LinuxQuestions.org - Nvidia on debian sarge

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I am using debian sarge with the 2.6 kernel ,download the new drivers from nVidia i think they are 7*** something now .
log in with console only you can do this from the log in screen so X isnt running.
cd to the directory where downloaded the drivers.
then change to root su or what ever.
make sure the package is executable ,permissions etc.
./NVIDIA- whatever

follow on screen prompts
when finished and module is loaded.
open your favourite editor nano,vim,emacs etc
then open the file like /etc/X11/XF86Config-4
and comment out the lines load Gl core and load dri with the hash (#)
then change the driver name from (nv)
and change it to nvidia
reboot and every thing shouldwork you will be greeted with a nVidia splash if everything has worked ok.
If not check your config file and make sure every is ok if still no joy revert back to your original X config and try something else :(

I tried getting nvidea drivers to work with Sarge and had no luck, reverted back to Vesa. I did not try FTroops way of doing it though. I am going to try that tonight, hopefully that will work.

I have tried this method again tonight on another box using debian "sarge" and it works fine too :)

Quote:

Originally posted by Norb
I had many problems also with NVIDIA, after coming across this link and following it word for word my problems ended. I'm using the 2.6.8-2-686 kernel and the 1.0-6111-pkg1.run Nvidia drivers, for a MX4000 card. I've never been able to upgrade to the 1.0-6629 drivers it seems there's a problem with my card.
Good luck

http://serios.net/content/debian/nvi...ay-drivers.php

Just followed this link and worked perfectly. 277 fps in glxgears with my RIVA TNT 16meg PCI card.

Getting a 5600 Ultra in a few days, will I have to do anything special when I install it. Such as reinstall drivers or edit x86 config?

Thanks.

Ok, I have no idea what's going on but I can not get the nvidia installer to....well install. :rolleyes: Here's my kernel and everything I've installed/done. I'm using this guide: http://serios.net/content/debian/nvi...ay-drivers.php

Kernel: 2.6.10-9-amd64-k8
CHECK

Kernel headers installed? /usr/src/kernel-headers-2.6.10-9-amd64-k8/
CHECK

Symbolic link setup correctly?

Code:

 ls -l /lib/modules/2.6.10-9-amd64-k8/build

lrwxrwxrwx  1 root root 41 2005-03-19 13:39 /lib/modules/2.6.10-9-amd64-k8/build -> /usr/src/kernel-headers-2.6.10-9-amd64-k8

CHECK

nvidia driver version being installed: NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-1.0-7167-pkg2.run
CHECK

Now I booted into the right kernel, and I have X shutdown so I can get into the installer menu. After accepting the license agreement it says no pre-compiled interface or something found for your kernel, so then it tries to compile it and fails. Here's the /var/log/nvidia-installer.lo output.

Code:

creation time: Sun Mar 20 06:35:15 2005



option status:

  license pre-accepted    : false

  update                  : false

  force update            : false

  expert                  : false

  uninstall              : false

  driver info            : false

  no precompiled interface: false

  no ncurses color        : false

  query latest driver ver : false

  OpenGL header files    : false

  no questions            : false

  silent                  : false

  no backup              : false

  kernel module only      : false

  sanity                  : false

  add this kernel        : false

  no runlevel check      : false

  no network              : false

  no ABI note            : false

  no RPMs                : false

  force tls              : (not specified)

  force compat32 tls      : (not specified)

  X install prefix        : /usr/X11R6

  OpenGL install prefix  : /usr

  compat32 install prefix : /emul/ia32-linux

  installer install prefix: /usr

  utility install prefix  : /usr

  kernel name            : (not specified)

  kernel include path    : (not specified)

  kernel source path      : (not specified)

  kernel output path      : (not specified)

  kernel install path    : (not specified)

  proc mount point        : /proc

  ui                      : (not specified)

  tmpdir                  : /tmp

  ftp mirror              : ftp://download.nvidia.com

  RPM file list          : (not specified)



Using: nvidia-installer ncurses user interface

  that the installer will need to compile a new kernel interface.

-> Kernel source path: '/lib/modules/2.6.10-9-amd64-k8/build'

-> Performing CC test with CC="cc".

-> Performing rivafb check.

-> Performing change_page_attr() check.

WARNING: Your Linux kernel has problems in its implementation of 

        the change_page_attr kernel interface.  The NVIDIA kernel 

        module will attempt to work around these problems, but 

        system stability may be affected.  It is recommended that 

        you update to a 2.6.11 or newer kernel.

        

        Please see APPENDIX N: KNOWN ISSUES in NVIDIA's README for 

        more details.

