[CentOS] My linux keeps logging me off when I run Firefox (how to debug)?

[Rock]

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.