-3.14.1.i386.rpm

Then I installed the drivers using

Code:

dpkg --install --force-overwrite fglrx_4.3.0-4.14_i386.deb

But I get this error.

Code:

Selecting previously deselected package fglrx.
(Reading database ... 156578 files and directories currently installed.)
Unpacking fglrx (from fglrx_4.3.0-4.14_i386.deb) ...
/var/lib/dpkg/tmp.ci/preinst: line 3: [: install: integer expression expected
Setting up fglrx (4.3.0-4.14) ...
chown: cannot access `/usr/share/doc/fglrx/ATI_LICENSE.TXT': No such file or directory
chown: cannot access `/usr/share/doc/fglrx/LICENSE.GPL': No such file or directory
chown: cannot access `/usr/share/doc/fglrx/LICENSE.QPL': No such file or directory
/var/lib/dpkg/info/fglrx.postinst: line 80: [: configure: integer expression expected
*** Trying to install a precompiled kernel module.
*** WARNING ***
Tailored kernel module for fglrx not present in your system.
You must go to /lib/modules/fglrx/build_mod subdir
and execute './make.sh' to build a fully customed kernel module.
Afterwards go to /lib/modules/fglrx and run './make_install.sh'
in order to install the module into your kernel's module repository.
(see readme.txt for more details.)

As of now you can still run your XServer in 2D, but hardware acclerated
OpenGL will not work and 2D graphics will lack performance.

failed.
*** Found kernel module build environment, generating kernel module now.
ATI module generator V 2.0
==========================
initializing...
Error:
XFree86 drm includes at /lib/modules/2.4.27-1-386/build/include/../drivers/char/drm do not fit this driver.
This driver is designed to only work with X4.1.0 or higher.
You can match this by getting Linux kernel 2.4.8 or higher.
*** WARNING ***
Tailored kernel module for fglrx not present in your system.
You must go to /lib/modules/fglrx/build_mod subdir
and execute './make.sh' to build a fully customed kernel module.
Afterwards go to /lib/modules/fglrx and run './make_install.sh'
in order to install the module into your kernel's module repository.
(see readme.txt for more details.)

As of now you can still run your XServer in 2D, but hardware acclerated
OpenGL will not work and 2D graphics will lack performance.

failed.
*** Warning ***
The QT based control panel application did not load in any version.
 ===
ATI display drivers successfully installed
please run 'fglrxconfig' now
 ===

There are plenty of errors there. How do I fglrx with 3d acceleration in Debian. Or is it not possible?

R00ts · 12-27-2004, 06:24 PM

Yeah, installing ATI drivers is a bitch. It took me about 2 weeks I think till I finally got it working.

At first I tried using alien as you did, but then I found this guide:

http://xoomer.virgilio.it/flavio.sta...installer.html

This is hands down the best ATI driver installation guide for Debian systems that I've ever seen. Do a search for posts by myself in the Debian forum and you should find a couple topics about this subject. I'm getting ready to install the latest version of the drivers (haven't updated since June) along with a new kernel from source, so I shall be using this guide heavily.

vharishankar · 12-27-2004, 08:22 PM

Thanks for the link, R00ts. Will try it out...

vharishankar · 12-27-2004, 09:34 PM

Unfortunately I'm still not able to build the fglrx module.

Here is the output of ./make.sh

Code:

ATI module generator V 2.0
==========================
initializing...
Error:
XFree86 drm includes at /usr/src/kernel-headers-2.4.27-1-386/drivers/char/drm do        not fit this driver.
This driver is designed to only work with X4.1.0 or higher.
You can match this by getting Linux kernel 2.4.8 or higher.

How on earth am I able to get it to work.

I am running kernel 2.4.27 and XFree86 4.3.0

R00ts · 12-27-2004, 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Harishankar
Unfortunately I'm still not able to build the fglrx module.

Here is the output of ./make.sh

Code:

ATI module generator V 2.0 ========================== initializing... Error: XFree86 drm includes at /usr/src/kernel-headers-2.4.27-1-386/drivers/char/drm do not fit this driver. This driver is designed to only work with X4.1.0 or higher. You can match this by getting Linux kernel 2.4.8 or higher.

How on earth am I able to get it to work.

I am running kernel 2.4.27 and XFree86 4.3.0

I believe you need to upgrade your kernel to a newer version (2.4.8 or later). I think I'm running 2.6.4 right now but I'm not sure because I'm not on my home machine.

vharishankar · 12-28-2004, 12:15 AM

But isn't 2.4.27 higher than 2.4.8?

27 > 8 right? And I upgraded the kernel using synaptic.

vharishankar · 12-28-2004, 02:21 AM

HOORAY!

Got it to work. Turned out that the directory

Code:

/usr/src/kernel-headers-2.4.27-1-386/drivers/char/drm

did not exist.

So I created a symbolic link to that drivers which was in

Code:

/usr/src/kernel-source-2.4.27-1-386/

Now the module has compiled and installed and fglrxinfo gives the output as

Code:

display: :0.0  screen: 0
OpenGL vendor string: ATI Technologies Inc.
OpenGL renderer string: RADEON 9600 Generic
OpenGL version string: 1.3.4641 (X4.3.0-3.14.6)

Thanks for your help R00ts. Really appreciated your link to that Debian specific help! Now I can install UT2004 after all!

jbstew32 · 01-27-2005, 12:39 PM

is it really necessary to install gcc 2.95 and set it as the default first as the guide says?

Haraldsh · 01-27-2005, 01:49 PM

Congrats on your success to make the driver work.
There seems to be few FAQ's when it comes to figure out what is wrong with the installation of the driver.
I guess this is the worst thing I've tried to install on the machine, just look at my thread just posted, before noticing your post.

I guess the ATI driver is a hard nut to crack.