Nvidia

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This page should be rewritten using ["BinaryDriverHowto/ATI"] as a model, with an emphasis on the differences in procedure and packages between the current driver and the legacy driver. These differences are in the package containing the kernel modules in addition to the package containing the Xorg modules. ## This page should be rewritten using ["BinaryDriverHowto/ATI"] as a model, with an emphasis on the differences in procedure and packages between the current driver and the legacy driver. These differences are in the package containing the kernel modules in addition to the package containing the Xorg modules.
## I think the normal nvidia-glx driver works well for older cards now. Is nvidia-glx-legacy obsolete?
||'''Contents'''[[BR]][[TableOfContents]]||
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= Installation Procedure =
The NVIDIA drivers are in the "restricted" section of the Ubuntu Package repository, so before you will be able to install the drivers, you must enable this section on your system. If you have already done this, skip to step 7.		 This guide is for installing the NVIDIA drivers on a system running an nVidia graphics card. For other drivers, refer to the BinaryDriverHowto

== Prerequisites ==
 * The command lspci | grep nVidia prints out a line of text
 * You need hardware-accelerated 3D support

== Installation ==

=== Enable restricted packages ===

The NVIDIA drivers are in the "restricted" section of the Ubuntu package repository, so before you will be able to install the drivers, you must enable this section on your system.
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 2. Select '''Administration''' then '''Synaptic Package Manager'''.  2. Select '''Administration''' then '''Synaptic Package Manager'''. Enter your password when prompted.
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 7. You now have access to the many additional packages in the '''restricted''' section, including the nvidia driver packages.
 8. Click the '''Search''' button and search for "nvidia".
 9. Once the search is complete, click the white box next to the following packages and select '''Mark for Installation''' in the menu that pops up:
   * Everybody should install:
     * nvidia-settings
       ~-(in Dapper nvidia-settings is already part of nvidia-glx)-~
   * If you have an older TNT, TNT2, TNT Ultra, GeForce1 or GeForce2 card:
     * nvidia-glx-legacy
   * Otherwise if you have a newer card:
     * nvidia-glx
 10. Press the '''Search''' button again and this time search for "linux-restricted-modules".
 11. Once the search is complete find '''linux-restricted-modules-386''' (or '''linux-restricted-modules-686''' '''linux-restricted-modules-k7''' if you are running the 686 or k7 kernel) in the list and mark it for installation the same way as before.
 10. Click the '''Apply''' button to install the new packages.
 11. Once Synaptic has finished applying your changes, exit the application.
 12. Select the '''Applications''' menu at the top of the screen, then '''Accessories''' and then '''Terminal'''.
 13. In the terminal window, type the following command to enable the driver:
  {{{sudo nvidia-glx-config enable}}}
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 14. Close all your applications, then press '''Ctrl-Alt-Backspace''' to restart the X server. If you see an nVidia splashscreen after hitting '''Ctrl-Alt-Backspace''', your drivers are properly installed. You now have access to the many additional packages in the restricted section, including the NVIDIA driver packages.
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= Remove the nVidia logotype = === Install and activate drivers ===
Packages may be installed by right-clicking on the package and selecting '''Mark for Installation'''.

 1. Click the '''Search''' button and search for "nvidia".
 2. If your card is a TNT, TNT2, TNT Ultra, GeForce1, or GeForce2, then install '''nvidia-glx-legacy''', otherwise install '''nvidia-glx'''.
 3. If you are running Hoary Hedgehog or Breezy Badger, then install '''nvidia-settings'''. ''DO NOT'' install '''nvidia-settings''' in Ubuntu 6.06 LTS because it will remove '''nvidia-glx'''.
 4. Click the '''Search''' button and search for "linux-restricted-modules". You must have restricted modules enabled (see above).
 5. Find the appropriate module for your kernel. For example, if you have '''linux-image-amd64-k8''' installed, then you should install '''linux-restricted-modules-amd64-k8'''.
 6. Click the '''Apply''' button to install the new packages.
 7. Once Synaptic has finished applying your changes, exit the application.
 8. Select the '''Applications''' menu at the top of the screen, then '''Accessories''', then '''Terminal'''.
 9. In the terminal window, type the following:
  {{{
sudo nvidia-glx-config enable}}}
 10. Close all your applications, then press '''Ctrl-Alt-Backspace''' to restart the X server. If you see an NVIDIA splashscreen after hitting '''Ctrl-Alt-Backspace''', your drivers are properly installed.

''Note: A reboot is sometimes required at the last step.''

=== Remove the nVidia logotype ===
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{{{sudo gedit /etc/X11/xorg.conf}}}   {{{
sudo gedit /etc/X11/xorg.conf}}}
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{{{   {{{
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 6. Close all your applications, then press '''Ctrl-Alt-Backspace''' to restart the X server. If the logotype is gone and everything seems to work you are done.   6. Close all your applications, then press ''Ctrl-Alt-Backspace'' to restart the X server. If the logotype is gone and everything seems to work you are done.
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= Notes = == Troubleshooting ==
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If you are going to compile 3d applications, you will want to install the '''nvidia-glx-dev''' package  * If 3D acceleration still isn't working, be sure that you have the right version of linux-restricted-modules installed. It ''must'' match the version of the running kernel.
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'''Note''': If you wish to use these drivers and run the XMMS music player, you should be aware of [https://bugzilla.ubuntu.com/show_bug.cgi?id=1724 this bug (fixed at least in Breezy]. You can get around this bug by installing libmik.  * If you have the right version of linux-restricted-modules installed and 3D acceleration still isn't working, open your {{{/etc/X11/xorg.conf}}} file for editing with {{{sudo gedit /etc/X11/xorg.conf}}} and be sure that the {{{Driver}}} entry under {{{Section "Device"}}} is set to {{{"nvidia"}}}.
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'''Note''': Be sure to have the right version of linux-restricted-modules installed. It must match the version of the running kernel.  * If you get an error while loading NVIDIA module try to rebuild module dependencies by running depmod.
 {{{
sudo depmod
}}}
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'''Note''': Render''''''Accel has a bug. Memory leak and crashes. Disable it in /etc/X11/xorg.conf in the section "Device".  * If suspend no longer works, see NvidiaLaptopBinaryDriverSuspend

