Fedora 12 + nvidia driver 96.43.14 = black screen and Xorg 100% cpu

[dabruhn]

I performed a clean install of Fedora 12.
I performed fedora forum's NVidia driver "GEForce 4 and below" install instructions for a PAE kernel.

My card is:
[dabruhn@precision ~]$ lspci | grep nVidia
01:00.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation NV25GL [Quadro4 900 XGL] (rev a3)

Upon reboot I get the nvidia splashscreen for 30 seconds than black screen all the while Xorg runs the CPU at 100%.

I've requested help at fedora forums under this post but no solution was found.

I ran nvidia-bug-report.sh. which is attached. The only error message in the log I could find is:
xset -q:
xset could not connect to an X server

I googled the error message but could not find anything helpful.

I removed the nvidia driver and am currently using the fedora default nouveau driver so the family has a working system again unfortunately without accelerated graphics.

I can reproduce at any time and can provide more information upon request.

Any help is appreciated.
Thanks,
David

[TexanLT]

Fedora graphical startup is not friendly to using the NVIDIA drivers. It starts up nouveau whether you want it or not and blocks the use of another driver for the xserver. To use the NVIDIA drivers add the following to the end of the kernel line in grub.conf

3 vga=791 rdblacklist=nouveau nomodeset

This will give you a text console where you can login, su to root and issue the commands setting up the NVIDIA xorg.conf, etc. Then exit will get you out of root and you can start the xserver with the startx command.

For subsequent logins you enter the username and password followed by the startx command.

I use that technique on a legacy riva tnt card and a more current GeForce 7600 GS card.

It is much faster than waiting for the graphical start sequence.

Robert McBroom

[dabruhn]

Robert,
Thank you for your response. I finally had the time to try your workaround and I learned about the grub.conf options you posted - setting the runlevel, the display, and turning off Kernel Mode Setting.

I installed the nVidia drivers again (see nVidiaInstall.txt attached). I updated grub.conf (attached) with your recommended options. Tried the livna-config-display generated xorg.conf on one test and the fedora forums recommended xorg.conf (attached) on another. Upon reboot into run level 3 and log in, I performed startx.

Unfortunately, the workaround did not work for my system. The result was a display of the nVidia splashscreen in perpetuity and Xorg process using 100% CPU. I attached the nvidia-bug-report.log.gz from my last test.

I switched my system back to the Fedora 12 nouveau driver and continue to live without accelerated graphics (fglx gears ~120 frames per second compared to ~4800 fps accelerated prior to Fedora 12 install).

I'm bummed to say the least. I choose nVidia based on the recommendations in the Fedora community about the excellent Linux support. I noticed a post where it states:
Note: nVidia currently doesn't support cards older than Geforce6 on the xorg-x11-server used by Fedora 12. Please verify that the nouveau driver will fit your needs while upgrading.

Sounds like my Quadro 4 900 (Same chip as GeForce 4 Ti 4600) is too old already.

I'm trying to consider other options:
1. Switch to Ubuntu - Unfortunately I see Ubuntu users posting to this forum with issues whose charecteristics look similiar to mine.
2. Switch to Fedora 11 - Potentially there is support for GeForce4 cards.
3. Buy a newer video card - Dell website recommends my Precision 530 can handle a nVidia Quadro FX 4000 AGP. My AGP slot is 4x (1.5 volt). The Quadro FX 4000 AGP is 8x (0.8 Volt) but the tech specs say it is AGP 1x (3.3 volt) compatible. I hope that means it is also AGP 4X compatible. A picture of a 4000 on Ebay looks like the key is at the 1.5 volt position to me.
4. Wait until nVidia driver software fixes catch up with my issue. - Maybe never for my card?
5. Wait for the nouveau driver to support accelerated graphics. - Might be awhile.

Anybody have any recommendations regarding what to try next?

Thanks,
David

[poltsy]

Originally Posted by dabruhn

I'm bummed to say the least. I choose nVidia based on the recommendations in the Fedora community about the excellent Linux support. I noticed a post where it states:
Note: nVidia currently doesn't support cards older than Geforce6 on the xorg-x11-server used by Fedora 12. Please verify that the nouveau driver will fit your needs while upgrading.

