How to not rebuild NVIDIA drivers for each kernel?

juanbobo · 06-02-2006, 09:15 PM

Is it possible to not rebuild the NVIDIA drivers for each kernel build, if not for different versions of the kernel at least for rebuilds of the same kernel?

doc.nice · 06-03-2006, 04:37 AM

yes, before doing make modules_install simply backup the old nvdia module and copy it back afterwards...
(works only for rebuild of the same kernel version)

Bruce Hill · 06-03-2006, 07:14 AM

Actually, there is a way. Here's the short steps:

Code:

1. Boot with the new kernel.
2. Then cd to the following directory : /lib/modules/OLDKERNELVERSION/kernel/drivers/video/
(replace OLDKERNELVERSION with your own specific version)
3. Make a copy of the old driver: "cp nvidia.(k)o nvidia.(k)o.old"
4. Run the Nvidia installer
(this will create the new driver in /lib/modules/CURRENTKERNELVERSION/kernel/drivers/video/)
5. In the same directory mentioned under 2 do a rename to the original name
"mv nvidia.(k)o.old nvidia.(k)o"

These 5 simple steps will give you the Nvidia module in both kernels,
and you can quite happily boot into either one without re-installing.

Evidence:

Code:

dave@matthews:~$ ls /lib/modules/2.4.32/kernel/drivers/video/
aty/              fbcon-cfb4.o.gz        hgafb.o.gz     nvidia.o       sis/
aty128fb.o.gz     fbcon-hga.o.gz         intel/         pm2fb.o.gz     sstfb.o.gz
clgenfb.o.gz      fbcon-mfb.o.gz         it8181fb.o.gz  pm3fb.o.gz     tdfxfb.o.gz
cyber2000fb.o.gz  fbcon-vga-planes.o.gz  matrox/        radeonfb.o.gz  tridentfb.o.gz
fbcon-cfb2.o.gz   fbgen.o.gz             neofb.o.gz     riva/          vga16fb.o.gz
dave@matthews:~$ ls /lib/modules/2.6.16.19/kernel/drivers/video/
nvidia.ko

I've had these instructions for a year or more, but just tried
them on a customer's box. I've done it, rebooted a few times, and
it's nice how they work.

doc.nice · 06-03-2006, 07:31 AM

I think it's not the problem building two nvidia-modules for different kernels, but keeping the nvidia module when rebuilding the kernel... (what is solved with my idea)

Your method can be achieved much easier using NVIDIA-INSTALLER -N (see advanced installer options)

Bruce Hill · 06-03-2006, 07:48 AM

So now we know how to keep the Nvidia module for a rebuild
of the same kernel version, and how to keep if for a rebuild
of a different kernel version. Nice to work together, eh?

juanbobo · 06-03-2006, 06:42 PM

Thanks everyone for your help, this'll make things easier.

Bruce Hill · 06-03-2006, 07:03 PM

Looking at "man nvidia-installer" I see these:

Quote:

-n, --no-precompiled-interface
Disable use of precompiled kernel interfaces.

-N, --no-network
This option instructs the installer to not attempt to connect to the NVIDIA
ftp site (for updated precompiled kernel interfaces, for example).

-K, --kernel-module-only
Install a kernel module only, and do not uninstall the existing driver.
This is intended to be used to install kernel modules for additional ker-
nels (in cases where you might boot between several different kernels). To
use this option, you must already have a driver installed, and the version
of the installed driver must match the version of this kernel module.

doc.nice,

Don't forget that *nix commands are case sensitive. As for the -N switch, I always tell it NOT to go to the Nvidia FTP site, because it's just an unnecessary waste of time. When I first ran Slackware in 2003 I would let it try, but it never reached the site. Same with trying the "nvidia-installer --update" option. It can get there to tell me there's a new version, but it can't download it for me (never gets past 1%). Today it's hung here:

Code:

Downloading:
  ftp://download.nvidia.com/XFree86/Linux-x86/1.0-8762/NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-8762-pkg1.run
____________________________________________________________________________________________
Downloading
                                             0%

philippeP · 07-12-2006, 11:35 AM

Might wanna check this thread of mine.

See the "-K -k <kernel_number>" option, but only works with the "*pkg1.run" shell script, not with the "nvidia-installer" executable.

doc.nice · 07-15-2006, 07:56 AM

nice co-working here...

sorry for the confusion, of course I meant -K, not -N...

CMIIW:
you can add these parameters to the .run files an to the nvidia-installer script contained inside, as the .run script passes them on.

the download-problem seems specific to your system, as it works perfectly for me (and btw. also using a browser pointing to the address given by your output).