The new ATi v.8.21.7 drivers' installation

sc0undrel · 01-21-2006, 03:37 PM

I noticed ATi has released the proprietary Linux driver version 8.21.7 just about a few days ago.

https://support.ati.com/ics/support/...e&folderID=300

However, as I'm still very new to Linux, I don't have a clue how to install and get them working properly in a way that I don't mess up everything again. Looks like the installation instructions on ATi's site haven't changed since the release of the last drivers. Are the new instructions _exactly_ the same?

Anyway, my graphics card is Radeon 9600Pro. And altough I followed dozens of guides, I could not get the previous version of those drivers to work. Now I have a fresh new installation of Mandriva Linux 2006 Free Edition and am counting on your assistance.

Would someone be so kind to provide step-by-step installation instructions or at least enough to get them working, please?

Michael_aust · 01-22-2006, 02:44 PM

Here is the page on the LQ wiki for installing ati drivers.

http://wiki.linuxquestions.org/wiki/...ng_ATI_drivers

The first part looks kinda complicated (well to me it does), you may be able to just do it from the installing the driver section onwards and not have to worry about the first part I dont know. Ppprobobly better to wait for someone else to say. Anyway above is the wiki article. Hope this helps.

Michael

Michael_aust · 01-22-2006, 02:49 PM

Actually you could try this solution I just found it through a google search its also on the LQ site. It looks considerably easier. http://www.linuxquestions.org/linux/..._Mandrake_10_1

Try this solution it should work. Its step by step so its easy to follow.

Michael

JohnSilver · 01-22-2006, 05:43 PM

The so-called ATI driver guide recommends recompiling your kernel

That is totally unnecessary.

The features mentioned

Loadable Module Support --->[*] Enable loadable module support[*] Module unloading

Processor type and features --->[*] MTRR (Memory Type Range Register) support

Device Drivers --->
Character Devices --->
<M> /dev/agpgart (AGP Support)
<M> Your_AGP_Chipset_Here
[ ] Direct Rendering Manager (XFree86 4.1.0 and higher DRI support)

Kernel Hacking --->
[ ] Kernel debugging

are always in the kernel of any distribution.

JohnSilver · 01-22-2006, 05:46 PM

Also the ATI drivers can use their own AGP Support and do not need the AGP Support already included with your kernel.

JohnSilver · 01-22-2006, 05:48 PM

And if you are having trouble, the 8.14.13 version ATI drivers were quite stable.

sc0undrel · 01-23-2006, 02:47 PM

First off, thanks for the replies, btw, you can use the "Edit" button
instead of posting new replies.

Well, looking at those guides I can see they were updated more than a six months ago. The software versions mentioned there are old and outdated and also the directories should have different names and locations by now.

That "second" guide mentions to download an RMP from the ATi's site. There are 4 RPMs there, and I don't have the slightest clue which one to get. Plus, I don't even know which kernel version I am currently running, what can you expect from a Linux newbie?

/Edit: and I when I not going to compile the kernel like you suggested, I don't have to install the kernel source and/or headers, right? God, I'm so confused. =\

jchance · 01-23-2006, 03:12 PM

Financially what is it worth to you to have the ATI drivers as opposed to the Xorg. My suggestion wouldn't involve compiling or anything like that. What I would suggest if you want to just install and go would be to either buy a commercial copy and pay a one shot deal (powerpack minimum), or become a member of the club. Both ways you get the driver and during instalation any dependancies will be installed as well. I believe in keep it simple, but sometimes that can cost you a little cake.

sc0undrel · 01-23-2006, 03:22 PM

It is indeed a simpler solution and better in some situations, but I'd rather try learn to do the installation myself. I appreciate the suggestion, though.

Might have a few headaches, but sooner or later I fear I have to do things like this quite a lot. So what I learn here, might come in handy some other time as well.

Now, I guess I should start with choosing a proper RMP package, like that second tutorial advises. Any ideas on which one exactly should I download?

JohnSilver · 01-23-2006, 05:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jchance

Financially what is it worth to you to have the ATI drivers as opposed to the Xorg.

NOTHING.

I paid for descent drivers when I bought the ATI video card. They were windows drivers. I now use Linux. If ATI does not also supply drivers for Linux I will toss my ATI card into the trash and buy a video card that does.

