Installing Nvidia 6800 driver for ubuntu server

bowbalitic · 08-20-2009, 06:03 PM

I know this sounds stupid, but I'm having trouble installing a nvidia 6800 driver for my ubuntu server ( I want to install a desktop. ) I know this is a server issue but it was such a newbie question I had to ask it here lol. I've searched the web for ways but nothing seems to work since and I now have many unnecessary apps on my server. So if I could have some easy to follow instructions that would greatly be appriciated. My Ubuntu server has minimum applications and nothing to support graphics drivers. Thanks again for your help.

MBybee · 08-20-2009, 06:18 PM

Have you tried the basic VESA drivers? Those should easily provide a basic GUI for X.

Try: sudo dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg
Select the basic ATI (fglrx) driver, or VESA, and then restart GDM.
Let me know if you still have issues, since ATI driver support can be a serious PITA on Linux.

bowbalitic · 08-21-2009, 03:25 PM

I appreciate the help, but Ubuntu Server doesn't come with xserver I know I can install it but I was wondering if there was another way, or is xserver the only (or recomended) video driver support?

MBybee · 08-21-2009, 06:20 PM

I'm not sure I understand what you're looking for - do you just want text output? It should already be doing that, even if it is running headless.

If you want some specific graphics, what exactly did you have in mind? I was assuming you wanted (local) X type graphics. You can also run X remote over SSH or something - that's actually very common.

bowbalitic · 08-21-2009, 07:09 PM

I think I was just confusing myself :P I'm going to install xserver and try your suggestion. I'll let you know how it goes. Thanks.

bowbalitic · 08-21-2009, 10:45 PM

Please bear with me I'm a noob :P

Ok, so I installed xserver and when I type

sudo dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg

it tries to reconfigure my keyboard? It bring up a simple graphics setup which prompts me about changing my keyboard, of course I used default settings for all the things it asked (all refering to the keyboard)

MBybee · 08-22-2009, 11:06 AM

It does prompt for keyboard - the defaults should be fine. Typically, reconfigure is only needed if you have an existing X install that isn't working, but all it will do is give you a chance to change the config.

This is the place for questions

Did it work?