I set up a new system that includes the following:
ASUS AE8N-E Motherboard (NVIDIA nForce 4 Ultra Chipset) AMD Athlon 64 3800+ Processor OCZ PC3200 Gold Edition 1GB Memory EVGA GeForce 6600 PCI-Express x16 Video Card CentOS 3.7
The video card wasn't detected and I had to use the VESA driver (generic) when I installed CentOS 3.7. As this is the first time I've used a NVIDIA video card with Linux my knowledge is nil on this subject. After a quick review of the available video drivers that come with CentOS 3.7 I did a Google search and came up with this link:
http://www.nvidia.com/object/linux_display_ia32_1.0-8762.html
Linux Display Driver - IA32 Version: 1.0-8762 Operating System: Linux IA32 Release Date: May 22, 2006
I downloaded this driver and attempted to install it. When I run this
# sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-8762-pkg1.run
to install the driver I'm told that I'm running an X server and that I need to exit X before installing the NVIDIA driver. After some experimenting I'm left with two questions:
1. How do I exit the X server to install this video driver?
2. How do I restart the X server when the driver is installed?
Any other comments about this subject would be welcome.
Thanks, Corwin Burgess
On 8/14/06, Corwin Burgess msgclb@cox.net wrote:
I set up a new system that includes the following:
ASUS AE8N-E Motherboard (NVIDIA nForce 4 Ultra Chipset) AMD Athlon 64 3800+ Processor OCZ PC3200 Gold Edition 1GB Memory EVGA GeForce 6600 PCI-Express x16 Video Card CentOS 3.7
Centos 3.7 is current, but old. You probably want to install 4.3, as it has more recent software and is more updated.
The video card wasn't detected and I had to use the VESA driver (generic) when I installed CentOS 3.7. As this is the first time I've used a NVIDIA video card with Linux my knowledge is nil on this subject. After a quick review of the available video drivers that come with CentOS 3.7 I did a Google search and came up with this link:
http://www.nvidia.com/object/linux_display_ia32_1.0-8762.html
Linux Display Driver - IA32 Version: 1.0-8762 Operating System: Linux IA32 Release Date: May 22, 2006
This is what you want if you're running the i386 version of centos. If you're running x86_64, then you want the the x86_64 driver.
You may also need the nforce drivers, which should be on the same page.
- How do I exit the X server to install this video driver?
ctrl+alt+f1 log in, and su - to root. (note that the - in the command is crucial) then type 'telinit 3'
This will close the x server and put you back to your prompt. You may have to hit enter or start typing to actually see the prompt line again. cd to driver location, run script.
- How do I restart the X server when the driver is installed?
after the driver is in, and you've made the necessary changes to /etc/X11/xorg.conf (for centos4.... and you made a backup of the original right?) you can restart the X server by running 'telinit 5'
Any other comments about this subject would be welcome.
You'll need the kernel-devel package installed for this to succeed on centos4, and the kernel-source rpm installed on centos3. You'll also need gcc, and a couple other packages installed. I'd really go with centos4 unless you have something keeping you at centos 3.
On Mon, 2006-08-14 at 16:49 -0400, Jim Perrin wrote:
On 8/14/06, Corwin Burgess msgclb@cox.net wrote:
I set up a new system that includes the following:
ASUS AE8N-E Motherboard (NVIDIA nForce 4 Ultra Chipset) AMD Athlon 64 3800+ Processor OCZ PC3200 Gold Edition 1GB Memory EVGA GeForce 6600 PCI-Express x16 Video Card CentOS 3.7
Centos 3.7 is current, but old. You probably want to install 4.3, as it has more recent software and is more updated.
The video card wasn't detected and I had to use the VESA driver (generic) when I installed CentOS 3.7. As this is the first time I've used a NVIDIA video card with Linux my knowledge is nil on this subject. After a quick review of the available video drivers that come with CentOS 3.7 I did a Google search and came up with this link:
http://www.nvidia.com/object/linux_display_ia32_1.0-8762.html
Linux Display Driver - IA32 Version: 1.0-8762 Operating System: Linux IA32 Release Date: May 22, 2006
This is what you want if you're running the i386 version of centos. If you're running x86_64, then you want the the x86_64 driver.
