Hi.

I'm a newbie to Linux and am using Mandrake 10. I've had it installed for about two weeks. At first I noticed that the opengl screensavers were running at a very low framerate. I didn't think much of it. Then I tried to run UT2004. It didn't work (usual, splash screen for a few secs, then dissapears), so I looked it up on these forums.
I found that the problem was direct rendering or something, and it would be fixed with the installation of the ATi drivers.
I got the drivers and couldn't install them for ages, until I figured out I had to be logged in as root.

Anyway, my problem is that when I install the ATi drivers it says this:

*** 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.
*** Error: no kernel module build environment - please consult readme.
Installed: qt3 (gcc 3.2) based control panel application
===

AS it says, 3D graphics are slow and UT2004 doesn't work. I did what it said and had permission issues, but I got over those with the chmod +x command.

It still doesn't work! I don't know what's happening! Please somebody help me!
Let me know if you need more info.

Thanks in advance!
-Evan

hi,

first off, check out ati's instructions, which include possible solutions for the problems most likely to be encountered -

http://www.ati.com/support/infobase/linuxhowto-ati.html

if you're still struggling, do post back!

You have to install as well the kernel source for the kernel you're using (i'm sure kernel source is on mandrake cds).
Once you got the kernel source, install again ATi drivers.

i got mine working from this thread :

http://www.linuxquestions.org/questi...ht=radeon+9600

If heema's link to that thread doesn't work, the way I did it was this:

Mandrake Control Center
Software
Updates (or something like that)
search for kernel-source
check the box, install the kernel-source (insert Mandrake CD's)
close Mandrake Control Center
konsole
root-mode by typing 'su'
RPM -i filename.rpm
fglrxconfig

BAM! You're set

Hi.

I did all that and this is what is says now:

*** 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...
cleaning...
patching 'highmem.h'...
skipping patch for 'drmP.h', not needed
skipping patch for 'drm_os_linux.h', not needed
assuming new VMA API since we do have kernel 2.6.x...
doing Makefile based build for kernel 2.6.x and higher
make -C /lib/modules/2.6.3-7mdk/build SUBDIRS=/lib/modules/fglrx/build_mod/2.6.x modules
make[1]: Entering directory `/usr/src/linux-2.6.3-7mdk'
CC scripts/empty.o
MKELF scripts/elfconfig.h
HOSTCC scripts/file2alias.o
HOSTCC scripts/modpost.o
HOSTLD scripts/modpost
SPLIT include/linux/autoconf.h -> include/config/*
*** Warning: Overriding SUBDIRS on the command line can cause
*** inconsistencies
CC arch/i386/kernel/asm-offsets.s
CHK include/asm-i386/asm_offsets.h
CC [M] /lib/modules/fglrx/build_mod/2.6.x/agp3.o
CC [M] /lib/modules/fglrx/build_mod/2.6.x/nvidia-agp.o
CC [M] /lib/modules/fglrx/build_mod/2.6.x/agpgart_be.o
CC [M] /lib/modules/fglrx/build_mod/2.6.x/i7505-agp.o
CC [M] /lib/modules/fglrx/build_mod/2.6.x/firegl_public.o
LD [M] /lib/modules/fglrx/build_mod/2.6.x/fglrx.o
Building modules, stage 2.
MODPOST
CC /lib/modules/fglrx/build_mod/2.6.x/fglrx.mod.o
LD [M] /lib/modules/fglrx/build_mod/2.6.x/fglrx.ko
make[1]: Leaving directory `/usr/src/linux-2.6.3-7mdk'
build succeeded with return value 0
duplicating results into driver repository...
done.
==============================
- creating symlink
- recreating module dependency list
- trying a sample load of the kernel module
done.
Installed: qt3 (gcc 3.2) based control panel application
===
ATI display drivers successfully installed
please run 'fglrxconfig' now
===

Still a bit confused!
-Evan

hi,

OK, looking good so far..

Now you need to run the fglrxconfig script, which will configure your system to use the fglrx driver you've just installed. give it a try and post back..

do what the warning tells you, the drivers wernt compiled and installed in the directory, also for fglrx config disabling the built in ati garp moduale will help if the x-window won't start after config

Hi.

I'm not sure what I did, I stopped there and then went to school. When I came back and turned it on it worked! It's absolutely fantastic! UT2004 flies by as does glxgears! It's amazing!

direct rendering: Yes

OpenGL vendor string: ATI Technologies Inc.
OpenGL renderer string: RADEON 9600 XT Generic
OpenGL version string: 1.3 (X4.3.0-3.9.0)

Thanks a lot guys! You've made my Linux experience so much better!
-Evan Munro-Smith

Glad everything worked for you. Here's an advice: DON'T update your drivers if everything is running smooth. I've learned that in Linux, higher version numbers does NOT mean better performance. It's more for compatibility! If you DO update your driver, you may run into different problems, at least that's what happened to me. To this day, I still continue to use ATI's 3.2.5 drivers and they still work like a charm.

heed this mans word... and with ATI drivers.. always keep archives of all the old ATI drivers as well.. cause ATI doesnt privide older versions...

I learned the hard way.. I needed 3.2.5, after 3.7.0 was released.. cause 3.7.0 did not work for me.