nVidia users: less hassle to use the nouveau driver on -current with a recent kernel
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nVidia users: less hassle to use the nouveau driver on -current with a recent kernel
I installed kernel 2.6.34-rc3 on Slackware64-current with March 31 updates applied and did this to get "nouveau" working under X:
Code:
cd /local_mirror_of_slackware64-current/source/x/libdrm/
wget http://dri.freedesktop.org/libdrm/libdrm-2.4.19.tar.bz2
./libdrm.SlackBuild
upgradepkg /tmp/libdrm-2.4.19-x86_x64-1.txz
cd ~/tmp
git clone git://anongit.freedesktop.org/git/nouveau/xf86-video-nouveau/
cd xf86-video-nouveau
./autogen.sh
make
cp src/.libs/nouveau_drv.so /usr/lib64/xorg/modules/drivers
echo -e 'Section "Device"\nIdentifier "n"\nDriver "nouveau"\nEndSection' > /etc/X11/xorg.conf
In short :
- no firmware needed anymore, at least for my graphical card
- no need for a git version of libdrm anymore, only upgrade from 2.4.18 (included in -current as of today) to 2.4.19
- of course an X driver for "nouveau" is still needed
Beware: upgrade libdrm to 2.4.19 before making the X nouveau driver, otherwise it won't compile (here, at least).
[EDIT]
To avoid getting a black screen at startup you can:
* either blacklist nouveau (it will be loaded at X startup anyway so this doesn't prevent using it)
* or use one of the options "VGA=ask" or "VGA=ext" in lilo.conf and run lilo
This is because there is a resources conflict between nouveau and most framebuffer devices
Have fun.
Last edited by Didier Spaier; 04-03-2010 at 03:08 AM.
Reason: How-to avoid a black screen at startup updated
@GazL: I will further investigate and let you know if/when I get this bad behavior fixed.
Don't go to any trouble on my account mate. I'm watch nouveau developments with interest, but I'm in no rush.
At the moment I'm more curious about whether the nouveau Xorg server is ever going to get into OpenBSD as I don't have the option of running a proprietary driver on my OBSD box.
I just installed the latest version of the nvidia driver 195.36.15 on the 2.6.33.1 kernel and I have seen a massive improvement whilst playing foobillard, does the nouveau driver give the same level of speed as the nvidia driver?
I can't tell for sure as I just installed it to see how it looks like and don't bother to install a blob now, but the answer is probably no as 3D hardware acceleration is not yet available. As stated in GalliumHowto:
Quote:
This code is in rapid development. You should only use it if you are curious about it or want to help with development. Ordinary users wishing to run 3D games fast should stick to the nVidia proprietary drivers for the time being, if possible, unless the software rasterizer or llvmpipe are fast enough for you.
I can't tell for sure as I just installed it to see how it looks like and don't bother to install a blob now, but the answer is probably no as 3D hardware acceleration is not yet available. As stated in GalliumHowto:
BTW would you want to give it a try though, better follow this howto unless you upgrade your kernel to 2.6.34-rc2 or newer ; for 2.6.33.* other steps are needed to make nouveau working.
@GazL: I noticed following line in /var/log/syslog, nouveau not being blacklisted:
Code:
Apr 2 18:52:58 darkstar kernel: fb: conflicting fb hw usage nouveaufb vs VESA VGA - removing generic driver
To check I re-compiled 2.6.34-rc3 with "VESA VGA graphics support"=N but still "Framebuffer Console support"=Y.
I booted on an old-looking VGA screen (maximum resolution 80x60!) but after a while the display switched to a decent framebuffer console - so at least nouveau fb do not conflict with console fb.
Nevertheless I don't see any inconvenience in keeping nouveau blacklisted as anyhow it will be automatically loaded at X startup if chosen through xorg.conf
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Thanks for the progress report. I'll keep watching with interest for now, but it looks promising for the future.
