On Mon, 15 Apr 2013 20:50:12 -0400, Robert wrote:
I too would suggest that you install the Nvidia drivers from the Nvidia site. That is what I do. You will need to install the kernel headers in order to install the drivers from Nvidia site.
Thanks for the advice to install the Nvidia drivers.
I'm just about to reboot, so, before I forget the details, here's my log file, sufficient for the next person to follow (including myself) in the future:
I had to re-install Firefox to prove that the desktop was crashing: $ sudo yum install firefox ==> firefox.x86_64 0:17.0.5-1.el6.centos
I cleared the ~/.xsession-errors file so that I could start fresh: $ mv ~/.xsession-errors /tmp/xsession_before
I rebooted so as to start a fresh xsession: $ sudo reboot
I ran Firefox until the Desktop crashes again: $ firefox (it didn't take long for the Desktop to crash)
I logged back into the Desktop and compared the xsession logs: $ cp ~/.xsession-errors /tmp/xsession_after $ diff /tmp/xsession_before /tmp/xsession_after Found lots of stuff, for example: ==> Window manager warning: Fatal IO error 11 (Resource temporarily unavailable) ==> nautilus: Fatal IO error 11 (Resource temporarily unavailable) on X server :0. etc.
So, it's now time to update the graphics card driver.
Identify your kernel: $ uname -r ==> 2.6.32-358.2.1.el6.x86_64
Identify your graphics card: $ /sbin/lspci -nn | grep VGA ==> 01:00.0 VGA compatible controller [0300]: NVIDIA Corporation GT216 [Quadro FX 880M] [10de:0a3c] (rev a2)
Identify the installed version of Nvidia drivers: $ $ sudo updatedb; locate libvdpau_nvidia.so ==> /usr/lib/vdpau/libvdpau_nvidia.so.304.37 ==> /usr/lib64/vdpau/libvdpau_nvidia.so.304.37
Go to Nvidia support: http://www.nvidia.com/page/support.html
Press on "Download Drivers" (that brings you to): http://www.nvidia.com/Download/.aspx?lang=en-us
Enter the following information: - Product Type: Quadro - Product Series: Quadro FX Series (Notebooks) <== important to get right! - Product: Quadro FX 880M - Operating System: Linux 64-bit - Download Type: Linux Long Lived Driver - Language: English (US) Press the "Search" button (that brings you to): ==> http://www.nvidia.com/object/linux-display-amd64-310.44-driver.html - Version: 310.44 - Release Date: 2013.04.02 - Operating System: Linux 64-bit - Language: English (U.S.) - File Size: 65.2 MB Press the "Download" button (save the file but don't install it).
Compare the Nvidia version with the version at the El Repo repository: http://elrepo.org/tiki/Driver+Versions Search for "nvidia" to find the latest version, which is: - Kmod Package: nvidia - ElRepo Kmod Version: 310.44
Since the El Repo version is up to date, let's use it:
Enable the El Repo repository (if not already installed): $ sudo rpm --import http://elrepo.org/RPM-GPG-KEY-elrepo.org $ sudo rpm -Uvh http://elrepo.org/elrepo-release-6-4.el6.elrepo.noarch.rpm Note: Skip this step if El Repo is already enabled.
Install that latest version from the El Repo repository (do not use ATrpms!): $ sudo yum --enablerepo elrepo install kmod-nvidia $ sudo yum --disablerepo=* --enablerepo=elrepo install nvidia-x11-drv-32bit ==> Updated: kmod-nvidia.x86_64 0:310.44-1.el6.elrepo ==> Dependency Updated: nvidia-x11-drv.x86_64 0:310.44-1.el6.elrepo ==> Dependency Updated: nvidia-x11-drv-32bit.x86_64 0:310.44-1.el6.elrepo
Or, if you want the absolute latest in the El Repo testing repository: $ sudo yum --enablerepo elrepo-testing install kmod-nvidia $ sudo yum --disablerepo=* --enablerepo=elrepo-testing install nvidia-x11-drv-32bit
Test if you have installed the desired driver: $ $ sudo updatedb; locate libvdpau_nvidia.so ==> /usr/lib/vdpau/libvdpau_nvidia.so.310.44 ==> /usr/lib64/vdpau/libvdpau_nvidia.so.310.44
Reboot.