That note is probably outdated. 96.43.14 should support xserver 1.7 if the release notes are to be trusted.

1. Switch to Ubuntu - Unfortunately I see Ubuntu users posting to this forum with issues whose charecteristics look similiar to mine.
2. Switch to Fedora 11 - Potentially there is support for GeForce4 cards.

It could be that the xserver 1.7 support in your specific configuration is not exactly working properly so either one of these ideas could very well be worth a try.

There's nothing obvious that stands out in the logs except for that magic NVRM: Xid error/warning. The config file also looks okay other than for a couple of redundant options (AIGLX is on by default and AddARGBGLXVisuals can't be enabled when composite is disabled) so it's a bit hard to make any real suggestions.

3. Buy a newer video card - Dell website recommends my Precision 530 can handle a nVidia Quadro FX 4000 AGP. My AGP slot is 4x (1.5 volt). The Quadro FX 4000 AGP is 8x (0.8 Volt) but the tech specs say it is AGP 1x (3.3 volt) compatible. I hope that means it is also AGP 4X compatible. A picture of a 4000 on Ebay looks like the key is at the 1.5 volt position to me.

The AGP bus is a mysterious creature. It was designed so that if the card fits in the slot it shouldn't be dangerous to try but if it actually works stability and performance wise seems to really depend on the specific card and board combination. Good luck with that

I'd try something with xserver 1.6 or earlier first though.

[leigh123linux]

Originally Posted by dabruhn

Robert,
Thank you for your response. I finally had the time to try your workaround and I learned about the grub.conf options you posted - setting the runlevel, the display, and turning off Kernel Mode Setting.

I installed the nVidia drivers again (see nVidiaInstall.txt attached). I updated grub.conf (attached) with your recommended options. Tried the livna-config-display generated xorg.conf on one test and the fedora forums recommended xorg.conf (attached) on another. Upon reboot into run level 3 and log in, I performed startx.

Unfortunately, the workaround did not work for my system. The result was a display of the nVidia splashscreen in perpetuity and Xorg process using 100% CPU. I attached the nvidia-bug-report.log.gz from my last test.

I switched my system back to the Fedora 12 nouveau driver and continue to live without accelerated graphics (fglx gears ~120 frames per second compared to ~4800 fps accelerated prior to Fedora 12 install).

I'm bummed to say the least. I choose nVidia based on the recommendations in the Fedora community about the excellent Linux support. I noticed a post where it states:
Note: nVidia currently doesn't support cards older than Geforce6 on the xorg-x11-server used by Fedora 12. Please verify that the nouveau driver will fit your needs while upgrading.

Sounds like my Quadro 4 900 (Same chip as GeForce 4 Ti 4600) is too old already.

I'm trying to consider other options:
1. Switch to Ubuntu - Unfortunately I see Ubuntu users posting to this forum with issues whose charecteristics look similiar to mine.
2. Switch to Fedora 11 - Potentially there is support for GeForce4 cards.
3. Buy a newer video card - Dell website recommends my Precision 530 can handle a nVidia Quadro FX 4000 AGP. My AGP slot is 4x (1.5 volt). The Quadro FX 4000 AGP is 8x (0.8 Volt) but the tech specs say it is AGP 1x (3.3 volt) compatible. I hope that means it is also AGP 4X compatible. A picture of a 4000 on Ebay looks like the key is at the 1.5 volt position to me.
4. Wait until nVidia driver software fixes catch up with my issue. - Maybe never for my card?
5. Wait for the nouveau driver to support accelerated graphics. - Might be awhile.

Anybody have any recommendations regarding what to try next?

Thanks,
David

4x and 8x refer to the AGP port speed and have nothing to do with voltage.

[dabruhn]

Thanks for the insight, poltsy.
Yea, Leigh that sentence reads poorly doesn't it? True, 4x and 8x refer to the AGP port speed. However from what I read there is a correlation between a card's port speed and its voltage for example here and here. My intent was to determine compatibility. Maybe I should simply ask, "Is a Quadro FX 4000 compatible with a 1.5 volt AGP 4x slot?"
I don't want to buy a card and find out it won't work with my system.

