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HW-01: How to install the nVidia driver

Here are the steps you need to follow to run your nvidia-based video card with the nVidia driver.

1) Download the driver from the nVidia website :

http://www.nvidia.com/object/linux.html

You will most likely need IA32 (32 bits computers)

2) Open a terminal and exit the graphical interface as follows (don't worry .. you'll get it back soon).

CODE
su
-->enter password<--
init 3


3) Now, login as root and install the dependencies needed for the nVidia driver to install/compile.

CODE
root
-->enter password<--
urpmi binutils

-->This package is required<--

urpmi kernel-source

-->This package is required if and only if you don't have a stock kernel.  In most cases you don't need this extra step.  If you have problems, do it<--

chmod +x NVIDIA-Linux-ABCD.run

./NVIDIA-Linux-ABCD.run


Replace ABCD by the real package name (something like NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-6111-pkg1.run )

4) You'll be faced with the licence. Press Accept if you do. Otherwise forget about that.. :roll:
QUOTE
Please read the following LICENSE and then select either "Accept" to accept the license and continue with
the installation, or select "Do Not Accept" to abort the installation.

Accept Do Not Accept

5) The system should now install the driver on your computer. After a few seconds, if everything went well, you should get something like this:
QUOTE
Installation of the NVIDIA Accelerated Graphics Driver for Linux-x86 (version: 1.0-4496) is now complete.
Please update your XF86Config file as appropriate; see the file /usr/share/doc/NVIDIA_GLX-1.0/README for
details.

OK

Press OK.

6) Now we will edit the X config file (xorg.conf). We have two things to check/modify. So first open the file as follows.

CODE
vi /etc/X11/xorg.conf


Press 'i' on your keyboard and look for the following section:
QUOTE
Section "Device"
Identifier "device1"
VendorName "nVidia Corporation"
BoardName "NVIDIA GeForce2 DDR (generic)"
Driver "nv"
Option "DPMS"
EndSection

When you have located it, change Driver "nv" or Driver "vesa" for Driver "nvidia". Now look for the following section:
QUOTE
Section "Module"
Load "dbe" # Double-Buffering Extension
Load "v4l" # Video for Linux
Load "extmod"
Load "type1"
Load "freetype"
Load "glx" # 3D layer
EndSection

If you don't see the Load "glx" line, add it. Finally, if you have Load "dri" or Load "GLcore", remove it.

Now save you edition by pressing the 'Esc' button on your keyboard and typing ':wq'. Press 'Enter'.

7) You are ready to start the X server. So type

CODE
init 5

You should see the nVidia logo. Once the desktop environment is loaded, open a console and test the driver's performances by typing:

CODE
su
-->enter password<--
glxgears

Note that in some case, you need to restart your computer for the driver to be loaded sucessfully.

I also suggest you to read the README file that comes with the driver. It is installed at /usr/share/doc/NVIDIA_GLX-1.0/README. You can also download it from the nVidia website

Reference:
http://www.nvidia.com/object/linux_display...2_1.0-5336.html

Have fun!