RH 8.0 + TNT2 driver update

[DJ]

I recently installed RH 8.0, and decided to update the drivers for my vid card (RIVA TNT2 32.0MB). I downloaded the script file from Nvidia's website and then downloaded the kernel and GLX files accordingly. After installing the kernel I get this message

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after finishing I got this message when trying to start xwindows back up

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This is the message I got when firt trying to update the drivers, I posted this on Linuxnewbie.org in order to ask if there was any to go back to the old config or get this one working correctly and I was told this

   

quote:I think the original config file for RedHat is stored in /usr/src/linux/config directory. Copy that file to /usr/src/linux/.config and run this:

make oldconfig

after attempting that it tells me that the directory /usr/src/linux/config does not exist, can the config be anywhere else or is there a way to install the drivers properly without having to go back to the original config first?

Dj

[ December 23, 2002: Message edited by: Engineer ]

[ December 23, 2002: Message edited by: Engineer ]

[voidmain]

Is your kernel really 2.4.18_18.8.0? If you type "uname -r" and it comes up with something else then you have installed the wrong driver. If the module does not load you really didn't want to go any farther as it will not work. As far as the "dri" error, in the README it tells you to comment out the line that looks like this:

Load "dri"

in your "/etc/X11/XF86Config". Put a "#" in front of that line and the error should not come up again. And the answer you got on that other web site is completely unrelated to what you are doing. They were trying to help you with the kernel config file for compiling the kernel. You were talking about the /etc/X11/XF86Config. To revert back to the original nVidia drivers all you have to do is change the "nvidia" back to "nv" in that config and remove the nVidia GLX rpm. BTW, you always want to make a copy of any config file before you change it, in case you mess something up and want to revert back.

[ December 23, 2002: Message edited by: void main ]

[DJ]

All it says for the kernel when I run that is

2.4.18

I assume that is wrong since it doesn't have _18.8.0 after it, does that mean it is the wrong driver? If so and there is no way to get it back I have no problem reinstalling, just didn't want to is all.

Dj

EDIT: I used xf86config to get back to the default installation config but I would still like to install Nvidia's drivers as I have heard and read that they work much better than default at install, I read in a similar thread on Linuxnewbie.org that it works better to compile it as opposed to using RPMs is this what some of you believe? Either way I will be searching for more info on this.

[ December 23, 2002: Message edited by: Engineer ]

[voidmain]

Well, I have never run that *exact* kernel version so I can't say for sure, but all other machines I have running it will tell me the full kernel version. e.g. '2.4.18-14', '2.2.16-22', etc.

When you install the nVidia kernel driver from the package you downloaded it will want to install it under the "/lib/modules/2.4.18-18.8.0" directory structure. If you are not running that kernel, it will never find it. Another way to check the version of the running kernel is to type "cat /proc/version". Also what directories to you see under /lib/modules (ls /lib/modules)?

You could install the NVIDIA kernel driver *src.rpm and then it wouldn't matter what kernel you are running it will detect and create the module for your currently running kernel. You'll need the kernel development box checked in your "Packages" app on the menu though and you will install it using a slightly different method. But it would be nice to know exactly which kernel you really are running.

And you are right, installing these drivers will *greatly* increase your X and GL performance. If you feel froggy I would suggest installing the stock 2.4.20 kernel and then using the nVidia source RPM for the kernel driver. That will improve performance in other areas. Here is a HOWTO I wrote on getting/compiling/installing the new kernel:

http://voidmain.kicks-ass.net/redhat/redhat_8_kernel_2.4.20_from_source.html

[ December 23, 2002: Message edited by: void main ]

[DJ]

Running cat /proc/version gives me

Linux version 2.4.18-14 ([email protected]) (gcc version 3.2 20020903 (Red Hat Linux 8.0 3.2-7)) #1 Wed Sep 4 13:35:50 EDT 2002

This is in the directory /lib/modules

2.4.18-14  2.4.18-18.8.0

I will view your compiling information, thank you very much for the replies

Dj

[voidmain]

That's the default installed kernel. You probably have 2 kernel versions on your GRUB boot menu and the default is set to the 2.4.18-14. If you want to continue to run that kernel then you need to download the nVidia kernel driver RPM for 2.4.18-14.

[DJ]

I only used that file because the script which I ran told me it was the correct one. But I am going to assume that I may have difficulties upgrading drivers etc. for other components as well using my current kernel, is this correct? Is there an easy way to switch them, or does it involve recompiling? Oh and the only options for my boot menu are Linux and DOS  :confused:  thanks again for all your replies

Dj

[voidmain]

I'm going to take a wild stab in the dark here and assume that you are running the redhat network update client. I am also going to guess that the update client downloaded and installed the new kernel, it has obviously been installed or you wouldn't have the directory for it under /lib/modules. I am going to go one step farther and say that the autoupdate process did not actually add the new kernel to your boot menu. When you ran the nVidia script it probably detected the new one was the newest one you had installed but didn't detect that you in fact are not using it.

If you are happy with the performance of the 2.4.18-14 kernel I would leave it as is, but just download the NVIDIA_kernel RPM for 2.4.18-14 and use it instead of the one the script told you to use. You should have no trouble installing other software and keeping the default kernel would be the easiest thing for you.

Having said all of that I find the 2.4.20 kernel to be an all around slight improvement in performance. But a major improvement in performance in running VMWare. If you do not run VMware I don't see it as a necessary upgrade. But if you feel adventurous then by all means follow my instructions for making and installing the 2.4.20 kernel from my web site. Again, if you do upgrade you will need to use the NVIDIA_kernel*src.rpm and will have to use slightly different instructions for installing it.

For now the absolute easiest thing for you to do is to just download the binary nVidia kernel RPM for 2.4.18-14 and install it. It will provide a significant performance increase (by significant I don't mean 2x the performance, I mean around 100-200x the performance for GL programs). Later on if you want to upgrade the kernel by all means go for it.

[ December 23, 2002: Message edited by: void main ]