[gentoo-user] Nvidia GeForce Go 6800 and nvidia-drivers ==> Cannot switch to ttys or close X

[gentoo-user] Nvidia GeForce Go 6800 and nvidia-drivers ==> Cannot switch to ttys or close X

[andrea]

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I'm using a Fujitsu Siemens Amilo D laptop with nvidia GeForse Go 6800:

| 03:00.0 VGA compatible controller: nVidia Corporation NV41.8 [GeForce
| Go 6800] (rev a2)


Latest available version of nvidia-drivers

| [I] x11-drivers/nvidia-drivers (169.12@29/02/2008): NVIDIA X11 driver
| and GLX libraries

The X session loads smooth with no errors and no warnings but after X is
loaded there is no way to come back to the framebuffer console (pressing
CTRL+ALT+F* or closing the session).

I get an almost white screen with some distorsion. If I come back
pressing CTRL+ALT+F7 I see my X session up n running.
The same happens if I close my session and then write "startx" on the
white screen. I have a brand new session running with no problems and no
errors.

Here are some relevant parts of my kernel config:

#
# Graphics support
#
CONFIG_AGP=y
# CONFIG_AGP_ALI is not set
# CONFIG_AGP_ATI is not set
# CONFIG_AGP_AMD is not set
# CONFIG_AGP_AMD64 is not set
# CONFIG_AGP_INTEL is not set
# CONFIG_AGP_NVIDIA is not set
# CONFIG_AGP_SIS is not set
# CONFIG_AGP_SWORKS is not set
# CONFIG_AGP_VIA is not set
# CONFIG_AGP_EFFICEON is not set
# CONFIG_DRM is not set
# CONFIG_VGASTATE is not set
# CONFIG_VIDEO_OUTPUT_CONTROL is not set
CONFIG_FB=y
# CONFIG_FIRMWARE_EDID is not set
# CONFIG_FB_DDC is not set
CONFIG_FB_CFB_FILLRECT=y
CONFIG_FB_CFB_COPYAREA=y
CONFIG_FB_CFB_IMAGEBLIT=y
# CONFIG_FB_CFB_REV_PIXELS_IN_BYTE is not set
# CONFIG_FB_SYS_FILLRECT is not set
# CONFIG_FB_SYS_COPYAREA is not set
# CONFIG_FB_SYS_IMAGEBLIT is not set
# CONFIG_FB_SYS_FOPS is not set
CONFIG_FB_DEFERRED_IO=y
# CONFIG_FB_SVGALIB is not set
# CONFIG_FB_MACMODES is not set
# CONFIG_FB_BACKLIGHT is not set
CONFIG_FB_MODE_HELPERS=y
# CONFIG_FB_TILEBLITTING is not set

#
# Frame buffer hardware drivers
#
# CONFIG_FB_CIRRUS is not set
# CONFIG_FB_PM2 is not set
# CONFIG_FB_CYBER2000 is not set
# CONFIG_FB_ARC is not set
# CONFIG_FB_ASILIANT is not set
# CONFIG_FB_IMSTT is not set
# CONFIG_FB_VGA16 is not set
CONFIG_FB_UVESA=y
# CONFIG_FB_VESA is not set
# CONFIG_FB_EFI is not set
# CONFIG_FB_HECUBA is not set
# CONFIG_FB_HGA is not set
# CONFIG_FB_S1D13XXX is not set
# CONFIG_FB_NVIDIA is not set
# CONFIG_FB_RIVA is not set
# CONFIG_FB_I810 is not set
# CONFIG_FB_LE80578 is not set
# CONFIG_FB_INTEL is not set
# CONFIG_FB_MATROX is not set
# CONFIG_FB_RADEON is not set
# CONFIG_FB_ATY128 is not set
# CONFIG_FB_ATY is not set
# CONFIG_FB_S3 is not set
# CONFIG_FB_SAVAGE is not set
# CONFIG_FB_SIS is not set
# CONFIG_FB_NEOMAGIC is not set
# CONFIG_FB_KYRO is not set
# CONFIG_FB_3DFX is not set
# CONFIG_FB_VOODOO1 is not set
# CONFIG_FB_VT8623 is not set
# CONFIG_FB_CYBLA is not set
# CONFIG_FB_TRIDENT is not set
# CONFIG_FB_ARK is not set
# CONFIG_FB_PM3 is not set
# CONFIG_FB_GEODE is not set
# CONFIG_FB_VIRTUAL is not set
CONFIG_BACKLIGHT_LCD_SUPPORT=y
CONFIG_LCD_CLASS_DEVICE=m
CONFIG_BACKLIGHT_CLASS_DEVICE=y
# CONFIG_BACKLIGHT_CORGI is not set
# CONFIG_BACKLIGHT_PROGEAR is not set

