nForce2 audio on slackware 9.0?

[jim64]

I have an Fic au13 mobo with the nforce2 chipset. I can't get the audio to work. I am trying to use the on board audio.
What i have tried.
-I have downloaded and installed the source drivers from nvidia.com. no luck.
-I have tried sndconfig. no luck

Basically i am starting over and have reinstalled slackware 9.0. I used mandrake for a wile and audio worked but i decided to get rid of it bc i like slack better.
Ask me any thing that you like and i will post the info. Also i have made a post on linuxquestions.org where many ppl seem to have the same problem but no one has a solution. I am running kernel 2.4.20 and i heard that in later kernels support for nforce2 is built in. Is that true?
Feel free to im me on my aim screen name. p2prat

[connyosis]

Originally posted by jim64
I have an Fic au13 mobo with the nforce2 chipset. I can't get the audio to work. I am trying to use the on board audio.
What i have tried.
-I have downloaded and installed the source drivers from nvidia.com. no luck.
-I have tried sndconfig. no luck

Basically i am starting over and have reinstalled slackware 9.0. I used mandrake for a wile and audio worked but i decided to get rid of it bc i like slack better.
Ask me any thing that you like and i will post the info. Also i have made a post on linuxquestions.org where many ppl seem to have the same problem but no one has a solution. I am running kernel 2.4.20 and i heard that in later kernels support for nforce2 is built in. Is that true?
Feel free to im me on my aim screen name. p2prat

What have you tried? I got it to work in Slack9 with some effort.
First of all upgrade to kernel 2.4.21, and remember to enable AMD Viper support in IDE settings so you'll have DMA support.
As for sound, I had to enable sound support (Of course) and also support for Ensoniq 1370 cards. (Yes, even though you won't use it) If I didnt enable the 1370 card I got unresolved symbols when trying to insert the nvidia sound module.
Now, recompile the kernel and reboot with that, then just compile the nvnet and nvaudio modules, install them and load them with modprobe nvnet and modprobe nvaudio, and everything should work fine.

[jim64]

:confused: Um ya about that i am not sure how to do all of that. I have only used linux for about a year so i am kinda new to this sort of stuff. Could you please help me out. I know its alot to ask but maybe step me through it. I know just a bit about recompiling the kernel and have been reading about it for a wile but i always run into errors and nothing ever works. Thanks so much for your reply.

[connyosis]

Ok, first download the 2.4.21 kernel from kernel.org and unpack it into /usr/src
(Remove any previous kernel sources before doing this.)
This will create the directory /usr/src/linux-2.4.21. Then create a link called linux with "ln -s linux-2.4.21 linux"
I'm not sure if that step is needed any more, but just incase :-)

Now, in /usr/src/linux as root run "make menuconfig". This will take you into the kernel configurator. First of all enable "Prompt for development and/or .." in Code Maturity, and then go through the kernel options and set it up so it suits your system. Be sure (As previously stated) to enable AMD Viper support in IDE settings, and to also enable sound support and Ensonic 1370 support. (Might work with other cards, but I used this and it works fine for me)

Now when you have done this, exit and save, and then run "make dep bzImage modules modules_install"
This will take some time, and when its done you'll have a new compiled kernel image located at /usr/src/linux/arch/i386/boot called bzImage.
Move this kernel image to /boot and name it something like "linux2421" or "kickass_kernel_from_connyosis". You pick. :-)

If you are using LILO as boot loader, edit your /etc/lilo.conf so it finds your new kernel , save it and run /sbin/lilo. Then reboot and pick your new kernel.
If you are using grub as bootloader edit your /boot/grub/grub.conf (Or /boot/grub/menu.lst if you are using an older version) and add the correct info.

After you have booted into your new kernel, compile the nvnet and nvaudio modules, install them and run modprobe nvnet and modprobe nvaudio. Now everything should work fine. (You need to reinstall these modules every time you compile a new kernel. Same goes for the nvidia graphics driver)

Good luck

[jim64]

Thanks so much for you instructions. I have a couple questions. What directory do i have to be in when i make that link with "ln -s linux-2.4.21 linux" or does it even mater. Also ,i am new to compiling the kernel so this may be a dumb question, but isn't stuff stuff like bttv or hardware support compiled into the kernel? What happens to that stuff when i recompile. Doesn't it have to be in that directory with the kernel source?
Thanks a bunch :)

[connyosis]

Originally posted by jim64
Thanks so much for you instructions. I have a couple questions. What directory do i have to be in when i make that link with "ln -s linux-2.4.21 linux" or does it even mater. Also ,i am new to compiling the kernel so this may be a dumb question, but isn't stuff stuff like bttv or hardware support compiled into the kernel? What happens to that stuff when i recompile. Doesn't it have to be in that directory with the kernel source?
Thanks a bunch :)

You have to be in /usr/src when creating the link, since the directory linux-2.4.21 is in that directory. (ln -s dir1 dir2 means that you create a symbolic link from dir1 to dir2. Sort of like shortcuts in windows...)
I dont know about bttv since I have never used it, but you yourself compile in the hardware support in the kernel. If you look around in the kernel confir you will see a lot of different options. If you do not have a specific hardware, you can disable support for it to save memory.

