XEN - NVIDIA - STEP BY STEP

[muchologo]

THERE'S NO NEED TO USE ANY PATCH

STEP1
REBOOT IN NON-XEN KERNEL IN TERMINAL
sudo -s
vim /etc/inittab
change id:5:initdefault: to id:3:initdefault:
reboot

STEP2
DOWNLOAD THE DRIVERS
sudo -s
cd /usr/src/
wget http://us.download.nvidia.com/XFree8...77.80-pkg2.run (32-bit)
wget http://us.download.nvidia.com/XFree8...77.80-pkg1.run (64-bit)

STEP3
INSTALL SOME PACKAGES FOR COMPILING THE DRIVERS
/sbin/yast2 –install kernel-source gcc make

STEP4
INSTALL THE DRIVERS IN THE NON-XEN KERNEL
cd /usr/src/
sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-173.14.12-pkg2.run -q
sax2 -r -m 0=nvidia
reboot

STEP5
REBOOT IN XEN KERNEL AND MAKE CONFIG
sudo -s
cd /usr/src/linux
cp arch/i386/defconfig.xen .config (32-bit)
cp arch/x86_64/defconfig.xen .config (64-bit)
make oldconfig && make scripts && make prepare

STEP6
EXTRACT THE DRIVERS FOR XEN
cd /usr/src/
sh NVIDIA* --extract-only

STEP7
COMPILE THE DRIVERS
cd /usr/src/NVIDIA*/usr/src/nv/
IGNORE_XEN_PRESENCE=y CC="gcc -DNV_VMAP_4_PRESENT -DNV_SIGNAL_STRUCT_RLIM" make SYSSRC=/usr/src/linux module

STEP8
INSTALL AND PROBE THE DRIVERS
JUST TO BE SURE WHAT'S YOUR XEN KERNEL VERSION <kernel-version> = uname -r
cp nvidia.ko /lib/modules/<kernel-version>-xen/kernel/drivers/video/
cd /lib/modules/<kernel-version>-xen/kernel/drivers/video/
depmod -a
modprobe nvidia
init5

STEP 9
IF NOT XGL IS ENABLED DURING THE PROBE
<control><Alt><F1>
init 3
gnome-xgl-switch --enable-xgl
init 5

STEP10
OPEN TERMINAL
sudo -s
vim /etc/inittab
change id:3:initdefault: to id:5:initdefault:
reboot

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
YOU WILL PROBABLY NEED TO REBOOT SO I ATTACH A PDF GUIDE
Please post your experience with this guide

[kamhw]

Hi muchologo,

I've followed your instructions and it works for 177.82 & 173.14.12 on 64bit SLED 10 SP2.

However, I am unable to see my TTY via Ctrl-Alt-F1. The screen is blank. I'm able to switch back to Ctrl-Alt-F7. While in TTY1, I am able to login as root and issue a reboot. Hence, the TTY is there but I cannot see it. Also posted this but got no response from the forum so far.

Do you have any suggestions for this challenge? Thank you.

[Fackamato]

Originally Posted by kamhw

Hi muchologo,

I've followed your instructions and it works for 177.82 & 173.14.12 on 64bit SLED 10 SP2.

However, I am unable to see my TTY via Ctrl-Alt-F1. The screen is blank. I'm able to switch back to Ctrl-Alt-F7. While in TTY1, I am able to login as root and issue a reboot. Hence, the TTY is there but I cannot see it. Also posted this but got no response from the forum so far.

Do you have any suggestions for this challenge? Thank you.

Are you using a framebuffer, or any vga=.. kernel parameter? If, try to remove it. If not, try to use it (such as vga=791).

Try removing the "video" module as well...

[kamhw]

Originally Posted by Fackamato

Are you using a framebuffer, or any vga=.. kernel parameter? If, try to remove it. If not, try to use it (such as vga=791).

Try removing the "video" module as well...

My current kernel parameter for vga is vga=0x314. For the "video" module, do you mean the parameter in the /etc/X11/xorg.conf file?

Update: I've changed my vga from 0x314 to 791 as well as without the vga parameter, there seems to be no effect and I still cannot see my TTYs. I cannot find the video module.

Appreciate any other suggestions and inputs. Thank you.

[bvhoesel]

Very nice work. Worked as a charm for me on XEN openSuse 10.3 64 bit and nvidia driver 177.82. Thanks for all the time and trouble it took you to share the info with us.

[Vla]

Originally Posted by muchologo

wget http://us.download.nvidia.com/XFree8...77.80-pkg2.run (32-bit)
wget http://us.download.nvidia.com/XFree8...77.80-pkg1.run (64-bit)

You confused 64/32bit

[meierkurt]

Enhancement for Suse 11.1

cd /usr/src/linux
cp /usr/src/linux-2.6.27*obj/x86_64/xen/.config .config
cp /usr/src/linux-2.6.27*obj/x86_64/xen/Module.symvers .config
make oldconfig && make scripts && make prepare

Without "Module.symvers" Module cant be loaded.