#
# Display device support
#
# CONFIG_DISPLAY_SUPPORT is not set

#
# Console display driver support
#
CONFIG_VGA_CONSOLE=y
# CONFIG_VGACON_SOFT_SCROLLBACK is not set
# CONFIG_VIDEO_SELECT is not set
CONFIG_DUMMY_CONSOLE=y
CONFIG_FRAMEBUFFER_CONSOLE=y
# CONFIG_FRAMEBUFFER_CONSOLE_DETECT_PRIMARY is not set
# CONFIG_FRAMEBUFFER_CONSOLE_ROTATION is not set
CONFIG_FB_CON_DECOR=y
# CONFIG_FONTS is not set
CONFIG_FONT_8x8=y
CONFIG_FONT_8x16=y
# CONFIG_LOGO is not set


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Re: [gentoo-user] Nvidia GeForce Go 6800 and nvidia-drivers ==> Cannot switch to ttys or close X

[Patric]

andrea wrote:
> ...
> The X session loads smooth with no errors and no warnings but after X is
> loaded there is no way to come back to the framebuffer console (pressing
> CTRL+ALT+F* or closing the session).
> 
> I get an almost white screen with some distorsion. If I come back
> pressing CTRL+ALT+F7 I see my X session up n running.
> The same happens if I close my session and then write "startx" on the
> white screen. I have a brand new session running with no problems and no
> errors.

I'm afraid I can't provide any help on this, but wanted to mention that I
experience exactly the same behaviour with my GeForce Go 6800 (TurboCache).
And this is not only for the current driver, but has been the case ever since i
own this notebook (it's an Acer Travelmate 4150LMi). The nvidia driver version
at the time I got it was 1.0-7184, and was already broken back then.
I would really love to see a solution for this, since not being able to leave X
is pretty annoying.
I should mention that on this system I have Debian installed, and used
kernel.orgs vanilla kernel + nvidia driver from their homepage ever since.

Regards,
   Patric

PS: Hi list! :)


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Re: [gentoo-user] Nvidia GeForce Go 6800 and nvidia-drivers ==> Cannot switch to ttys or close X

[Enrico Weigelt]

* Patric <bzk0711@aim.com> wrote:
> andrea wrote:
> >...
> >The X session loads smooth with no errors and no warnings but after X is
> >loaded there is no way to come back to the framebuffer console (pressing
> >CTRL+ALT+F* or closing the session).
> >
> >I get an almost white screen with some distorsion. If I come back
> >pressing CTRL+ALT+F7 I see my X session up n running.
> >The same happens if I close my session and then write "startx" on the
> >white screen. I have a brand new session running with no problems and no
> >errors.
> 
> I'm afraid I can't provide any help on this, but wanted to mention that I
> experience exactly the same behaviour with my GeForce Go 6800 (TurboCache).
> And this is not only for the current driver, but has been the case ever 
> since i
> own this notebook (it's an Acer Travelmate 4150LMi). The nvidia driver 
> version
> at the time I got it was 1.0-7184, and was already broken back then.
> I would really love to see a solution for this, since not being able to 
> leave X
> is pretty annoying.
> I should mention that on this system I have Debian installed, and used
> kernel.orgs vanilla kernel + nvidia driver from their homepage ever since.