You may also need the nforce drivers, which should be on the same page.
- How do I exit the X server to install this video driver?
ctrl+alt+f1 log in, and su - to root. (note that the - in the command is crucial) then type 'telinit 3'
This will close the x server and put you back to your prompt. You may have to hit enter or start typing to actually see the prompt line again. cd to driver location, run script.
- How do I restart the X server when the driver is installed?
after the driver is in, and you've made the necessary changes to /etc/X11/xorg.conf (for centos4.... and you made a backup of the original right?) you can restart the X server by running 'telinit 5'
If it's anything like the 6400 Go PCIE thats in my laptop you will need to reboot rather than 'telinit 5' as kudzu will want to configure the adaptor.
Once kudzu has finished you will be OK and able to configure X settings.
Any other comments about this subject would be welcome.
You'll need the kernel-devel package installed for this to succeed on centos4, and the kernel-source rpm installed on centos3. You'll also need gcc, and a couple other packages installed. I'd really go with centos4 unless you have something keeping you at centos 3.
Jim Perrin wrote:
On 8/14/06, Corwin Burgess msgclb@cox.net wrote:
I set up a new system that includes the following:
ASUS AE8N-E Motherboard (NVIDIA nForce 4 Ultra Chipset) AMD Athlon 64 3800+ Processor OCZ PC3200 Gold Edition 1GB Memory EVGA GeForce 6600 PCI-Express x16 Video Card CentOS 3.7
Centos 3.7 is current, but old. You probably want to install 4.3, as it has more recent software and is more updated.
I wish that I could use it. (see below)
This is what you want if you're running the i386 version of centos. If you're running x86_64, then you want the the x86_64 driver.
You may also need the nforce drivers, which should be on the same page.
I do want to use the i386 version. I didn't find any nforce drivers and didn't need them.
- How do I exit the X server to install this video driver?
ctrl+alt+f1 log in, and su - to root. (note that the - in the command is crucial) then type 'telinit 3'
This will close the x server and put you back to your prompt. You may have to hit enter or start typing to actually see the prompt line again. cd to driver location, run script.
I had to use '/sbin/telinit 3' and hit enter to see the prompt line.
- How do I restart the X server when the driver is installed?
after the driver is in, and you've made the necessary changes to /etc/X11/xorg.conf (for centos4.... and you made a backup of the original right?) you can restart the X server by running 'telinit 5'
I was able to use /sbin/telinit 5'. to restart the X server but I'd bet that I could have also rebooted. To make changes on CentOS 3 it's '/etc/X11/XF86Config'. Changes were made by the nvidia installer and I also made a couple of minor changes.
Any other comments about this subject would be welcome.
You'll need the kernel-devel package installed for this to succeed on centos4, and the kernel-source rpm installed on centos3. You'll also need gcc, and a couple other packages installed. I'd really go with centos4 unless you have something keeping you at centos 3.
I added the kernel-source before exited X. It was used during the nvidia driver installation. As I said, I wished I could use CentOS 4.3 but I have a temperamental development software package that locks up with the newer kernels.
Thanks for the help, Corwin
I had to use '/sbin/telinit 3' and hit enter to see the prompt line.
- How do I restart the X server when the driver is installed?
This is because you missed the part where I said the '-' was crucial to the command. If you just use su to access the root account, then your uid changes, but it's not treated as a login shell, so you don't get the full PATH variables sourced. If you use 'su -' then it becomes a root login shell, and you get the extra goodies associated with the root account. use 'man su' to get all the details if you're curious.
Jim Perrin wrote:
I had to use '/sbin/telinit 3' and hit enter to see the prompt line.
- How do I restart the X server when the driver is installed?
This is because you missed the part where I said the '-' was crucial to the command. If you just use su to access the root account, then your uid changes, but it's not treated as a login shell, so you don't get the full PATH variables sourced. If you use 'su -' then it becomes a root login shell, and you get the extra goodies associated with the root account. use 'man su' to get all the details if you're curious.
I tried that several times but evidentially I was doing something wrong. Now that I know what the '-' is for I tried it again it worked. Thanks.
Corwin
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Corwin Burgess -
Jim Perrin -
Philip Wyett