[jim64]

A couple more questions and i answered that question about creating the link. Yes i needed to be in "/usr/src/". I know that you said i need to enable "AMD viper support" but there is also "AMD viper ATA-66 Override". I have an ata-66 hd do ti need to enable "AMD viper ATA-66 Override".
What else should i enable for every thing to keep working?
I have an AMD Athlon in a FIC AU13 mobo with the nForce2 chipset.
I also have :
-ATI Radion 7000 gfx card
-Hauppauge wintv sterio dbx fm (bt878 chipset)
-Lynksys network card using tulip driver configured with dhcp.
If you know any thing about what i should enable to keep that stuff working please tell me. I actually do not have bttv installed yet. Thats my next project.
Thanks i will wait to hear b4 i proceed. (i am currently running make menuconfig thingey).

[connyosis]

No, dont enable that ATA-66 override, its not needed.
To get your Radeon to work you need the nVidia AGPGART patch. I dont use it since I have a GF4 card, but look through this forum and I bet you can get info on how to get it to work.
If you do a "cat /proc/pci" you can see what chipset your network card is using. Note it down and enable support for it in the kernel network config.

[jim64]

Sorry to ask so many questions but i typed "cat /proc/pci and it only told me what i already know which is that i have a Linksys Network Everywhere Fast Ethernet 10/100 model N. I know what driver it used bc when i installed slackware it told me that it found one that used the tulip.o driver. I cant find any thing even close to tulip or lynksys in the kernel config. How do i enable other drivers that are not listed in the kernel config.
Sorry i know that this post has kinda changed from fixing audio to how to compile a kernel and have every thing work. I just want to keep the stuff thats working... working.
Thanks again

[connyosis]

Well....why do you need that driver? The nForce2 board already had a network card integrated right? to get that working compile the nvnet driver after you have compiled your new kernel.
If you still for some reason want your tulip card to work I suggest you ask in #linuxhelp on irc.freenode.net

[jim64]

Ok i did it. I recompiled the kernel and edited the lilo.conf file. I then ran /sbin/lilo -v no errors. Now when i boot there is a kernel panic and it stops booting.
It says:
ds: no socket drivers loaded!
Kernel panic: VFS: Unable to mount root fs on 03:01
I think my comp hates me. Good thing i also made the lilo.conf file so that i could boot my old kernel. :D So i can boot my old kernel but if i do that then i have no sound. What should i do now?

[connyosis]

It seems like you didnt enable support for the filesystem you are using. Make sure to enable support for extended filesystem 2, maybe reiserfs and ext3.
And it is a good thing to take your time when compiling a kernel. Go through the options one by one (You can ignore the ones you know you dont need, like firewire and hotplug devices) and view the help for each one of them. Yes, its gonna take some time but it will be worth it...

[jim64]

ok sound is now working. I re-downloaded the kernel source from kernel.org. And when i compiled it this time my sound works but now my network card does not. I have a Linksys pci card and a on board networking that is i am not sure what i think 3 com or winbond something like that. Its part of nForce2 chipset i guess. My linksys worked b4 but it was set up by the Slackware installer and all i know is that it used the tulip.o driver. I did not see any options for either of my cards in the make menuconfig (not even close). So how do i get at least one of them to work. Any one know/ have advice. Here is what lspci says about them:
01:0c.0 Ethernet controller: Linksys Network Everywhere Fast Ethernet 10/100 model NC100 (rev 11)
02:01.0 Ethernet controller: 3Com Corporation 3C920B-EMB Integrated Fast Ethernet Controller (rev 40)
IM me at AIM : p2pRat

[connyosis]

To get the onboard network card to work, just compile the nvnet driver and load it with modprobe nvnet.
Linksys cards I have never used so I cant help you there. Again I recommend you to join #linuxhelp on irc.freenode.net

[jim64]

Thanks so much for your help. The sound is now working i just need to get one of my network cards to work but now i know the basics of how to compile the kernel. Its also the first friday of the month so i will go to the 2600 meeting and consult the linux guru. O and in the "make menuconfig" there was an option for nvidia audio so i did not really even need the nvidia drivers. I enabled it and it works but i still need them for network.
I tried to get on irc.freenode.net but i am not very familiar with the commands for irc. I know there are tons of manuals on how to use irc on the net and i need to learn how. I cant seem to find an irc client that is easy to use for mac osx or even os9 so i stick with aim for now.

Thank you so much:)

[connyosis]

:-) No problem, glad to be of service, and yes I bet the gurus knows a little more than I do about getting your network card to run.
Good luck

[Eric Ortega]

I have a FIC AU13 as well.