You're talking about the NV's secret-code driver ? 
It makes heavy trouble with fbdev. Both together monst likely 
won't work.

That's because they refuse to use the well approved DRI interface
and do something completely own and obfuscated. Nobody outside of
NV can really help you :(


cu
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Re: [gentoo-user] Nvidia GeForce Go 6800 and nvidia-drivers ==> Cannot switch to ttys or close X

[andrea]

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On gio, 2008-03-13 at 10:32 +0100, Enrico Weigelt wrote:

> You're talking about the NV's secret-code driver ? 
> It makes heavy trouble with fbdev. Both together monst likely 
> won't work.

> That's because they refuse to use the well approved DRI interface
> and do something completely own and obfuscated. Nobody outside of
> NV can really help you :(
> 

Is there another way to have 3D accel and a decent framebuffer
resolution at the same time?

I don't really care about the driver being proprietary or free, just
need to have things working.

Thank you.



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[gentoo-user] Re: Nvidia GeForce Go 6800 and nvidia-drivers ==> Cannot switch to ttys or close X

[7v5w7go9ub0o]

Enrico Weigelt wrote:

> 
> You're talking about the NV's secret-code driver ? 
> It makes heavy trouble with fbdev. Both together monst likely 
> won't work.
> 
> That's because they refuse to use the well approved DRI interface
> and do something completely own and obfuscated. Nobody outside of
> NV can really help you :(
> 

Help, please! I'm thinking of building a new box: asus p5e/intel core2 
quad. I had thought of getting an NV. Would ATI be the better choice?
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Re: [gentoo-user] Re: Nvidia GeForce Go 6800 and nvidia-drivers ==> Cannot switch to ttys or close X

[Matthias Bethke]

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Hi 7v5w7go9ub0o,
on Thu, Mar 13, 2008 at 12:09:15PM -0400, you wrote:
> Help, please! I'm thinking of building a new box: asus p5e/intel core2 
> quad. I had thought of getting an NV. Would ATI be the better choice?

As far as I've heard, all proprietary graphics drivers on Linux suck but
NVidia's suck a little less. I've had big stability problems as well
with 169.09-r1 on an el-cheapo GeForce 7300 but 169.12 has been rock
solid for about a week now. At the speed any modern chip runs at, I
don't feel the need for any framebuffer tricksi any more---the console
runs in regular 1980s VGA 80x25 text mode which is fine for the boot
process, after that I use gnome-terminal in fullscreen mode which looks
just like a framebuffer console but with full unicode support and
everything.

cheers,
	Matthias
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Fingerprint: 8C16 3F0A A6FC DF0D 19B0  8DEF 48D9 1700 FAC3 7665

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Re: [gentoo-user] Re: Nvidia GeForce Go 6800 and nvidia-drivers ==> Cannot switch to ttys or close X

[andrea]

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On gio, 2008-03-13 at 21:38 +0100, Matthias Bethke wrote:
> As far as I've heard, all proprietary graphics drivers on Linux suck but
> NVidia's suck a little less. 
> I've had big stability problems as well
> with 169.09-r1 on an el-cheapo GeForce 7300 but 169.12 has been rock
> solid for about a week now. At the speed any modern chip runs at, I
> don't feel the need for any framebuffer tricksi any more

Well, I don't use any login manager, so when I close my X session I'd
like to be back in a working console.

This behavior also gives me problems in the hibernate/resume process,
because I cannot see what's really happening during that time.

> ---the console
> runs in regular 1980s VGA 80x25 text mode which is fine for the boot
> process, after that I use gnome-terminal in fullscreen mode which looks
> just like a framebuffer console but with full unicode support and
> everything.

I'm guessing if there is alternative driver that gives Nvidia 3D accel,
(like for ATI I can use radeon instead of fglrx).

I don't care too much about performance (no desktop 3D effects or
composite are needed) and I'm not a game player. BTW I'd like to have
applications requiring 3D (such as googleearth) just working.