Robattack · 01-27-2006, 11:07 AM

hi sc0undrel

I dont know if you still need an advice on how to install the ati-video drivers... but here is how i did it ;-)
Since mandriva2006 moved to xorg6.9x you cant use the rpm packages provided on the ati-website... those packages used to not recognize Xorg6.9 (maybe its fixed now). But on the website is an installer too, just right above the rpm-packages. This one will recognize that you are using xorg 6.9x .
So, what you have to do now, is download this installer, open up a shell, becoming root and type

Code:

[root@your-box]# ./ati-driver-installer-8.21.7-i386.run

.
A gui should pop up... follow its instructions. When the driver install is finished go to init 3 (textmode, by typing this command as root in a shell)

Code:

[root@your-box]# init 3

Now you have to build the kernel module. To do so, log in as root and do this commands:

Code:

[root@your-box]# cd /lib/modules/fglrx/build_mod
[root@your-box]#sh make.sh
[root@your-box]#cd ..
[root@your-box]#sh make_install.sh

When its finished, the only thing to do left is to run fglrxconfig

Code:

[root@your-box]# fglrxconfig

Follow the instructions and answer its questions. After saving you can now switch to your "normal" user and do

Code:

[user@your-box]$ startx

now you should have working ati video drivers. (To test it type fglrxinfo in a shell and look if it uses the ati or still the mesa drivers ).
The last steps i told you (building the kernel module) are described in the link posted by Michael_aust in this thread too. heres the direct link again to this section
http://wiki.linuxquestions.org/wiki/..._Driver_Module

ok... thats it, hope its helpful

ah, and btw, if you dont find /lib/modules/fglrx/build_mod, then try /usr/lib/modules/fglrx/build_mod ;-)
And you have to have matching kernel-source installed, check this first before you start with the installation

sc0undrel · 01-27-2006, 05:28 PM

Thanks a lot, Robattack! : )
That helped quite a bit indeed, but now I'm facing only one obstable:

Everything goes well until I execute the last command in the kernel module building part:

Code:

[root@localhost fglrx]# sh make_install.sh
- creating symlink
- recreating module dependency list
- trying a sample load of the kernel modules
FATAL: Error inserting fglrx (/lib/modules/2.6.12-12mdksmp/kernel/drivers/char/drm/fglrx.ko): Operation not permitted 
failed.

What could be the problem?

I am not completely sure I have the right Linux kernel source code installed. I opened up the KDE control center (kdcontrol from the command line) and it said: "Release: 2.6.12-12mdksmp".

So then I opened the Mandriva Control Center and installed this package (hoping it to be the right one): kernel-source-2.6-2.6.12-12mdk

Is this the right kernel source code for my Linux kernel? If not, then which package should I install instead?

But if it was the right kernel source code, what else could be the problem?

Please help me, I'm almost there!!

to3t3r · 01-28-2006, 04:08 AM

What if u want to install the ATI drivers in text mode ? I can't seem to get in X. So i wanna install the drivers in text mode.. But as a newbie for Mandriva it's hard when it says "Download the driver and install it!". How to download, and how to install it ?

Robattack · 01-31-2006, 11:20 AM

ok, sorry, i was busy the last few days

sc0undrel,

Kernel-source is ok (i guess there s no special kernel-source for ht-processors) , else you would have had error messages while building the kernel module. To be honest, i have never seen the error you get when you are trying to install the kernel modules... i guess its a problem with some other ati-modules (provided by xorg) running on your computer. so, you should/could check which modules are used (in mcc --> hardware configuration). If you are unsure, change the module to mesa drivers, reboot and reinstall the ati-drivers as i told u :-)

lets see if this works, keep me updated ;-) i will google for this error if i find some time the next days ;-)

to3t3r,

hm.... to download and install ati-drivers via text mode, you have to download the drivers from the ati website by using a text-mode-based browser, like links/links2, w3m or lynx for example.
When u have done so, u have to become root, by typing

Code:

[user@your-box]$ su
Password:
[root@your-box]#

and start the ati-installer by typing

Code:

[root@your-box]# ./ati-driver-installer-8.21.7-i386.run

And now just follow the instructions in my last post.
But why cant u login to X? Are there any error messages? e.g while trying to start X, or in your boot.log?

ok...thats it :-)

sc0undrel · 01-31-2006, 01:47 PM

Thanks for the reply, Robattack! Although, still no luck. =\

I couldn't find the mesa drivers in MCC's hardware configuration settings. There were modules for like Vesa, vga and quite a lot more, but no Mesa.

Screenshot: http://xs66.xs.to/pics/06052/r9600detected.png

It seems that it manages to recognize my graphics card (Radeon9600), but apperantly something still goes wrong.

I guess I'll better post the entire logfile this time... maybe it helps to track down the problem I'm having.

After "init 3":

Code:

[root@localhost /]# cd /lib/modules/fglrx/build_mod/
[root@localhost build_mod]# sh make.sh
ATI module generator V 2.0
==========================
initializing...
make.sh: line 445: [: too many arguments
make.sh: line 451: [: too many arguments
cleaning...
patching 'highmem.h'...
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/2.6.12-12mdksmp/build SUBDIRS=/lib/modules/fglrx/build_mod/2.6.x modules
make[1]: Entering directory `/usr/src/linux-2.6.12-12mdk'

  WARNING: Symbol version dump /usr/src/linux-2.6.12-12mdk/Module.symvers
           is missing; modules will have no dependencies and modversions.

