How do I install Nvidia driver in Suse 10.3 installation?
 

Hello,

I'm soon going to try to install SUSE 10.3, but I'm a bit worried for the installation of the graphics. It say on this page

http://www.opensuse.wiseportion.com/10.2/install.php

that "NEW - Video Cards :: NVIDIA
NVIDIA you will have to connect to the internet using the WIRED (RJ45) connection then install the driver in console mode. "

I have a NVIDIA Raedon 6600GT, which is like two years old or so. It has never really worked properly on fedora. And since I'm new to suse I wonder how do I install it before the main installation of the system crashes due to no graphics. Do I need to add some external repository?

Please, letter for letter so I get it right the first time?

All the best,

Nvidia Radeon? Did you get a hybrid ATI+Nvidia card? :) I think you meant an Nvidia 6600GT. It will work fine! Just install OpenSuSE 10.3 as normal. It's supposed to autodetect your Nvidia graphics card, but I found it to be dodgy. Get the real Nvidia driver from Nvidia.com.

2 choices (I have successfully done #2 many times):

1) add the Nvidia software repository to YaST and then search for Nvidia (I have never done this)

2) Go into YaST and download the kernel-source. Then, download the Nvidia driver binary file. execute the binary, let it search for the kernel source, and let it configure the xorg.conf for you automatically. It will back up your xorg.conf file in case it doesn't work out. Then that's it! You now have it working. run glxgears to make sure and glxinfo.

10.3 is actually incredibly easy to do this. For Micro420's suggestions, #1 is actually much, much easier to do than #2.

edit: The nvidia driver might even be in the packman repository. You just need to go into Yast's software repository and check it off.

I don't quite get it. Isn't the suse system install graphical? Then how will it work if I don't have any drivers?

Assuming I do a text based install (I guess you can do that?), then afterwards boot into runlevel 3 and type "yast"? Is it farily straight forward to make it work after that? text based. The downloading of the nivida drivers that is. I have never done that in only a console... And I've never used yast (only yum).

Or do you mean that I can do all this, the downloading and installing DURING the system install? That would be wonderful if so.

Thanks for a quick reply!

By default, OpenSUSE installs an open source nvidia driver called 'nv'. It's good, except it doesn't have 3d acceleration, which is a huge downside. To get 3d rendering, you need to install the official closed source nvidia driver, which was what our instructions were for.

You'll be able to get a graphical desktop upon installation, since nv is installed by default.

Not sure about text install, but I'm sure it's possible (it has to be!).
As mentioned, SuSE will install a generic Nvidia driver during your install, which might be sufficient for your needs. I personally play a lot of computers game so I need the 3D acceleration support, so I need the official Nvidia drivers.

You cannot install the official Nvidia drivers during the install (someone correct me if I'm wrong). Afterwards with Yast, yes. you can run yast in runlevel 3 and then set up your Nvidia repository (my #1 method) or follow my #2 method. Either way.

Again, you might not even need the official Nvidia drivers, depending on your usage. Just install OpenSuSE 10.3 first and you can decide later if you need the Nvidia drivers.

The Release Notes that scared you are referring to the NVidia wireless internet connection. It has nothing to do with your videocard. They simply are warning you that you need a wired ethernet card in order to download things during the installation, which if you have the DVD isn't absolutely essential anyway. If using the Cd and do not have a wired ethernet cable connection it would help to also burn the non-oss cd and add it when it lets you at the beginning of the installation. With either the DVD or a wired ethernet connection and the kde or gnome single cd you won't miss the non-oss cd if you just allow YaST to add the repo's at the beginning of the installation. Long time downloading though. :)

Don't worry, you get video. They're talking about the internet connection. Once you're up, refer to the NVidia how-to on opensuse.org and for ease of use just do the one-click install. You don't even need to add the repo as that does it for you.

Also see opensuse-community.org for a one-click multimedia codec installer.

Being an experienced OpenSUSE user, I tried that kind of thing and prefer just installing stuff myself with YaST and typing in my repo's. I also prefer the hard way (as they call it) for the NVidia install as that way I can use the beta version that fixes a Compiz issue with exiting to a virtual terminal. Other than that and perhaps one other fix it's the same driver as the released version that you can install either from the NVidia download or the one-click. It just that anytime xorg or the Kernel gets an update you need to uninstall (nvidia-installer --uninstall) and reinstall the driver. With the one-click one it automatically rebuilds the Kernel module after xorg or Kernel updates. I just like bleeding edge drivers.