another newbie question 8-) [re:compiling nvidia drivers]

[Doogee]

^^^^^ Dont mess with void!

[Agent007]

I agree with Void.....As the title of this post says "another newbie question", so obviously it's best to give a simple solution and get the thing done in a jiffy!

007

[Faust]

quote:And I don't know why you are continuing on with this because as far as I can tell the simple instructions I gave him worked.

Yeah they worked.

[DC]

quote:Originally posted by void main:
No, that is not the best thing to do. Have you ever compiled and installed the nVidia kernel drivers?

Oddly enough, yes (for a reason - RPM's weren't available, since Red Had messed up the kernel so some devices wouldn't work)
 

quote:
They are not part of the kernel source tree. All that is needed to compile the nVidia kernel module is the source installed of the exact same version of the running kernel. And that's not even necessary if you download the precompiled modules that match exactly the currently running kernel version which in this persons case were available.

To compile, you would also need the same gcc version that was used to compile the kernel. It's in the readme, in the Q&A section (this exact problem is mentioned).

Precompiled modules are not always available.
 

quote:
If you compiled the kernel, then downloaded the source and compiled the nVidia kernel module you would end up with *exactly* the same binary module.

Not exactly, if, as this person, you use a different GCC version.
 

quote:
Now, I wouldn't argue that downloading and installing the stock source for 2.4.20 and compiling/installing it is a good thing, but for completely different reasons, and it is way beyond the scope of what this person wanted to accomplish.

Perhaps, but if he wanted to do that he'd have to know how to compile the NVidia drivers anyway. Best to give the correct information right away.
 

quote:
And I don't know why you are continuing on with this because as far as I can tell the simple instructions I gave him worked.

Because you did not adress the real problem, but rather worked around it. Initially he wanted to compile and install the drivers. Installing RPM's is a workaround in this case, not a solution (granted, it's a perfectly valid workaround without real drawbacks, but a workaround nontheless).
Besides, some people can't use this workaround and need the compile solution - they would be left in the cold with your workaround.

The fact that he is a newbie doesn't mean he should not be given detailed information. He can always ignore it if he wants the fast way.

And I don't mess with void, I simply tried to give some more info. Why do you people insist on being hostile in discussions?

[voidmain]

I agree he has a compiler mismatch and if he plans on doing other module compiles he will need to correct this. However, I did not "work around" the problem because that's the advice I would have given him regardless if his compiler matched the version used to create the kernel.

It was apparent to me that his goal was to get the nVidia drivers installed to boost his X and GL performance, and that there was a much easier way to achieve his goal. Unlike you and I, some new users are just looking for the easiest ways to get something done, not necessarily the best. I showed him the easy way. Downloading and installing a new kernel or GCC can be a real trick for someone who is just starting out in Linux. Usually they just want to play a few games and get some work done. They don't necessarily want to learn Linux inside and out (although that would be beneficial).

I am well aware of compiler mismatches as I've been compiling Linux kernels since you were 8 years old.  

[DC]

quote:Originally posted by void main:
I am well aware of compiler mismatches as I've been compiling Linux kernels since you were 8 years old.    

Really? I find that hard to believe, that would mean you were around during the very birth of the Kernel (as in below 0.12). If you were: wow.

Anyway, the discussion is useless. I'll yield.