 * For other problems, please visit the forums at http://www.ubuntuforums.org

== Notes ==

''Note'': If you are going to compile 3d applications, you will need to install the '''nvidia-glx-dev''' package

''Note'': '''nvidia-glx''' provides a utility called '''nvidia-xconfig''' which can configure many of these options, including enabling TwinView. This utility is provided by NVIDIA, not by Ubuntu. To see all the options, open a terminal window and type:
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Option "RenderAccel" "false"}}} man xconfig}}}
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'''Note''': If you get an error while loading NVIDIA module try to rebuild module dependencies - in Terminal run :

{{{ sudo depmod }}}


'''Getting suspend to work with the binary driver:'''
See NvidiaLaptopBinaryDriverSuspend


For other drivers, refer to the BinaryDriverHowto

This guide is for installing the NVIDIA drivers on a system running an nVidia graphics card. For other drivers, refer to the BinaryDriverHowto

Prerequisites

  • The command lspci | grep nVidia prints out a line of text
  • You need hardware-accelerated 3D support

Installation

Enable restricted packages

The NVIDIA drivers are in the "restricted" section of the Ubuntu package repository, so before you will be able to install the drivers, you must enable this section on your system.

  1. Select the System menu at the top of the screen.

  2. Select Administration then Synaptic Package Manager. Enter your password when prompted.

  3. In the package manager, select the Settings menu, then Repositories.

  4. In the Software Sources dialog that comes up, click the Add button.

  5. In the Edit Repository dialog, ensure that the Restricted copyright box is checked, then press OK.

  6. Press OK to close the Software Sources dialog, when Synaptic asks you to reload the package database, say yes.

You now have access to the many additional packages in the restricted section, including the NVIDIA driver packages.

Install and activate drivers

Packages may be installed by right-clicking on the package and selecting Mark for Installation.

  1. Click the Search button and search for "nvidia".

  2. If your card is a TNT, TNT2, TNT Ultra, GeForce1, or GeForce2, then install nvidia-glx-legacy, otherwise install nvidia-glx.

  3. If you are running Hoary Hedgehog or Breezy Badger, then install nvidia-settings. DO NOT install nvidia-settings in Ubuntu 6.06 LTS because it will remove nvidia-glx.

  4. Click the Search button and search for "linux-restricted-modules". You must have restricted modules enabled (see above).

  5. Find the appropriate module for your kernel. For example, if you have linux-image-amd64-k8 installed, then you should install linux-restricted-modules-amd64-k8.

  6. Click the Apply button to install the new packages.

  7. Once Synaptic has finished applying your changes, exit the application.

  8. Select the Applications menu at the top of the screen, then Accessories, then Terminal.

  9. In the terminal window, type the following: 
    • sudo nvidia-glx-config enable

  10. Close all your applications, then press Ctrl-Alt-Backspace to restart the X server. If you see an NVIDIA splashscreen after hitting Ctrl-Alt-Backspace, your drivers are properly installed.

Note: A reboot is sometimes required at the last step.

Remove the nVidia logotype

If you want to get rid of the nVidia logotype that shows up before your login screen you need to perform some manual edits in the Xorg configuration file.

  1. Select the Applications menu at the top of the screen, then Accessories and then Terminal.

  2. Type the following: 
    • sudo gedit /etc/X11/xorg.conf
  3. Find the line Driver "nvidia" in the Device section
  4. Just after this line, add 
    • Option          "NoLogo"
  5. Save the file and exit

  6. Close all your applications, then press Ctrl-Alt-Backspace to restart the X server. If the logotype is gone and everything seems to work you are done.

Troubleshooting

  • If 3D acceleration still isn't working, be sure that you have the right version of linux-restricted-modules installed. It must match the version of the running kernel.

  • If you have the right version of linux-restricted-modules installed and 3D acceleration still isn't working, open your /etc/X11/xorg.conf file for editing with sudo gedit /etc/X11/xorg.conf and be sure that the Driver entry under Section "Device" is set to "nvidia".

  • If you get an error while loading NVIDIA module try to rebuild module dependencies by running depmod. 
    sudo depmod

  • If suspend no longer works, see NvidiaLaptopBinaryDriverSuspend

  • For other problems, please visit the forums at http://www.ubuntuforums.org

Notes

Note: If you are going to compile 3d applications, you will need to install the nvidia-glx-dev package

Note: nvidia-glx provides a utility called nvidia-xconfig which can configure many of these options, including enabling TwinView. This utility is provided by NVIDIA, not by Ubuntu. To see all the options, open a terminal window and type: 

man xconfig

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BinaryDriverHowto/Nvidia (last edited 2008-08-06 16:22:27 by localhost)