[padiazg]

Hi, I was trying for several days to compile NVidia 173 and 177.82 under OpenSUSE 11.1 x86_64, only 177 compiled and installed.

Following your instrucctions can go a little further.

Besides of copying from arch/x86_64/defconfig.xen, I have to copy /usr/src/linux-2.6.27.7-9-obj/x86_64/xen/.config to /usr/src/linux-2.6.27.7-9/.config

Then I could start compiling, but complains about: modpost: GPL-incompatible module nvidia.ko uses GPL-only symbol hypercal_page. Any idea how to solve this?

btw, great work.

[meierkurt]

Try the newest driver 180.18.

[andrewtayloruk]

Hi,

Thanks very much for the guide, however, I'm trying to use it on Cent OS 5.2 and the compilation of the module step isn't working.

I can't determine the exact message, but, it ends with:

NVIDIA: left KBUILD
nvidia.ko failed to build!

Any pointers?

I installed the drivers in the NON-XEN kernel fine, it worked under XEN
I installed the XEN kernel and rebooted to run level 3
I have confirmed that I'm now running the XEN kernel
I copied the .config from XEN kernel (it wasn't the same as on SUSE, defconfig but I found the equivalent
I extracted the NVIDIA drivers

It was at that point (number 7 on your guide) that it failed to compile

Any advice would be really great.

Thanks

Andrew

[padiazg]

Originally Posted by meierkurt

Try the newest driver 180.18.

Still can't compile under OpenSUSE 11.1 x86_64. Downloaded driver 180.18 and installed it under non XEN kernel, no problems on that.

Under XEN kernel, still complains about modpost: GPL-incompatible module nvidia.ko uses GPL-only symbol hypercal_page here:.

  Building modules, stage 2.
make -f /usr/src/linux-2.6.27.7-9/scripts/Makefile.modpost
  scripts/mod/modpost -m -a -i /usr/src/linux-2.6.27.7-9/Module.symvers -I /home/patricio/Downloads/NVidia/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-180.18-pkg0/usr/src/nv/Module.symvers  -o /home/patricio/Downloads/NVidia/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-180.18-pkg0/usr/src/nv/Module.symvers -S -K /usr/src/linux-2.6.27.7-9/Module.markers -M /home/patricio/Downloads/NVidia/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-180.18-pkg0/usr/src/nv/Module.markers -w  -N /dev/null -s

Some things that I'm courious about are:

NVIDIA: calling KBUILD...
make CC=gcc -DNV_VMAP_4_PRESENT -DNV_SIGNAL_STRUCT_RLIM  KBUILD_VERBOSE=1 -C /usr/src/linux SUBDIRS=/home/patricio/Downloads/NVidia/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-180.18-pkg0/usr/src/nv modules
test -e include/linux/autoconf.h -a -e include/config/auto.conf || (		\
	echo;								\
	echo "  ERROR: Kernel configuration is invalid.";		\
	echo "         include/linux/autoconf.h or include/config/auto.conf are missing.";	\
	echo "         Run 'make oldconfig && make prepare' on kernel src to fix it.";	\
	echo;								\
	/bin/false)

both files exists, include/linux/autoconf.h and include/config/auto.conf, tested with:

# test -e /usr/src/linux/include/linux/autoconf.h -a -e /usr/src/linux/include/config/auto.conf && echo yes
# yes

This error happens in this part of Makefile.kbuild:

module: cc-version-check xen-sanity-check rivafb-sanity-check nvidiafb-sanity-check
	@if [ -z "$(PATCHLEVEL)" ]; then \
	 echo "failed to determine PATCHLEVEL!"; \
	 exit 1; \
	fi; \
	echo "NVIDIA: calling KBUILD..."; \
	echo "make CC=$(CC) $(KBUILD_PARAMS) modules"; \
	make "CC=$(CC)" $(KBUILD_PARAMS) modules; \
	echo "NVIDIA: left KBUILD."; \
	if ! [ -f $(MODULE_OBJECT) ]; then \
	 echo "$(MODULE_OBJECT) failed to build!"; \
	 exit 1; \
	fi

If you see the line I remarked, it calls again make but with modules as parameter. I coul'nt find the makefile that contains the rule modules.

I think this error might be because test isn't located in the /usr/src/linux directory when it is called. Just a guest.

Any ideas?

[andreim]

Dell XPS M1330 - 8400M/GS (chipset 0x0427) - SLES10.SP2 /64 bit

1) Both of the recent drivers (177,180) build and work OK with the vanilla -smp kernel.

2) Build for the -xen kernel works just fine as in the instructions, nvidia.ko/Xen loads Ok.

3) However, any attempt to start X (X-probeonly, startx) on the -xen kernel leads to the
black screen and an overall hang of the machine within 10 seconds.

Am I alone to see this with 8400M/GS?

Thanks ahead for any comment!