-> Cleaning kernel module build directory.

  executing: 'cd ./usr/src/nv; make clean'...

  rm -f -f nv.o nv-vm.o os-agp.o os-interface.o os-registry.o nv.o nv-vm.o os-

  agp.o os-interface.o os-registry.o nvidia.mod.o

  rm -f -f build-in.o nv-linux.o *.d .*.{cmd,flags}

  rm -f -f nvidia.{o,ko,mod.{o,c}} nv_compiler.h *~

  rm -f -rf .tmp_versions

-> Building kernel module:

  executing: 'cd ./usr/src/nv; make module SYSSRC=/lib/modules/2.6.10-9-amd64-

  k8/build SYSOUT=/lib/modules/2.6.10-9-amd64-k8/build'...

  

  NVIDIA: calling KBUILD...

  make CC=cc  KBUILD_VERBOSE=1 -C /lib/modules/2.6.10-9-amd64-k8/build SUBDIRS

  =/tmp/selfgz4523/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-1.0-7167-pkg2/usr/src/nv modules

  mkdir -p /tmp/selfgz4523/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-1.0-7167-pkg2/usr/src/nv/.tmp_v

  ersions

  make -f scripts/Makefile.build obj=/tmp/selfgz4523/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-1.0-7

  167-pkg2/usr/src/nv

  echo \#define NV_COMPILER \"`cc -v 2>&1 | tail -n 1`\" > /tmp/selfgz4523/NVI

  DIA-Linux-x86_64-1.0-7167-pkg2/usr/src/nv/nv_compiler.h

    cc -Wp,-MD,/tmp/selfgz4523/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-1.0-7167-pkg2/usr/src/nv/.n

  v.o.d -nostdinc -iwithprefix include -D__KERNEL__ -Iinclude  -Wall -Wstrict-

  prototypes -Wno-trigraphs -fno-strict-aliasing -fno-common -O2    -fomit-fr

  ame-pointer -march=k8 -mno-red-zone -mcmodel=kernel -pipe -fno-reorder-block

  s    -Wno-sign-compare -fno-asynchronous-unwind-tables  -I/tmp/selfgz4523/N

VI

  DIA-Linux-x86_64-1.0-7167-pkg2/usr/src/nv -Wall -Wimplicit -Wreturn-type -Ws

  witch -Wformat -Wchar-subscripts -Wparentheses -Wpointer-arith  -Wno-multich

  ar  -W

  error -O -fno-common -mno-red-zone -MD  -Wsign-compare -Wno-cast-qual -Wno-

  error -D_LOOSE_KERNEL_NAMES -D__KERNEL__ -DMODULE  -mcmodel=kernel -DNTRM -D

  _GNU_SOURCE -D_LOOSE_KERNEL_NAMES -D__KERNEL__ -DMODULE  -DNV_MAJOR_VERSION=

  1 -DNV_MINOR_VERSION=0 -DNV_PATCHLEVEL=7167  -DNV_UNIX  -DNV_LINUX  -DNV_INT

  64_OK  -DNVCPU_X86_64  -DNV_64_BITS    -UDEBUG -U_DEBUG -DNDEBUG -DNV_SIGNAL

  _STRUCT_RLIM -DNV_CHANGE_PAGE_ATTR_PRESENT -DNV_PCI_DISABLE_DEVICE_PRESENT  

  -DMODULE -DKBUILD_BASENAME=nv -DKBUILD_MODNAME=nvidia -c -o /tmp/selfgz4523/

  NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-1.0-7167-pkg2/usr/src/nv/.tmp_nv.o /tmp/selfgz4523/NVIDI

  A-Linux-x86_64-1.0-7167-pkg2/usr/src/nv/nv.c

  /tmp/selfgz4523/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-1.0-7167-pkg2/usr/src/nv/nv.c:1: error: 

  code model `kernel' not supported in the 32 bit mode

  make[3]: *** [/tmp/selfgz4523/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-1.0-7167-pkg2/usr/src/nv/n

  v.o] Error 1

  make[2]: *** [_module_/tmp/selfgz4523/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-1.0-7167-pkg2/usr/

  src/nv] Error 2

  NVIDIA: left KBUILD.

  nvidia.ko failed to build!

  make[1]: *** [module] Error 1

  make: *** [module] Error 2

-> Error.

ERROR: Unable to build the NVIDIA kernel module.

ERROR: Installation has failed.  Please see the file

      '/var/log/nvidia-installer.log' for details.  You may find suggestions

      on fixing installation problems in the README available on the Linux

      driver download page at www.nvidia.com.

I think this is another wonderful 64-bit/32-bit problem I've been having lately. :rolleyes: I'm going to read through the readme and if I can't find anything and I don't hear anything back from this thread, I'm just going to screw 64-bit because it's been more trouble than what it's worth. :mad:

Sorry not to sure about the drivers for 64 bit ,have you tried the nvidia forum itself there might be a workaround on that ?

I always do it with Debfoster, but you can also install Synaptic, choose the list of 'installed packages', hilite the package and get rid of it.

