Nvidia graphics card drivers

[Vernon Brown_4]

I'm trying to install Nvidia drivers. The install script fails when trying to build a kernel interface module complaining that I don't have the kernel source development module installed.

I have Fedora Core 6 DVD that has many RPM's and maybe the kernel source development modules.

Can someone guide me in finding the correct module and installing it.

Thanks for any help.

[Stuart Browne]

kernel-smp-devel is your friend. This installs the necessary components that should allow the nvidia modules to be compiled.

[Vernon Brown_4]

Thanks Stuart !

I found that file, downloaded the RPM and ran the RPM install. All went successfully but the NVIDIA script still fails complaining that it couldn't find the kernel source development tree. The script gives the option to manually enter the path.

Any clue about what the kernel source development tree path might be ?

[Vernon Brown_4]

PS
My system is x86 Duel core 64 bit processor 3 gigs ram 3.4 ghz running Fedora Core 6 on its own 160 gig SATA drive turning at 7000. The NVIDIA card is the 7800 I think, I didn't look inside the box yet. I'm running off the DVI port of the card.

[Vernon Brown_4]

More info:
Card is 7300. Kernel is vmlinuz-2.6.18-1.2849.fc6xen
I'm still looking for the source development path.

[Vernon Brown_4]

Still more info:
I found /usr/src/Redhat directory. It is empty. The /usr/src/kernels directory contained the files extracted by my download attempts. I removed the kernels directory and will try again.

[Steven E. Protter]

Shalom,

if all development kernel rpms are installed, you may need to get and compile code from the graphics card maker.

I'm a little surprised FC6 doesn't support it. Its hardware support is pretty wide. I just migrated my personal laptop to ubuntu because I was quite tired of messing around with FC6 Atheros wireless supported and wnated it to work out of the box.

Make sure the system has been fully yummed and that the version number of the development package is the same as the kernel you booted.

SEP

[Vernon Brown_4]

Thanks Steven; I'm still looking.

I found this package:
kernel-smp-devel-2.6.11-1.1369_FC4.x86_64.rpm
which I think is what I need. RPM from the GUI complains that a newer version is already installed, however, it doesn't say where.
Maybe I need to run the RPM uninstall to clean the notations files.

How to do RPM uninstall ??

[Vernon Brown_4]

Still trying; now I'm getting:
[root@veb2 veb]# rpm -e kernel-smp-devel-2.6.11-1.1369_FC4.x86_64.rpm
error: package kernel-smp-devel-2.6.11-1.1369_FC4.x86_64.rpm is not installed
[root@veb2 veb]# rpm -i kernel-smp-devel-2.6.11-1.1369_FC4.x86_64.rpm
error: Failed dependencies:
/usr/sbin/hardlink is needed by kernel-smp-devel-2.6.11-1.1369_FC4.x86_64

Now I'm looking for how to get /usr/sbin/hardlink

[Vernon Brown_4]

Still trying; now I'm getting:


[root@veb2 veb]# rpm -e kernel-smp-devel-2.6.11-1.1369_FC4.x86_64.rpm
error: package kernel-smp-devel-2.6.11-1.1369_FC4.x86_64.rpm is not installed
[root@veb2 veb]# rpm -i kernel-smp-devel-2.6.11-1.1369_FC4.x86_64.rpm
package kernel-smp-devel-2.6.17-1.2143_FC4 (which is newer than kernel-smp-devel-2.6.11-1.1369_FC4) is already installed

When I try to uninstall, it is not installed; when I try to install, it is already installed ???

How can I get out of that loop?

[Steven E. Protter]

Shalom,

Use yum to remove software. It will display dependencies.

yum remove blah blah

It will give you a clearer picture than rpm hell, which you are clearly in.

You might find taking the same plunge I did yesterday is of assistance. I don't know Ubuntu at all, but pulled enough commands off google to do a multi-media update and codec install. Full hardware support, superior to Fedora and it took me under an hour to reach the same level of functionality as FC6 and all my hardware worked.

SEP

[Vernon Brown_4]

Thanks Steven; I might try Ubantu. I have never been able to get a graphics card to work with FC 2 through 6.

I'll try yum.

[Stuart Browne]

That's weird..

Umm, see what files are actually in the hrpm (rpm -qlp kernel-smp-devel-....), and see if they exist.

If they don't, but an 'rpm -q kernel-smp-devel' shows it is, use 'rpm -e --justdb kernel-smp-devel-...' to remove it fromt he RPM database, and re-install.

rpm joy.. ;)

[Vernon Brown_4]

Thanks Stuart; but I'm still not blessed with a bunny :)

Your first suggestion returns a long list the tail of which you see below. Then I try to go to the directory; it doesn't exist. I try your second suggestion and etc.

/usr/src/kernels/2.6.11-1.1369_FC4-smp-x86_64/sound/synth/emux
/usr/src/kernels/2.6.11-1.1369_FC4-smp-x86_64/sound/synth/emux/Makefile
/usr/src/kernels/2.6.11-1.1369_FC4-smp-x86_64/sound/usb
/usr/src/kernels/2.6.11-1.1369_FC4-smp-x86_64/sound/usb/Kconfig
/usr/src/kernels/2.6.11-1.1369_FC4-smp-x86_64/sound/usb/Makefile
/usr/src/kernels/2.6.11-1.1369_FC4-smp-x86_64/sound/usb/usx2y
/usr/src/kernels/2.6.11-1.1369_FC4-smp-x86_64/sound/usb/usx2y/Makefile
/usr/src/kernels/2.6.11-1.1369_FC4-smp-x86_64/usr
/usr/src/kernels/2.6.11-1.1369_FC4-smp-x86_64/usr/Makefile
/usr/src/kernels/2.6.11-1.1369_FC4smp-x86_64
[root@veb2 veb]# cd /usr/src/kernels
bash: cd: /usr/src/kernels: No such file or directory
[root@veb2 veb]# rpm -e --justdb kernel-smp-devel-2.6.11-1.1369_FC4.x86_64.rpm
error: package kernel-smp-devel-2.6.11-1.1369_FC4.x86_64.rpm is not installed
[root@veb2 veb]#

[Stuart Browne]

rpm -e --justdb kernel-smp-devel-2.6.11-1.1369_FC4

The x86_64.rpm isn't part of the package name, just the archetecture and file extension.

[Vernon Brown_4]

Thanks Stuart; I had hopes for a minute, but no joy.

[root@veb2 veb]# rpm -e --justdb kernel-smp-devel-2.6.11-1.1369_FC4
error: package kernel-smp-devel-2.6.11-1.1369_FC4 is not installed
[root@veb2 veb]#

[Stuart Browne]

ok, the output of 'rpm -q kernel{,-smp}-devel' ?

[Vernon Brown_4]

Thanks Stuart

In my struggle I managed to wipe out the linux kernel itself and couldn't boot the system. Had to do a complete re-install of Fedora Core 6. It will take me a few days to completely recover from backups.

I'll start another thread if this new install doesn't support the hardwary.

Thanks guys !!

[Stuart Browne]

*cringe* ouchie..

Good luck!