  Building modules, stage 2.
  MODPOST
make[1]: Leaving directory `/usr/src/linux-2.6.12-12mdk'
build succeeded with return value 0
 compiling fglrx_agp.ko module
make -C /lib/modules/2.6.12-12mdksmp/build SUBDIRS=/lib/modules/fglrx/build_mod/firegl_agpgart modules
make[1]: Entering directory `/usr/src/linux-2.6.12-12mdk'

  WARNING: Symbol version dump /usr/src/linux-2.6.12-12mdk/Module.symvers
           is missing; modules will have no dependencies and modversions.

  CC [M]  /lib/modules/fglrx/build_mod/firegl_agpgart/firegl_wrap.o
In file included from /lib/modules/fglrx/build_mod/firegl_agpgart/firegl_wrap.c:113:
/lib/modules/fglrx/build_mod/firegl_agpgart/firegl_agp.h:755:1: warning: "PCI_DEVICE_ID_INTEL_ICH7_1" redefined
In file included from include/linux/pci.h:452,
                 from /lib/modules/fglrx/build_mod/firegl_agpgart/firegl_wrap.c:74:
include/linux/pci_ids.h:2436:1: warning: this is the location of the previous definition
/lib/modules/fglrx/build_mod/firegl_agpgart/firegl_wrap.c:171: error: static declaration of 'errno' follows non-static declaration
include/linux/unistd.h:4: error: previous declaration of 'errno' was here
/lib/modules/fglrx/build_mod/firegl_agpgart/firegl_wrap.c: In function '__ke_phys_to_virt':
/lib/modules/fglrx/build_mod/firegl_agpgart/firegl_wrap.c:660: warning: passing argument 1 of 'phys_to_virt' makes integer from pointer without a cast
/lib/modules/fglrx/build_mod/firegl_agpgart/firegl_wrap.c:660: warning: return makes integer from pointer without a cast
/lib/modules/fglrx/build_mod/firegl_agpgart/firegl_wrap.c: In function '__ke_verify_area':
/lib/modules/fglrx/build_mod/firegl_agpgart/firegl_wrap.c:1123: warning: 'verify_area' is deprecated (declared at include/asm/uaccess.h:105)
/lib/modules/fglrx/build_mod/firegl_agpgart/firegl_wrap.c: In function '__ke_get_vm_phys_addr':
/lib/modules/fglrx/build_mod/firegl_agpgart/firegl_wrap.c:1362: error: request for member 'pgd' in something not a structure or union
/lib/modules/fglrx/build_mod/firegl_agpgart/firegl_wrap.c: In function '__ke_vm_phys_addr_str':
/lib/modules/fglrx/build_mod/firegl_agpgart/firegl_wrap.c:1818: error: request for member 'pgd' in something not a structure or union
make[2]: *** [/lib/modules/fglrx/build_mod/firegl_agpgart/firegl_wrap.o] Error 1
make[1]: *** [_module_/lib/modules/fglrx/build_mod/firegl_agpgart] Error 2
make[1]: Leaving directory `/usr/src/linux-2.6.12-12mdk'
make: *** [default] Error 2
AGPGART module build failed with return value 2
duplicating results into driver repository...
done.
==============================
You must change your working directory to /lib/modules/fglrx
and then call ./make_install.sh in order to install the built module.
==============================
[root@localhost build_mod]# cd..
[root@localhost fglrx]# sh make_install.sh
- creating symlink
- recreating module dependency list
- trying a sample load of the kernel modules
FATAL: Error inserting fglrx (/lib/modules/2.6.12-12mdksmp/kernel/drivers/char/drm/fglrx.ko.gz): Operation not permitted
failed.
[root@localhost fglrx]#

I also tried the "./make_install.sh" command like the installer suggested, but it still gives the exact same error nonetheless.

Here's the info from fgrlxconfig:

Code:

[dade@localhost ~]$ fglrxinfo
Xlib:  extension "XFree86-DRI" missing on display ":0.0".
display: :0.0  screen: 0
OpenGL vendor string: Mesa project: www.mesa3d.org
OpenGL renderer string: Mesa GLX Indirect
OpenGL version string: 1.2 (1.5 Mesa 6.4.1)
[dade@localhost ~]$

And when I try to use the "fglrxconfig" command, it gives "bash: fglrxconfig: command not found".

Any ideas?

Is there something I could try that would help?

===============================================

Edit: I just tried to apply the Vesa driver module, then reapplied the Xorg radeon module, restarted X and tried to do every command again and IT WORKED!!

Glxgears are now running very smoothly (over approximately 4090 fps) and I get more than 99 frames per second in SuperTux (with OpenGL enabled).

Fglrxinfo now shows:

Code:

[dade@localhost ~]$ fglrxinfo
display: :0.0  screen: 0
OpenGL vendor string: ATI Technologies Inc.
OpenGL renderer string: RADEON 9600 Generic
OpenGL version string: 2.0.5582 (8.21.7)

[dade@localhost ~]$

However, the "fglrxconfig" command still gives this error -- "bash: fglrxconfig: command not found".

Anyone knows why?