I didn't have the same luck

for whatever reason, as of today (3/28/05) and possibly some time earlier, the sarge repositories
don't contain nvidia-glx or nvidia-kernel-settings pacakges.

using the module-assistant method, is there any way to make sarge install the nvidia drivers?
(the nvidia binary doesn't seem to like the stock debian 686-smp kernel i'm using)

***** EDIT *****
I resolved the issue. The problem is that I forgot that --append-to-version needs a 'make-kpkg clean' in order to work. Once I applied that command, it worked. I'm leaving this post up here for reference in case others encounter the same problem. ;)

Ok, I'm giving this a shot again and I managed to get the nvidia module installed (!!!) but to the wrong directory. :rolleyes: The problem is I'm using a custom kernel that I built, in which I used the --append-to-version=NAME to create a kernel called:

Code:

harima:/usr/src/linux# uname -r

2.6.10-sawachika

So my modules directory for this kernel is in: /lib/modules/2.6.10-sawachika/

To build my nvidia kernel module, I installed "nvidia-kernel-source" and "nvidia-kernel-common" from the unstable debian repository. I followed the instructions in the file for how to create your module:

Code:

METHOD #2: Using your own kernel source headers

***********************************************************************



To build the nvidia-kernel deb you need to first make sure you have

kernel-package installed, then do the following:



As root

1. cd /usr/src

  tar xzvf nvidia-kernel-source.tar.gz -C <YOUR BUILD LOCATION>        

  (It will install in <YOU BUILD LOCATION>/modules) 

  - or -

  tar xzvf nvidia-kernel-source.tar.gz  (if building in /usr/src) 



2. If you are NOT using the default modules location /usr/src/modules

  then you must set an environment variable that points to your modules

  location.

    

    export MODULE_LOC=<YOUR BUILD LOCATION>/modules

    

  This is needed by make-kpkg which is used later. If 

  <YOUR BUILD LOCATION> is /usr/src there is no need to set this.

    

3. Build the modules under MODULE_LOC i.e. <YOU BUILD LOCATION>/modules 



    cd linux (or your kernel source directory)

    make-kpkg modules_image



4. Install nvidia-kernel-common:



  apt-get install nvidia-kernel-common



5. Install the nvidia-kernel package:

    

    cd <YOUR BUILD LOCATION>    (e.g. /usr/src)

    dpkg -i nvidia-kernel-KVER*.deb

I followed the instructions and it worked. However, when I tried to modprobe nvidia it didn't work, and I found out that the nvidia modules had been installed to /lib/modules/2.6.10! Grrr. So I went back and in step 3 I tried to do the following:

Code:

make-kpkg --append-to-version=-sawachika modules_image

So I gave it the same name as my kernel. Everything should be happy, right? Wrong. It refuses to build and spits out this error:

Code:

harima:/usr/src/linux# make-kpkg --append-to-version=-sawachika modules_image

Warning: The file include/linux/version.h exists

The contained UTS_VERSION string:

                        "2.6.10"

does not match expectations:

                        "2.6.10-sawachika"

I'll try and recover

Please ignore the warning about overriding and ignoring targets above.

These are harmless. They are only invoked in a part of the process

that tries to snarf variable values for the conf.vars file.

echo done >  stamp-configure

The changelog says we are creating 2.6.10, but I thought the version is 2.6.10-sawachika

make: *** [modules_image] Error 1

I've been scratching my head trying to fix this one but I don't know how to. I found a note at the bottom of the Debian installation README file:

Code:

Notes for method #2: 



- It is advised not to clean the kernel source tree between 

"make-kpkg kernel_image" and "make-kpkg modules_image".

Unfortunately, I *did* clean the kernel source tree between when I built this kernel (months ago) and when I tried to build the modules_image. :(

Does anyone know how to ameliorate this issue? In a way that hopefully doesn't require me to re-compile and re-install my kernel again? Thank you so much for any wisdom you can share. :jawa:

***** EDIT *****
Nevermind again, I fixed it myself. The problem was that I forgot I uninstalled nvidia-glx once while I was fiddling with this stuff. Once I installed that package again, everything worked fine. :D WOOHOO 3d accelerated graphics!!

Ok, as I have edited in my post above I fixed the problem. I now have nvidia-kernel-2.6.10-sawachika sucessfully installed and in the proper directories.

However startx still fails! It says it could not found the nvidia module and I was like WTF!? Because before I typed startx I checked to see if the module was loaded, just in case.

Code:

roots@harima:~$ lsmod

Module                  Size  Used by

nvidia              3914876  0

Ok! it's there! I don't know what else xserver wants from me. :mad: The modifications I made to my XFree86-4 file to use the new video drivers were the following:

- Comment out these two lines
# Load "dri"
# Load "GLCore"

- Change driver name from vesa to nvidia
driver "nvidia"

- Add option under new driver name
Option "NvAGP" "3"

What is there left for me to do? That should be all I need! Oh woe is me. :cry: