How do I install Nvidia driver

JosephS · 07-25-2009, 03:10 PM

I want to install Kubuntu 9.04
I have a Nvidia graphics card that I have installed on the computer:
VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation NV6 [Vanta/Vanta LT]
(rev 15)
How would I install the driver for this? I know I can run the driver from
Nvidia, but is there a driver supplied by Kubuntu? is this better?
I would appreciate some advice and instructions.

Thanks

arochester · 07-25-2009, 03:16 PM

First

Look on your Menu for something called "Restricted Device Manager" and open it. Does your video card show on that? If it does press the "Activate" button and W-A-I-T. It can be slow and take a while to work so wait. If it automagically downloads and installs the driver, very good, then reboot.

dfowensby · 07-25-2009, 11:49 PM

or go to System | Administration | Hardware Drivers and follow the instructions there
luck -O.

JosephS · 07-28-2009, 10:57 PM

The only thing I could find on Kubuntu was:
applications > system > hardware drivers
When I selected this it said:

Quote:

No proprietary drivers are in use on this system.

I couldn't find anything like this:
"Restricted Device Manager"

Is there something else I need?

Thanks

tommcd · 07-29-2009, 03:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JosephS

I have a Nvidia graphics card that I have installed on the computer:
VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation NV6 [Vanta/Vanta LT]
(rev 15)

Is that the output from lspci? Can you open a terminal and run:

Code:

/sbin/lspci | grep -i vga

This will output the model number of your graphics card. For example, on my system I get:

Code:

bash-3.1$ /sbin/lspci | grep -i vga
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation G70 [GeForce 7300 GT] (rev a1)
bash-3.1$

Here are the nvidia drivers for Jaunty:
http://packages.ubuntu.com/jaunty/nvidia-glx-180
http://packages.ubuntu.com/jaunty/nvidia-glx-173
http://packages.ubuntu.com/jaunty/nvidia-glx-96
http://packages.ubuntu.com/jaunty/nvidia-glx-71
Those pages list the nvidia cards that each driver supports. As you can see, there is some overlap between the drivers for the cards they support. Use the newest driver that supports your card.
You can also get that info right from the terminal like this:

Code:

aptitude show nvidia-glx-180

for the 180 driver; and:

Code:

aptitude show nvidia-glx-173

for the 173 driver, etc.
Any recent nvidia card will use the 180 driver. Older "legacy" cards may need one of the older drivers, as you can read on the pages I linked to.
To install any of the drivers, do this (example for the 180 driver):

Code:

sudo apt-get install nvidia-glx-180

Then to configure the driver, do this:

Code:

sudo nvidia-xconfig

Then reboot. To check if the driver is working after the reboot, run this in terminal:

Code:

glxinfo | grep -i direct

It should report "direct rendering: Yes".
So post the output of the lspci command and I can tell you which driver to install if you need further help.

scott_audio · 07-29-2009, 03:37 AM

Hi JosephS

I used envyng with no problems

Should be able to grab the package with apt-get
sudo apt-get envyng
then
envyng -k

That's what worked for me

tommcd · 07-29-2009, 03:49 AM

Using envyng will install the latest driver from nvidia.com instead of the driver from the Ubuntu repos. IMO you are always better off using the drivers from the Ubuntu repos unless you have a specific reason to need the latest driver from nvidia.com. The drivers from the Ubuntu repos are tested and known to work in the version of Ubuntu you are using; and they will be automagically updated whenever a new kernel is installed with the updates.
http://packages.ubuntu.com/jaunty/envyng-core
Envyng does work well for many people though. You can read up on envyng from the guy who created it here:
http://albertomilone.com/nvidia_scripts1.html

JosephS · 07-29-2009, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Is that the output from lspci? Can you open a terminal and run:
/sbin/lspci | grep -i vga

Yes

I checked the links and nvidia-glx-71 is the card for Vanta.
I installed the driver, but

Code:

sudo nvidia-xconfig

didn't work:

Quote:

joe@Kubutu:~$ sudo nvidia-xconfig
sudo: nvidia-xconfig: command not found

Thanks

scott_audio · 07-29-2009, 12:59 PM

thanks for the feedback on my suggestion to use envyng, your attention to detail and explaining is what helps people like me learn

