nVidia driver asks for headers

Vitalie Ciubotaru · 09-14-2006, 11:23 AM

I am trying to install nVidia drivers for my old TNT2 Vanta.
I downloaded the driver package for legacy devices - it turned to be "NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-7184-pkg1.run". I exited X, switched to "init 3", ran the installer, but it says the source is not configured properly (definitely not true).The log file saysa the installer was actually looking for non-existent ".h" files in the kernel source directory (which are linux kernel headers, aren't they?).
Does it mean that I need linux kernel headers?
If so, where do I get them from?

mpajoh · 09-14-2006, 01:34 PM

You can get the headers the same place you get/got the kernel itself.
I use yumex to find it on Fedora.
for that matter you could, tht is what I do, get the kmod-nvidia-####.rpm for the kernel you are using and install it.

Vitalie Ciubotaru · 09-15-2006, 09:46 AM

Hm, ... well ... yeah, I can get into fedora, but...
Ain't it the LFS forum, after all? There's no fun getting the kernel-source-***.rpm, kernel-headers-***.rpm (or whatever it's called) and build this kernel under Fedora.
Question: Is there something like "native" linux headers? If so, where can one find them? If not, how one installs nVidia drivers under LFS (some guys did it, right)?

Axalon · 09-16-2006, 07:26 PM

did you keep the kernel source from when you compiled the kernel? If you didn't, redownload the linux kernel source, unpack it in /usr/src, and recompile the kernel. For some reason, kernel modules need to have the files created during compilation to be in the source tree, so recompiling is necessary for the source to be of any use.

Hope this helps.

Daws · 09-16-2006, 11:59 PM

Once you have the source and have recompiled you may need to use the --kernel-source-path to help the installer find it.

For me:

Code:

sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-8762-pkg1.run --kernel-source-path=/sources/linux-2.6.17.13/

By default the installer will look for it in
1st. /lib/modules/`uname -r`/build (?)
and then
2nd. /usr/src/linux
the book tells you not to create this particular symlink (can't remember why)

Anyway hope you get it sorted.

Vitalie Ciubotaru · 09-17-2006, 03:05 AM

Just to be sure...
Recompile the kernel? Does it mean going through

Code:

make distclean
make mrproper
make oldconfig
make all

?
If I understand correctly, after doing this I get the ".h" files that nVidia installer is looking for?
Shall I actually install anything (the kernel and the modules)?

Vitalie Ciubotaru · 09-18-2006, 11:45 PM

Yeah, I did it!
Thank you very much for your advice, Axalon and Daws -- it was really helpful. Actually I wouldn't have suceeded without your advice

Quote:

For some reason, kernel modules need to have the files created during compilation to be in the source tree

and

Quote:

use the --kernel-source-path to help the installer find it

This is the second time I get an "insolveble" problem solved rapidly and easily.
P.S.: Probably I have to start repaying the debts (advicing back)