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I'm having troubles wiht nvidia drivers. I can't see the splash
when x starts. I checked my modules and here is what I found.

Module Size Used by
snd_pcm_oss 47968 -
snd_mixer_oss 16904 -
intel_agp 20132 -
nvidia 3707176 -
agpgart 29616 -

Slack 10.2 kernel 2.6.13 compiled form source

I think this is not normal. Isn't the used by colum supposed
to have 0 when modules are not used or depends on others?

West

Does X start? If so, what frame rates do you get from 'glxgears'?

The NVidia splash screen is an option in your xorg.conf file.

If X doesn't start, are you sure that your xorg.conf has been suitably modified for the NVidia drivers?

There is a log file which will appear under /var, whose name currently escapes me, which you can check fro errors upon starting X. It should be pretty easy to find, since it isn't in a subdirectory and its name is something like 'Xorg.session'.

"edit" this was a stupid reply!!!!!!!"edit
did an install on a Nvidia machine a while ago,
your xorg is still using the native nvidia driver, in in order to change it to use the new driver,

you have to manually edit the graphics section in xorg.conf,
instead of "nvidia" it should read "nv"

i thought you also should add the option
Load "dri" in the module section.

"edit" you have to re install the nvidia driver evry time you re compile your kernel "edit"

please please forgive me,
i spoke to soon before checking, it should be the other way around!!!!!!!!

# sh NVIDIA-Linux-arch-x.x-xxxx-pkg1.run

This will unpack the self archiving package and take you through the nvidia-installer's step by step driver installation.
Once this is done open up your xorg.conf file (/etc/X11/xorg.conf) and found in the "# Graphics device section" and change the line:

Driver "nv"
(or) Driver "vesa"

to

Driver "nvidia"

and in the Module section make sure you have the following line

Load "glx"

and remove these lines if they exist

Load "dri"
Load "GLcore"

Now you should be able to start up X again and everything should be fine.

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X starts. Always has. Installation is not a problem.

xorg.conf is configured as readme indicates

glxgears output: 6196 frames in 5.0 seconds = 1239.200 FPS

I have the dirver installed on the 2.4.31 kernel and I can see the splash screen
and I can also see that there is a zero (0) on the used by column when
a module isn't dependent or is not used or simply it says unused. There is a number
(6) for the nvidia driver for example; for kernel 2.4.31 and in 2.6.31 kernel there
is a (-) that can't be normal.

west.

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Funny.
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did you install nvidia when running the 2.6.31 kernel?
you should!
.

This guy could be onto something. You need to install the NVidia driver under each kernel installed on the machine you'd like to use it with.

Oh. And to answer your question about modules - they are handled very differently under 2.6, which is why the output of lsmod differs. When you run lsmod under 2.4, it reverts to the 'old' behaviour.

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Thank you very much rkelsen

When I first intalled 2.6.13 I had the FATAL ERROR: snd_pcm_oss modules not present
and the other fatal error for alsa. Problem is, that 2.6.13 configures those modules
as built-in. So I configured those two as modules and the errors went off. That
tells me that the modules are been used. I just thaught the (-) in the used by column
could mean an error considering that I can't see my splash anymore and when I had
2.6.11 installed I could see the numbers of other modules using each other under used by
column of lsmod.

*About the nvidia drivers:
You are right when you say: you have to install the driver under each kernel
The only thing different for me is that installer detects, warns, and erases (if you prceed):
/lib/modules/2.4.31/kernel/drivers/video/nvidia.o

But I back it up before proceeding to install under 2.6.13, and then restore the
nvidia.o to its locationg under modules and thats it.

You asked for glxgears output.

wich is: 6196 frames in 5.0 seconds = 1239.200 FPS
Is this output normal for my drivers?

Also did I lost my beautiful splash at 2.613 then, is there any way to recover my
beloved splash : ) ?

West.
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Hmmm. I think you're right. Something is amiss. I've got numbers in that column when I run lsmod. Maybe try enabling udev for 2.6? This is disabled by default, because 2.4 doesn't use it.

A tip regarding the NVidia drivers: If you run the downloaded file with the --extract-only option, like so: it will extract the files to the current directory. Make sure you run this command in a directory which you've created especially for the purpose. Then you will be able to do this:This makes the NVidia kernel module ONLY, and then copies it to the appropriate spot under /usr/lib/modules. It won't overwrite anything this way, and it won't re-install the other files which have already been installed.

Well, if I leave it the size it is when it pops up, I get:
11280 frames in 5.0 seconds = 2256.000 FPS

If I maximise the Window to full screen, I get:
960 frames in 5.0 seconds = 192.000 FPS

My card is a Geforce FX 5700LE w/256mb RAM. Not the latest & greatest, but good enough for me!

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Hi rkelsen

I did the: # chmod +x /etc/rc.d/rc.udev command
no change.

I'll keep researching. If I find a solution I'll let you know.

As for the nvidia drivers I wrote your tips on my configurations
journal. I apreciete your help.

West.

You'll need to run: or reboot the machine for this to take effect.

mokele,

I had the same - when I started experimenting with what items I needed when compiling my own kernels,

Under loadable module support, you need to select "module unloading". (it's not selected by default). Recompile and the - under used by when running lsmod will be replaced by what is actually using the modules.

Hope this helps,
Gary

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Slack

You were right. Now I can see integers on used by column.

I thaught this was the reason I wasn't seeing my nvidia splash screen.
I thaught the modules wasn't loading, thus I couldn't see the splash.
But that wasn't the reason. The module was loading all the time regardless of the
`modules unloading' option disabled.

I was working on HDD performance; see here , and this guide far from helping,
droped my HDD speed by a half because my HDD is configured on its
controller to have the max speed needed already. Well, when I started X with
my HDD at half its speed, I could see the splash for a fraction of a second. Then
I read somewhere that the splash for kernles 2.6.13 are not present. But thats
not true either. As long as I have learned so far, the splash is there but shows
so fast that you can't even see it. I haven't confirm this theory yet. But if you
guys find out anything about this I'll apreciate the input.

Thanks, west.
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