I didn't realize realize the driver would not be updated with new kernel, so I'm reading up on it, thansk again

tommcd · 07-30-2009, 02:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scott_audio

I didn't realize realize the driver would not be updated with new kernel, so I'm reading up on it, thansk again

Actually, I've been reading up on it too. I have never actually used it.
It seems that the newer envyng will update the nvidia driver with a kernel update. It was the older envy (without the ng) that required a manual update of the nvidia driver. See item "F" in the FAQ here:
http://albertomilone.com/envyngfaq.html
Just make sure the linux-headers for the new kernel are installed also and you should be fine.

tommcd · 07-30-2009, 03:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JosephS

I checked the links and nvidia-glx-71 is the card for Vanta.
I installed the driver, but

Code:

sudo nvidia-xconfig

didn't work:

I don't know why that would be. I don't know why the hardware drivers manager can't find your nvidia card either, as you said in post #4 here.
How did you install the nvidia driver?
Can you post the output of:

Code:

aptitude search nvidia-glx

This will tell us what nvidia driver you have installed. An "i" before the driver package means it is installed. A "p" before the driver package means it is not installed.

Also post the output of:

Code:

cat /etc/X11/xorg.conf

And we can tell you how to edit xorg.conf to manually enable the driver.

JosephS · 08-01-2009, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tommcd

.
How did you install the nvidia driver?

I used synaptic.I installed nvidia-glx-71 driver. According to Nvidia's site:
http://www.nvidia.com/object/IO_32667.html
this is the correct driver for my card:
The 1.0-71xx driver supports the following set of GPUs:
NVIDIA chip name Device PCI ID
Vanta/Vanta LT 0x002C

Quote:

Can you post the output of:

Code:

aptitude search nvidia-glx

This will tell us what nvidia driver you have installed.

Quote:

Code:

aptitude search nvidia-glx

v nvidia-glx -
p nvidia-glx-173 - NVIDIA binary Xorg driver
p nvidia-glx-173-dev - NVIDIA binary Xorg driver development file
p nvidia-glx-180 - NVIDIA binary Xorg driver
p nvidia-glx-180-dev - NVIDIA binary Xorg driver development file
i nvidia-glx-71 - NVIDIA binary Xorg driver
p nvidia-glx-71-dev - NVIDIA binary Xorg driver development file
p nvidia-glx-96 - NVIDIA binary Xorg driver
p nvidia-glx-96-dev - NVIDIA binary Xorg driver development file
v nvidia-glx-dev -

Quote:

Also post the output of:

Code:

cat /etc/X11/xorg.conf

And we can tell you how to edit xorg.conf to manually enable the driver.

Here is xorg.conf, but it doesn't show much in Kubuntu:

Quote:

# xorg.conf (X.Org X Window System server configuration file)
#
# This file was generated by dexconf, the Debian X Configuration tool, using
# values from the debconf database.
#
# Edit this file with caution, and see the xorg.conf manual page.
# (Type "man xorg.conf" at the shell prompt.)
#
# This file is automatically updated on xserver-xorg package upgrades *only*
# if it has not been modified since the last upgrade of the xserver-xorg
# package.
#
# Note that some configuration settings that could be done previously
# in this file, now are automatically configured by the server and settings
# here are ignored.
#
# If you have edited this file but would like it to be automatically updated
# again, run the following command:
# sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg

Section "Device"
Identifier "Configured Video Device"
EndSection

Section "Monitor"
Identifier "Configured Monitor"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Default Screen"
Monitor "Configured Monitor"
Device "Configured Video Device"
EndSection

Thanks

tommcd · 08-02-2009, 05:21 PM

First, backup your existing xorg.conf like this:

Code:

sudo cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf.bak

Then edit your existing xorg,conf. In the Section "Device" section, change it to look like this:

Code:

Section "Device"
Identifier "Configured Video Device"
Driver "nvidia"
EndSection

Then right avove the device section, add this:

Code:

Section "Module"
Load           "glx"
EndSection

Then reboot and see if you can get it to work. You can check for direct rendering by running the glxinfo command I posted earlier.

JosephS · 08-03-2009, 02:09 PM

I made the changes you suggested and this is what I got:
It is loading dri, which shouldn't be for nvidia as far as I know.