For now, I've settled on option 4 "Wait until nVidia driver software fixes catch up with my issue.". My issue might be solved already. I noticed there is a 96.43.16 (legacy, prerelease) for Linux x86. I had a working system with kernel-PAE-2.6.31.6-166.fc12.i686 until performed a "yum update" followed by a "yum erase kernel-PAE-2.6.31.6-166.fc12.i686" (Oops!) and forgot about the nvidia driver dependancy on the kernel.
The release note indicates "Improved compatibility with recent Linux kernels" so I am hopeful.

I'm anxious to try this driver version. I downloaded and I have attempted to use script, NVIDIA-Linux-x86-96.43.16-pkg1.run. Unfortunately I haven't been able to get past this error shown in nvidia-installer.log (attached):

ERROR: Unable to load the kernel module 'nvidia.ko'.  This happens most
       frequently when this kernel module was built against the wrong or
       improperly configured kernel sources, with a version of gcc that differs
       from the one used to build the target kernel, or if a driver such as
       rivafb/nvidiafb is present and prevents the NVIDIA kernel module from
       obtaining ownership of the NVIDIA graphics device(s).

I am pretty sure I have the right kernel packages

[dabruhn@precision ~]$ rpm -qa|grep kernel
kernel-headers-2.6.31.12-174.2.3.fc12.i686
kernel-PAE-2.6.31.9-174.fc12.i686
kernel-firmware-2.6.31.12-174.2.3.fc12.noarch
kernel-PAE-devel-2.6.31.9-174.fc12.i686
kernel-PAE-2.6.31.12-174.2.3.fc12.i686
abrt-addon-kerneloops-1.0.4-1.fc12.i686
kernel-PAE-devel-2.6.31.12-174.2.3.fc12.i686

I can tell which gcc version and package I have installed:

[dabruhn@precision ~]$ cat /proc/version
Linux version 2.6.31.12-174.2.3.fc12.i686.PAE (mockbuild@x86-04.phx2.fedoraproject.org) (gcc version 4.4.2 20091222 (Red Hat 4.4.2-20) (GCC) ) #1 SMP Mon Jan 18 20:06:44 UTC 2010

[dabruhn@precision ~]$ rpm -qa|grep gcc
libgcc-4.4.2-20.fc12.i686
gcc-java-4.4.2-20.fc12.i686
gcc-gfortran-4.4.2-20.fc12.i686
gcc-c++-4.4.2-20.fc12.i686
gcc-4.4.2-20.fc12.i686

I thought maybe the nouveau is getting in the way of the install script so I also tried the script after running these commands and received the same error message:

[dabruhn@precision nVidia]$ su -
Password: 
[root@precision ~]# sed -i '/root=/s|$| rdblacklist=nouveau|' /boot/grub/grub.conf
[root@precision ~]# mv /boot/initramfs-$(uname -r).img /boot/initramfs-$(uname -r)-nouveau.img
[root@precision ~]# dracut /boot/initramfs-$(uname -r).img $(uname -r)
[root@precision ~]# sed -i '/root=/s|$| vmalloc=256m|' /boot/grub/grub.conf
[root@precision ~]# getsebool -a |grep allow_execstack
allow_execstack --> on
[root@precision ~]# telinit 3

I think I have the, "I cannot build the NVIDIA kernel module, or, I can build the NVIDIA kernel module, but modprobe/insmod fails to load the module into my kernel. What is wrong?" error shown in the install guide

I tried:

