Which Linux to try next?

xtknight · Jan 29, 2006

And how do I get the kernel source tree?

I downloaded the kernel-source, kernel-headers, and kernel-tree things with the Synaptic package manager. Then in /usr/src/ I saw a bzip2 file so I extracted it etc, ended up with a kernel-source-2.6.8 (something similar) folder.

(What I'm trying to do is install the NVIDIA display driver now.)

So I start the NVIDIA installer (sh nvidia-xxxxx.bin) and it says it can't find kernel source tree, specify with argument kernel-source-tree=. So I pointed it to the /usr/src then it said can't find version.h. So I found out version.h was in the headers and so I just decided to merge all the source headers and tree things in to one directory (source) since it seems that's what the NVIDIA installer wanted. I gave it headers, it needed something from source. I gave it source, it needed something from headers. So I did that, then it can't find a .config file. I found the .config file with locate and put it in the merged directory and then finally the NVIDIA thing went, until it couldn't install nvidia.ko. It says it disagrees with the version of symbol struct_module. Well it looked like it almost installed.

All that was probably a really nasty hack though (just trying to figure something out myself though). What's the proper way to get the kernel source I need to compile the display driver? I didn't find any of my errors in the NVIDIA FAQ. With Mandriva all I had to do was install kernel-source then the NVIDIA installer automatically detected it and did everything fine but apparently I didn't install something I needed on Debian for it to do the same thing. I installed the same kernel-source, -header, -tree, kbuild as what my kernel version was and everything.

Nothinman · Jan 29, 2006

If you have non-free enabled you should be able to just install 'nvidia-kernel-<kernel-version>'. Try 'apt-cache search nvidia' and see what pops up.

xtknight · Jan 30, 2006

I found some repository in Japan that appears to carry this (exactly my kernel version): nvidia-kernel-2.6.8-2-386
So I type the command and I'm greeted with this.

apt-get install nvidia-kernel-2.6.8-2-386

The following packages have unmet dependencies:
nvidia-kernel-2.6.8-2-386: Depends: nvidia-kernel-common (>= 1.0.7174) but it is not installable
E: Broken packages

And

debian:/home/andy# apt-get install nvidia-kernel-common
Reading Package Lists... Done
Building Dependency Tree... Done
Package nvidia-kernel-common is not available, but is referred to by another package.
This may mean that the package is missing, has been obsoleted, or
is only available from another source
E: Package nvidia-kernel-common has no installation candidate
debian:/home/andy#

Hmmm....

So I do aptitude install with no parameters and no 'broken' packages show up. What's going on here? And why is nvidia-kernel-common showing up in aptitude search but not apt-cache search? What's the difference between the two?

Duhhh...I just realized something in regards to my previous expedition trying to compile the NVIDIA display drivers. Do I have the 386 or 686 version?

Linux debian 2.6.8-2-386 #1 Tue Aug 16 12:46:35 UTC 2005 i686 GNU/Linux

I think I downloaded the 686 kernel sources when I should have downloaded the 386? I'm not sure...

cleverhandle · Jan 30, 2006

Well, like Nothinman said, there are Debian packages that can accomplish this, though they're not always any easier than just using the nVidia installer. Here's one way to go, given what you've done so far...

1) Unpack the kernel-source (you did this already). It will unpack into /usr/src/linux-X.Y.Z where X, Y, and Z are version numbers.

The nVidia installer needs properly configured kernel sources that match your current kernel. Let's set those up:

2) cd /usr/src/linux-X.Y.Z

3) cp /boot/config-X.Y.Z .config (note the leading dot) That copies your current config into the kernel source dir.

4a) make-kpkg configure

If that fails because you don't have make-kpkg and don't feel like finding it, you can do instead

4b) make oldconfig; make

But that will take a long time, since it will build the whole kernel. There's probably an easier make target, but that one will definitely work.

Now you should be able to run the nVidia installer without issue.

Nothinman · Jan 30, 2006

I found some repository in Japan that appears to carry this (exactly my kernel version): nvidia-kernel-2.6.8-2-386
So I type the command and I'm greeted with this.

You shouldn't need any external repositories, infact you should avoid them as much as possible.

Did you make sure that you have non-free enabled in your sources.list?

xtknight · Jan 30, 2006

Originally posted by: Nothinman
You shouldn't need any external repositories, infact you should avoid them as much as possible.

Did you make sure that you have non-free enabled in your sources.list?

xtknight · Jan 30, 2006

Originally posted by: cleverhandle
Well, like Nothinman said, there are Debian packages that can accomplish this, though they're not always any easier than just using the nVidia installer. Here's one way to go, given what you've done so far...

1) Unpack the kernel-source (you did this already). It will unpack into /usr/src/linux-X.Y.Z where X, Y, and Z are version numbers.