Quote:

(II) "dri2" will be loaded by default.
(II) LoadModule: "dri"
(II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/extensions//libdri.so
(II) Module dri: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
compiled for 1.6.0, module version = 1.0.0
ABI class: X.Org Server Extension, version 2.0
(II) Loading extension XFree86-DRI
(II) LoadModule: "dri2"
(II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/extensions//libdri2.so
(II) Module dri2: vendor="X.Org Foundation"
compiled for 1.6.0, module version = 1.0.0
ABI class: X.Org Server Extension, version 2.0
(II) Loading extension DRI2

It isn't loading the nvidia module:

Quote:

(II) LoadModule: "nvidia"
(II) Loading /usr/lib/xorg/modules/drivers//nvidia_drv.so
dlopen: /usr/lib/xorg/modules/drivers//nvidia_drv.so: undefined symbol: AllocateScreenPrivateIndex
(EE) Failed to load /usr/lib/xorg/modules/drivers//nvidia_drv.so
(II) UnloadModule: "nvidia"
(EE) Failed to load module "nvidia" (loader failed, 7)
(EE) No drivers available.

Fatal server error:
no screens found

Please consult the The X.Org Foundation support
at http://wiki.x.org
for help.
Please also check the log file at "/var/log/Xorg.0.log" for additional information.

ddxSigGiveUp: Closing log

According to Aptitude I have the driver installed:

Quote:

Code:

aptitude search nvidia

p nvidia-173-kernel-source - NVIDIA binary kernel module source
i nvidia-173-modaliases - Modaliases for the NVIDIA binary X.Org dri
p nvidia-180-kernel-source - NVIDIA binary kernel module source
p nvidia-180-libvdpau - Video Decode and Presentation API for Unix
p nvidia-180-libvdpau-dev - Video Decode and Presentation API for Unix
i nvidia-180-modaliases - Modaliases for the NVIDIA binary X.Org dri
i A nvidia-71-kernel-source - NVIDIA binary kernel module source
i nvidia-71-modaliases - Modaliases for the NVIDIA binary X.Org dri
p nvidia-96-kernel-source - NVIDIA binary kernel module source
i nvidia-96-modaliases - Modaliases for the NVIDIA binary X.Org dri
p nvidia-cg-toolkit - NVIDIA Cg Toolkit Installer
i nvidia-common - Find obsolete NVIDIA drivers
v nvidia-glx -
p nvidia-glx-173 - NVIDIA binary Xorg driver
p nvidia-glx-173-dev - NVIDIA binary Xorg driver development file
p nvidia-glx-180 - NVIDIA binary Xorg driver
p nvidia-glx-180-dev - NVIDIA binary Xorg driver development file
i nvidia-glx-71 - NVIDIA binary Xorg driver
p nvidia-glx-71-dev - NVIDIA binary Xorg driver development file
p nvidia-glx-96 - NVIDIA binary Xorg driver
p nvidia-glx-96-dev - NVIDIA binary Xorg driver development file
v nvidia-glx-dev -
p nvidia-kernel-common - NVIDIA binary kernel module common files
v nvidia-kernel-source -
i A nvidia-settings - Tool of configuring the NVIDIA graphics dr

Is there anything I can do to get this driver working?

Thanks, I appreciate your help.

tommcd · 08-04-2009, 02:54 AM

The only thing I can suggest at this point is ti try envyng. It should automatically remove the nvidia-glx-71 driver first for you; but perhaps you may want to do that first yourself:

Code:

sudo apt-get remove --purge nvidia-glx-71

Then install envyng and see if that can set up the nvidia-glx-71 driver from nvidia.com for you.
I just remembered that when Ubuntu 8.10 came out, users with the nvidia cards that used the 71 and 96 drivers were transitioned to the 2D "nv" driver, because the 71 and 96 drivers were not compatible with the xorg.conf that shipped with Ubuntu 8.10. See "nVidia "legacy" video support" in the release notes here:
http://www.ubuntu.com/getubuntu/releasenotes/810
There is nothing about this in the release notes for Ubuntu 9.10. I am not sure if this is still the situation in 9.04. If it is, then the 71 and 96 drivers in the Ubuntu repos may not work, as you have experienced. Envyng may get around this, or it may not.
Also, after doing some reading, it seems that the nvidia-xconfig command does not work with the 71 and 96 drivers. That explains why it would not work for you.