[root@precision ~]# locate kernel-headers
/var/lib/yum/yumdb/k/cd066614b144140b477cf3916455332a137cb214-kernel-headers-2.6.31.12-174.2.3.fc12-i686
/var/lib/yum/yumdb/k/cd066614b144140b477cf3916455332a137cb214-kernel-headers-2.6.31.12-174.2.3.fc12-i686/checksum_data
/var/lib/yum/yumdb/k/cd066614b144140b477cf3916455332a137cb214-kernel-headers-2.6.31.12-174.2.3.fc12-i686/checksum_type
/var/lib/yum/yumdb/k/cd066614b144140b477cf3916455332a137cb214-kernel-headers-2.6.31.12-174.2.3.fc12-i686/command_line
/var/lib/yum/yumdb/k/cd066614b144140b477cf3916455332a137cb214-kernel-headers-2.6.31.12-174.2.3.fc12-i686/from_repo
/var/lib/yum/yumdb/k/cd066614b144140b477cf3916455332a137cb214-kernel-headers-2.6.31.12-174.2.3.fc12-i686/from_repo_revision
/var/lib/yum/yumdb/k/cd066614b144140b477cf3916455332a137cb214-kernel-headers-2.6.31.12-174.2.3.fc12-i686/from_repo_timestamp
/var/lib/yum/yumdb/k/cd066614b144140b477cf3916455332a137cb214-kernel-headers-2.6.31.12-174.2.3.fc12-i686/reason
/var/lib/yum/yumdb/k/cd066614b144140b477cf3916455332a137cb214-kernel-headers-2.6.31.12-174.2.3.fc12-i686/releasever

I was expecting but did not see a *.h file related to the kernel in directory, /usr/src/kernels/2.6.31.12-174.2.3.fc12.i686.PAE/include/linux

I think I'm missing a source kernel header package.
I tried

[root@precision ~]# yum install kernel-source
Loaded plugins: fastestmirror, presto, refresh-packagekit
Loading mirror speeds from cached hostfile
 * fedora: mirrors.tummy.com
 * rpmfusion-free: mirrors.tummy.com
 * rpmfusion-free-updates: mirrors.tummy.com
 * rpmfusion-nonfree: mirrors.tummy.com
 * rpmfusion-nonfree-updates: mirrors.tummy.com
 * updates: mirrors.tummy.com
Setting up Install Process
No package kernel-source available.
Nothing to do

What can I try next to make the install script work?

Thanks,
David

[dabruhn]

I figured out the install problem last weekend. The install of nvidia driver 96.43.16 worked after I moved the nouveau driver out of the way with this command:
[root@precision ~]# mv /lib/modules/$(uname -r)/kernel/drivers/gpu/drm/nouveau/nouveau.ko /lib/modules/$(uname -r)/kernel/drivers/gpu/drm/nouveau/nouveau.txt

Unfortunately, upon reboot the nvidia splashscreen displays in perpetuity and Xorg still pegs the CPU usage at 100%. This is the same result as the 96.43.14 driver. bummer.

This weekend I performed a "yum update" and noticed a new kernel installed (2.6.31.12-174.2.22.fc12.i686.PAE) and rpmfusion repository has the corresponding nvidia driver ready also. So I tried installing the nvidia driver again using both the fedora forums and the nvidia installer procedures. The fedoraforum procedure uses the 96.43.14 driver while the installer procedure uses the 96.43.16 driver.

Same result - nvidia splashscreen displays in perpetuity and Xorg pegs the CPU usage at 100% - not surprising.

Attached are three files. nVidiaInstall6.txt, nvidia-bug-report.log.gz, and nvidia-bug-report.log.old.gz.
nVidiaInstall6.txt captures the commands used to install the nvidia driver using the fedoraforum procedures, then an attempt using the nvidia install and finnally the commands to return my system back to the nouveau driver.
nvidia-bug-report.log.old.gz contains the nvidia log with the fedoraforums procedure.
nvidia-bug-report.log.gz contains the nvidia log with the nvidia installer procedure.

Hopefully the attached information can help solve this issue.
Respectfully,
David

[kwizart]

I've removed the note on rpmfusion Howto for nVidia legacy drivers and F12. Nvidia does 'support' Card older than geforce 6 on F12.

At least, it works with one of my Geforce4 cards and many others people.

[dabruhn]

I removed my video card (nVidia Quadro4 900XGL 128Mb AGP, neither legacy 96.43.16 nor 96.43.17 nvidia driver worked) and installed a more recent video card (nVidia Quadro FX 4000 256Mb AGP) that my system can handle. Rebooted using the nouveau driver, ran glxgears and received ~125 frames per second. I then installed the latest nvidia driver (kmod-nvidia-PAE.i686 1:195.36.24-1.fc12.3) from RPMFusion using the fedora forums' procedure, rebooted with no problems, ran glxgears and received ~4500 fps. Excellent! Kids can play tux racer again. Streaming video choppiness is gone.