Install fails with Debian 2.6.20-1-k7 + Linux-x86-1.0-9755/Linux-x86-100.14.03

[Greek Geek]

Both driver versions install AOK with Debian 2.6.18-4-k7 & am runing ok with Beta Linux-x86-100.14.03, now. Google was not helpful & a search of this list, did not turn up anything.

But I have been wrong before.... :-)

Constructive suggestions?

Greek Geek :-)

[zander]

FATAL: modpost: GPL-incompatible module nvidia.ko uses GPL-only symbol 'paravirt_ops'

The NVIDIA Linux graphics driver does not use this symbol explicitely, it is picked up implicitely on kernels configured with CONFIG_PARAVIRT. You will need to install a kernel built without this option.

[gfxdrone]

Originally Posted by zander

FATAL: modpost: GPL-incompatible module nvidia.ko uses GPL-only symbol 'paravirt_ops'

The NVIDIA Linux graphics driver does not use this symbol explicitely, it is picked up implicitely on kernels configured with CONFIG_PARAVIRT. You will need to install a kernel built without this option.

Hi Zander, we've been wondering about this paravirt_ops too. Nvidia, as noted here, fails when kernel is built with this option.

Will this change in the future, in other words, does nVidia plan on supporting kernels with paravirt_ops enabled? If so, is there any time frame for this?

[Greek Geek]

Thanx for clearing that question up, guru zander! :-)

I have a different suggestion to gfxdrone; perhaps the nVidia driver could produce a warning that it will not use kernel feature x,y,z & then carry on to completion/installation?

Quick & dirty?

Either way, thanx for the fab drivers.

Greek Geek :-)

[gfxdrone]

It didn't work, but I'm going to take a look at some other threads. I haven't tested this extensively, but since we'll probably be moving to kernels with paravirt_opts enabled at some point, this is something we'll need to get resolved.

[Dogga]

my workaround was to disable paravirtualization in kernel
(paravirt_ops have EXPORT_SYMBOL_GPL in Module.symvers and I think this 
couses the problem)
I've done this, more or less, that way:

1. Install linux-source-2.6.20-1-686
2. Uncompress /usr/src/linux-source-2.6.20-1-686.tar.bz2
3. delete symlink /lib/modules/2.6.20-1-686/build and make new (ln -s 
/usr/src/linux-source-2.6.20 /lib/modules/2.6.20-1-686/build)
4. copy .config from headers to sources (cp 
/usr/src/linux-headers-2.6.20-1-686/.config /usr/src/linux-source-2.6.20)
5. in sources dir 'make menuconfig' and disable paravirtualization in 
'processor features'
6. make prepare
7. make scripts
8. now i could compile and install nvidia kernel drive

this working for me.

[awx]

here's a different solution using instructions from here: http://www.nvnews.net/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=87541

i did these steps (v1.0.9755):
2. Modifiy "modpost" in order to accept non-GPL modules (slightly different however: i recompiled the linux-kbuild-2.6.20 debian package)
unpack nvidia-driver (using "-x"), run ./nvidia-installer -K
4. Manually define the missing symbol entry for "paravirt_ops"
5. Install the nvidia kernel module

works.

debian statement on the issue, btw: http://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=419943

[Greek Geek]

Hi Zander,

I see that newer kernels have the CONFIG_PARAVIRT, as per the following ....

http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=39214

Hence I assume, that to support kernel 2.6.21 & beyond, nVidia will support "...this symbol explicitely, it is picked up implicitely,..." in the future?

While yesterday is good, I am not asking for when, being fully cognizant of the fact that you can not give dates, as to when new products/features hit the market. ;-)

Greek Geek :-)

[zander]

The NVIDIA Linux graphics driver calls udelay(), which has traditionally been available to non-GPL licensed modules; it seems that on kernels configured with CONFIG_PARAVIRT, udelay() references the GPL-only symbol paravirt_ops, thereby becoming a GPL-only utility macro itself. This is a regression in the Linux kernel.

[Greek Geek]

Thank you for that clarification!

Greek Geek :-)

[Gargi]

Originally Posted by zander

FATAL: modpost: GPL-incompatible module nvidia.ko uses GPL-only symbol 'paravirt_ops'

The NVIDIA Linux graphics driver does not use this symbol explicitely, it is picked up implicitely on kernels configured with CONFIG_PARAVIRT. You will need to install a kernel built without this option.

Works like a charm! I just installed the precompiled 2.6.20er Debian kernel and downloaded the latest 2.6.21.1 version. Then I did a "make oldconfig" and disabled the paravirtualisation support. After that the nvidia installation is working again now.
Thanks for that hint!

cu
Gargi

[___Jul___]

Hi All,
I have been waiting for some time and not upgrading my kernel from 2.6.18-4 just becuase of the problem with the drivers. Now we got some solution on this forum:

http://www.nabble.com/HOWTO:2.6.20-1...-t3679809.html

And based on it I wrote a small script that does exactly what these steps say except that i fixed the Makefile.kbuild so that the missing paravirt_ops symbol is correctly linked from inside nvidia-installer. No kernel rebuid is needed.

So to summarize the rebuilt version we present will replace the modpost binaries with version that will not check for the gpl signature of the driver and then build the kernel module with the fixed Makefile. Please take care that the kernel will still be tainted because of the binary modules of the driver. So no violation of the principles of the kernel happen too.

I will paste here the DISCLAIMER that we added to the driver to be sure that no misunderstandings happen.

DISCLAIMER: First of all this is our very own solution and we can not guarantee
        that it will work on your computer. Allthough I don"t think so it might
        even blow your computer, more possibly just wipe something importnat ;-)
        NVidia has also nothing to do with this modified version of the driver
        so I guess no official support can be expected from them either
        last but not least this binary driver taints the kernel so no support
        is to be expected from Linus too :). The only ones that can help you
        are either we or other users that are capable of understanding what is
        going on in here.

 According to the NVidia license this version of the driver should be legally ok:
    "...Linux/FreeBSD Exception.  Notwithstanding the foregoing terms
        of Section 2.1.1, SOFTWARE designed exclusively for use on the Linux or
        FreeBSD operating systems, or other operating systems derived from the
        source code to these operating systems, may be copied and redistributed,
        provided that the binary files thereof are not modified in any way
        (except for unzipping of compressed files)."
 No binary files have been modified only Makefile.kbuild have been changed

 The fixed version of modpost is under GPL and that is why source code is included
 in the archive too.

You can get the modified driver here : http://grizach.servebeer.com/nvpatch...g1-patched.run

I hope this will be usefull for you guys.