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Re: [gentoo-user] Re: Nvidia GeForce Go 6800 and nvidia-drivers ==> Cannot switch to ttys or close X

[Enrico Weigelt]

* andrea <momesso.andrea@gmail.com> wrote:

> Well, I don't use any login manager, so when I close my X session I'd
> like to be back in a working console.
> 
> This behavior also gives me problems in the hibernate/resume process,
> because I cannot see what's really happening during that time.

One of the many situations where the proprietary drivers make
trouble. And I wouldn't assume NV will be investing reasonable
development resources, since the armany guys cannot "measure"
the benefits in their excel spreadsheets.

> I'm guessing if there is alternative driver that gives Nvidia 3D accel,
> (like for ATI I can use radeon instead of fglrx).

AFAIK, the free driver has no real 3D support yet.
But there's the Noveau project, which examines the proprietary
driver's behaviour and collects information for driver development.

> I don't care too much about performance (no desktop 3D effects or
> composite are needed) and I'm not a game player. BTW I'd like to have
> applications requiring 3D (such as googleearth) just working.

Me too. 
Maybe a software renderer would work fine, but I didn't really
tried to set it up yet.


cu
-- 
---------------------------------------------------------------------
 Enrico Weigelt    ==   metux IT service - http://www.metux.de/
---------------------------------------------------------------------
 Please visit the OpenSource QM Taskforce:
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Re: [gentoo-user] Re: Nvidia GeForce Go 6800 and nvidia-drivers ==> Cannot switch to ttys or close X

[Matthias Bethke]

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Hi andrea,
on Fri, Mar 14, 2008 at 08:53:53AM +0100, you wrote:
> > I've had big stability problems as well
> > with 169.09-r1 on an el-cheapo GeForce 7300 but 169.12 has been rock
> > solid for about a week now. At the speed any modern chip runs at, I
> > don't feel the need for any framebuffer tricksi any more
> 
> Well, I don't use any login manager, so when I close my X session I'd
> like to be back in a working console.

Do you actually do work there that you can't do while X is running?
Because ye olde VGA should work in any case and it's good enough for
entering "startx" or watching the machine resume from disk ;) 

> I'm guessing if there is alternative driver that gives Nvidia 3D accel,
> (like for ATI I can use radeon instead of fglrx).
> 
> I don't care too much about performance (no desktop 3D effects or
> composite are needed) and I'm not a game player. BTW I'd like to have
> applications requiring 3D (such as googleearth) just working.

AFAIK the open source "nv" driver has only 2D accel, and I haven't been
able to get GLX working with it. I guess it's possible using MESA's
software rendering somehow but as the latest nvidia driver works fine
for me I haven't investigated any further there.

cheers,
	Matthias
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Re: [gentoo-user] Re: Nvidia GeForce Go 6800 and nvidia-drivers ==> Cannot switch to ttys or close X

[Enrico Weigelt]

* 7v5w7go9ub0o <7v5w7go9ub0o@gmail.com> wrote:

> Help, please! I'm thinking of building a new box: asus p5e/intel core2 
> quad. I had thought of getting an NV. Would ATI be the better choice?

My personal advise:

#1: do NOT buy NV cards. you'won't get ANY free and stable 
    3D support for them in reasonable future (maybe they learn
    in several years, but this would probably too late for you)
    
#2: look very carefully for which cards ATI has published their
    specs (not sure if they did it for all). for those you've got
    very great chances to get an good driver in very near future
    (even it might not be perfect right now, but the community
    can and will improve it fast).

I did the mistake just looking for 2D before buying my current
notebook (if I had known the lack of 3D support, I had never
bought it) :(


cu
-- 
---------------------------------------------------------------------
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---------------------------------------------------------------------
 Please visit the OpenSource QM Taskforce:
 	http://wiki.metux.de/public/OpenSource_QM_Taskforce
 Patches / Fixes for a lot dozens of packages in dozens of versions:
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