SlackwareThis Forum is for the discussion of Slackware Linux.
Notices
Welcome to LinuxQuestions.org, a friendly and active Linux Community.
You are currently viewing LQ as a guest. By joining our community you will have the ability to post topics, receive our newsletter, use the advanced search, subscribe to threads and access many other special features. Registration is quick, simple and absolutely free. Join our community today!
Note that registered members see fewer ads, and ContentLink is completely disabled once you log in.
If you have any problems with the registration process or your account login, please contact us. If you need to reset your password, click here.
Having a problem logging in? Please visit this page to clear all LQ-related cookies.
Get a virtual cloud desktop with the Linux distro that you want in less than five minutes with Shells! With over 10 pre-installed distros to choose from, the worry-free installation life is here! Whether you are a digital nomad or just looking for flexibility, Shells can put your Linux machine on the device that you want to use.
Exclusive for LQ members, get up to 45% off per month. Click here for more info.
I have two kernels in Slack 10.2 and use the nVidia driver for the most recent kernel (2.6.16.5). I also have 2.4.31, which I really like becuase it is so stable. However, when I installed the new kernel with the new kernel-dedicated nVidia driver, it uninstalled it from the 2.4.31 kernel (which I expected) and while I can boot into the 2.4 kernel, I cannot start X.
My question is, is there a "generic" X driver, like vesa, that I can change the xorg.conf file to which will allow me to start X in the older kernel as well as the new one?
I have two kernels in Slack 10.2 and use the nVidia driver for the most recent kernel (2.6.16.5). I also have 2.4.31, which I really like becuase it is so stable. However, when I installed the new kernel with the new kernel-dedicated nVidia driver, it uninstalled it from the 2.4.31 kernel (which I expected) and while I can boot into the 2.4 kernel, I cannot start X.
Easily fixed. Substitute your version numbers for these commands:
Thanks, guys for the responses. I was concerned that both kernels shared the same xorg.conf file, but apprently if you can install the nVidia driver in each kernel they must have their own xorg files.
There's no need to do all that manually. You can use the -K option when installing the second driver to only install the kernel module. This will leave all the other stuff alone, including any any other kernel modules.
xorg.conf is part of X, it has nothing to do with the kernel. You will be using the same xorg.conf when using both kernels, which is no problem since you have the same hardware.
Thanks, guys for the responses. I was concerned that both kernels shared the same xorg.conf file, but apprently if you can install the nVidia driver in each kernel they must have their own xorg files.
Just re-iterating what Soggycornflake said: You can use the same xorg.conf file for both kernels. There is no need to have more than one file.
Thanks, guys for the responses. I was concerned that both kernels shared the same xorg.conf file, but apprently if you can install the nVidia driver in each kernel they must have their own xorg files.
You will have a module for each kernel, and only one xorg.conf.
nvidia.o for 2.4.31, nvidia.ko for the 2.6.* kernel.
I hope I don't sound too noobish here, but my concern is that the 2.4.31 kernel uses a different version of the nVidia driver than the 2.6.16 kernel. Am I understanding that if I install the 2.4.31 version using the -K option, it will simply load that module into the 2.4.31 kernel, leaving the module for the 2.6.16 kernel untouched? There won't be any conflicts?
It's still the same driver, it's only the interface to the kernel that changes.
The full install comprises the kernel module, the X module, and the GL library(ies). The -K option installs only the kernel module, so the other components won't be touched at all, including any kernel modules for different kernels. This option is specifically intended to support using mulitple kernels, so there won't be any conflicts.
It's still the same driver, it's only the interface to the kernel that changes.
The full install comprises the kernel module, the X module, and the GL library(ies). The -K option installs only the kernel module, so the other components won't be touched at all, including any kernel modules for different kernels. This option is specifically intended to support using mulitple kernels, so there won't be any conflicts.
To explain a little farther:
The modules for different kernels are store in different folders, so one module for one kernel won't be read/used by another kernel
Am I understanding that if I install the 2.4.31 version using the -K option, it will simply load that module into the 2.4.31 kernel, leaving the module for the 2.6.16 kernel untouched? There won't be any conflicts?
If you follow the instructions in post #3, you will have the NVidia kernel module for both kernels and there will not be any conflicts. You can't load two kernels at once, so why should there be a conflict. All you're doing is building a kernel module for each kernel...
When I want to compile and install the NVIDIA kernel module for a kernel, and don't want to remove any previously installed NVIDIA modules (other versions and/or for other kernels) I run this command (example uses the driver version 7676 and a kernel 2.6.13 - you substitute your own particular versions, and perhaps your kernel sources are in another directory, too):
Code:
sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-7676-pkg1.run --kernel-name=2.6.13 \
--kernel-module-only \
--kernel-source-path=/usr/src/linux-2.6.13
Thanks for your help. Once again, I ask, I learn. I ran the command that Alien Bob suggested and it worked like a charm. I can get into X in both kernels now. One oddity, though. I cannot start KDE from the command
startkde
When I startx, it defaults into window maker (which I do not like) and I don't seem to be able to switch it back to kde as the default desktop when I type startx. I also cannot start a network connection from the 2.4.31 kernel anymore.
None of these things are any big deal, really. I mainly use the 2.6.16 kernel ansyway. I just liked the 2.4.31 kernel because it was so stable. And, as silly as it sounds, it was my first Slack kernel and I want to keep it just for that reason.
Anyway, thanks very much for all of your help. If anyone knows how to fix the other two niggling little things, I'd appreciate it.
You should not need to start KDE using the command "startkde".
What you should do is run the command
Code:
xwmconfig
and select KDE as your default window manager - and henceforth just use
Code:
startx
to start X - running KDE.
As to why you don't get a network connection now in your 2.4 kernel - perhaps because the driver for the network card was loaded in /etc/rc.d/rc.modules and that one got replaced when you installed a Slackware 2.6 kernel from "/testing" ?
LinuxQuestions.org is looking for people interested in writing
Editorials, Articles, Reviews, and more. If you'd like to contribute
content, let us know.