Installing nVidia Drivers

[TheQuirk]

Note: this probably isn't good enough, but I still decided to give it a shot. This is a pretty simple task, so I don't even know if it's worth a whole tutorial page...

#include <stddisclaimer.h>

Small Disclaimer: These instructions are for Red Hat 8.0, although they should work in a similar manner on other distros.

Pros: OpenGL support with your nVidia card. Better overall performance in graphic-intensive tasks.

Cons: Tainting your kernel with non-GPLed kernel modules.

Let us begin: The procedure is really quite simple. Assuming you are running an 32bit x86 (Intel, Athlon--most home computers are this) computer, visit the <a href="http://www.nvidia.com/view.asp?IO=linux_display_ia32_1.0-4191">nVidia Linux drivers page</a> and download the following packages:

GLX SOURCE RPM
Kernel Source RPM

Both filenames should end with ".src.rpm", the "src" bit standing for "source". For the sake of example, I'll assume that you downloaded "NVIDIA_GLX-1.0-4191.src.rpm" and "NVIDIA_kernel-1.0-4191.src.rpm".

Once the packages have been acquired, change into their directory, and "rebuild" the kernel package by typing in the following:

# rpmbuild --rebuild NVIDIA_kernel-1.0-4191.src.rpm

You should get a message that looks like this:
Wrote: /usr/src/redhat/RPMS/i386/NVIDIA_kernel-1.0-4191.i386.rpm
Which basiclly tells you where your new RPM is. Note that i386 may be replaced depending on your architecture.

Now, to finally complete this step, do:

#rpm -ivh /usr/src/redhat/RPMS/i386/NVIDIA_kernel-1.0-4191.i386.rpm

Replacing "/usr/src/redhat/RPMS/i386/NVIDIA_kernel-1.0-4191.i386.rpm" with the actual path to your RPM.

For the second step, repeat everything above, replacing "NVIDIA_kernel-1.0-4191.i386.rpm" with your nVidia driver--in this case, "NVIDIA_GLX-1.0-4191.src.rpm".

When you're done, edit your /etc/X11/XF86Config with the following modifications:

Remove the line(s):

Load "dri"
Load "GLcore"

(On my install of RH8.0, only 'Load "dri"' existed, but just in case...)

And instead add the line:

Load "glx"

Note that even if those two lines did not exist, you should <b>still</b> add the above line!

When you're done with that, find a line that says:

Driver "nv"

And replace it with:

Driver "nvidia"

If 'Driver "nv"' does not exist, you still have to add 'Driver "nvidia"'.

Save the changes, exit your text editor, and restart X-Windows--this is done by pressing control+alt+backspace. You should now have OpenGL support (this means games like Tux Racer will now function properly!).

[Void Main]

Good tip Quirk! That's pretty much the way I do it. Would you like me to add it to the Red Hat tips section?

[TheQuirk]

Sure, why not... Belg88.com's going to go down soon, anyway... (Long story, but it has to do with school shootings, police officers, and controversial conten on websites )

[Calum]

you are allowing your school to shut down a site that you maintain in your own time??? poor show.

[TheQuirk]

No, they didn't. I got to keep my site, but they're blocking it from the school network. That's OK, I'll fix it tomorrow.

[TheQuirk]

No, they didn't. I got to keep my site, but they're blocking it from the school network. That's OK, I'll fix it tomorrow.

BTW, it was because I made fun of the war on Iraq, etc. Heh.

[TheQuirk]

By the way, are you going to add it?

[X11]

I seen it was um dead, even the forum, whats going on with that.

[TheQuirk]

It works now. IM me for details, it's a very long story...