The nVidia installer needs properly configured kernel sources that match your current kernel. Let's set those up:

2) cd /usr/src/linux-X.Y.Z

3) cp /boot/config-X.Y.Z .config (note the leading dot) That copies your current config into the kernel source dir.

4a) make-kpkg configure

If that fails because you don't have make-kpkg and don't feel like finding it, you can do instead

4b) make oldconfig; make

But that will take a long time, since it will build the whole kernel. There's probably an easier make target, but that one will definitely work.

Now you should be able to run the nVidia installer without issue.

Wow, that worked, it compiled the module at least. Now my XF85 doesn't start, but with no error message, just 'caught signal 11' after loading glx. (I reverted to a backup x config.) The X I have still uses the old XF86Config instead of xorg.config. I think it's too old (plus I need a newer one for one of these mouse protocol options to enable extra buttons.) How would I go about upgrading that? Do I just need the 'xserver' or do I need to upgrade all the fonts as well?

http://xorg.freedesktop.org/releases/X11R7.0/src/

I didn't find any new 'xservers' using aptitude search or apt-cache search.

I found this too. Would it be of any help?
http://packages.ubuntu.org.cn/dapper/x11/x11-common

I think I'm off to a good start I just need this video driver working then it's Wolfenstein time.

Thanks

Nothinman · Jan 30, 2006

debian.uchicago.edu is a mirror as listed on debian.org and kmuto.jp is the one I found that has the nvidia-kernel I needed. What's the difference between the deb and deb-src?

One is for binary packages and one is for source packages.

Do not mix packages from Debian and Ubuntu.
Do not install Xorg from source unless you are 100% sure of what you're doing.

Your best bet is to probably upgrade to Etch or Sid if you really need the updated Xorg packages. Or to just install Ubuntu, if you want to go that route.

cleverhandle · Jan 30, 2006

Originally posted by: xtknight
Wow, that worked, it compiled the module at least. Now my XF85 doesn't start, but with no error message, just 'caught signal 11' after loading glx. (I reverted to a backup x config.)

Hmm, doesn't seem like it should sig11 on you. Are you sure that the kernel-sources you downloaded are the same version as that reported in "uname -a"? Also, did you follow the instructions in the nVidia README? There are some things you need to do in your XF86Config before the drivers will work properly. If you don't get anywhere, do a "less /var/log/XFree86.0.log" at the command line and look for lines with W's or E's to find problems.

The X I have still uses the old XF86Config instead of xorg.config. I think it's too old.

No, XFree is fine with all the nVidia drivers. You don't need XOrg for this.

(plus I need a newer one for one of these mouse protocol options to enable extra buttons.)

That seems unlikely also, but possible. What kind of mouse is it you're using? Even the fancy ones with extra buttons should work OK in XFree.

How would I go about upgrading that?

The best answer is that you wouldn't. You never really want to touch the core X stuff on your machine unless you really understand what you're doing. If you absolutely had to upgrade (which, again, I find unlikely) you would look for a Debian repository with the necessary packages. You really, really don't want to compile X yourself.

xtknight · Jan 30, 2006

By some miracle I got it to start up even with hardware DRI acceleration without upgrading XFree86. I found a page on Debian and nvidia here that was endlessly helpful: http://home.comcast.net/~andrex/Debian-nVidia/

Fast too..
debian:/home/andy# glxgears
60689 frames in 5.0 seconds = 12137.800 FPS
71782 frames in 5.0 seconds = 14356.400 FPS
71613 frames in 5.0 seconds = 14322.600 FPS

I wish I knew how it was fixed, but I think it was by me adding "nvidia" to /etc/modules and rebooting. Thanks for all the help!

Now, if you don't mind, a couple more things, LOL...

At startup it wants to start eth0.
How do I make it start eth3 instead?

And what do I add to /etc/sudoers so 'andy' can use sudo?
I did andy ALL ALL or something like that and it doesn't ask for a root password when I do sudo on andy.

Nothinman · Jan 30, 2006

I wish I knew how it was fixed, but I think it was by me adding "nvidia" to /etc/modules and rebooting. Thanks for all the help!

That just makes sure the module is loaded on boot, udev and the like won't autoload it for you.

At startup it wants to start eth0.
How do I make it start eth3 instead?

/etc/network/interfaces

And what do I add to /etc/sudoers so 'andy' can use sudo?
I did andy ALL ALL or something like that and it doesn't ask for a root password when I do sudo on andy.

It's not supposed to ask for the root password, it's supposed to ask for your password.

Which Linux to try next?

xtknight

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Nothinman

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xtknight

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cleverhandle

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Nothinman

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xtknight

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xtknight

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Nothinman

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cleverhandle

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xtknight

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Nothinman

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