I compiled "Creative Ensoniq AudioPCI 97 (ES1371)" into the kernel, aliased nvaudio to sound-slot-0 and have functional sound for at most one stream.

The Audigy card that I have seems to support multiple sound sources automatically. I'm wondering if the fact that only one program can use /dev/dsp at a time is a configuration issue or a driver limitation.

Is anyone else able to have multiple sound sources using this motherboard? Any advice would be appreciated.

[jim64]

Um ya thats a bit above my head but i configured mine without downloading the driver from nvidia.com. In make menuconfig there is an option for "intel i8xx audio /nforce audio" or something like that. Its kernel 2.4.21 and it worked fine. But it says that it defaults to 2 channels instead of 6. This is what i read from the output of dmesg. I am wondering if that is due to using the driver built into the kernel instead of using nvidia's. I do not really care bc i only a basic dolby stereo. I duno i am a not that experienced of a user but if any one knows post it pleas.
Thanks

[Eric Ortega]

Defaulting to two channels is also the behavior of the downloaded driver from nvidia.

From dmesg:

0: nvidia: loading NVIDIA Linux x86 nvidia.o Kernel Module 1.0-4363 Sat Apr 19
17:46:46 PDT 2003
Nvidia + AC97 Audio, version 0.24, 15:22:00 Jul 3 2003
Nvaudio: in Funcction Nvaudio_init_module
PCI: Setting latency timer of device 00:06.0 to 64
Nvaudio: NVIDIA nForce2 Audio found at IO 0xd800 and 0xd400, IRQ 11
Nvaudio: Audio Controller supports 6 channels.
NVaudio: Defaulting to base 2 channel mode.
ac97_codec: AC97 Audio codec, id: ALG32 (ALC650)
Nvaudio: Nvaudio_ac97_enable_variable_rate
Nvaudio: AC'97 codec 0, DAC map configured, total channels = 6


I'm not interested in the Dolby Digital output so much as multiple inputs. BTW, the RealOnePlayer for linux also expects some frequency rate other than the supported 48kHz (if spdif is enabled), so I pass in the spdif_status=0 option when loading the module.

[connyosis]

You dont have to pass the spdif status to the driver since it defaults to off. Only if you want it enabled you must pass it.

[Eric Ortega]

I don't know about that. From the INSTALL page:

http://download.nvidia.com/XFree86/nforce/1.0-0261/ReleaseNotes_Linux_nForce_1.0-0261.html


The "spdif_status" module parameter is used to enable or disable S/PDIF support in the driver. By default S/PDIF is enabled, but can be disabled by setting spdif_status to 0. The driver can only support 48kHz sample rate when S/PDIF is enabled, so disabling it will increase compatability with applications that make assumptions about what sample rates the driver supports.

[connyosis]

Ok, thats news to me. I read the opposite, and both in gentoo and slackware the module has spdif disabled by default for me.

[jim64]

Ok i thought it was working and then every thing has gone wrong. No i get errors of all kinds. Sound does work but if one program tries to use it at once then i get errors. I have been working on this for weeks. After trying a million diff steps and attempts from ppl on the net i decided it was time to do a reinstall of slack.
I am starting over and i am trying to install the drivers the way it says on nvidia web site. Last time i just enabled the nvaudio option in the kernel and not use the drivers from nvidia but like i said now i am having problems. Sound worked when i ran mandrake but i hate mandrake! I love slack except for this. If some one could answer directly my questions below i would be very grateful.
1) What the f**k is a unresolved symbol.
2)I installed from source which means that i must enable the nvaudio.o using modprobe or lsmod. I get errors when i type "modprobe nvaudio" saying "cant locate module" . This is odd bc i can locate it just fine and i am not a computer. Its in /lib/modules/2.4.20/kernel/drivers/sound/nvaudio.o. Why does it not know where the module is?
3)If i recompile my kernel there is an option for i810 audio/nvaudio, can i just enable that or do i still have to install the nvidia driver.
Some one help this slacker out. :(

[5zymon]

jim64 when you are compiling kernel in menu sonund. Leave only i810, nforce support . you should have sound working fine. But i have with it problem too :(. Sound works, but it doesn`t want to work in full duplex mode. When i play quake or tux racer i get no sound. when i turn duplex mode to on, i got error cpu overload :| and sound works in games , but in desktop it does not :(. I want to use nvaudio module. But when i try to load it computer hangs and i have to reboot. Basicly...i don`t know what to do :|. When i don`t compile the i810 support in kernel i also don`t have ac97_codec suppor and nvaudio doesn`ty want to work ;(.
my distro is slack 9.0

[bahamot]

Originally posted by 5zymon
Sound works, but it doesn`t want to work in full duplex mode.
well i'm afraid that it will never happen until Nvidia treats Linux users seriuously