Installing nvidia drivers - cannot fnd kernel source's

dragon2309 · #1 11th August 2008, 09:29 PM

Hi guys, I've dabbled with linux distros before, i used to run fedora core 8 a little while back, played about with ubuntu (not all that good) and some others.

Now I'm using Fedora Core 9, everything is going fine.

Audio : OK
Network : OK
Int & Ext Drives : OK
Wireless Keyb + Mouse : OK

The only thing im having issues with, which is rather a large thing to have problems with, is the monitors and graphics output.

I run dual screens, this has always been an issue even in past versions of any distro, it will only ever dispaly on both screens in CLONE mode, same thing on both.

The only option i can find out of the box is dual-head, but of course it wants me to select the second graphics card, which i dont have, i just use dual output from the same card (nVidia GeForce 8800GTS G80)

Thinking logically i went off to grab the linux nvidia drivers, downlaoded, run, "already running an xserver, retry without one running" ok, rebooted into CLI, ran the installer, now it complains that it can't find the kernel source's to create an interface of some kind (cant quite remember the wording, sorry)

So in short... help!

Regards, Dave

leigh123linux · #2 11th August 2008, 09:43 PM

Install the kernel development files !

Code:

su
yum install kernel-devel  kernel-headers

Quote:

already running an xserver, retry without one running" ok, rebooted into CLI, ran the installer

You don't need to reboot ! , this command will stop X

Code:

su -
init 3

then run the installer!

markkuk · #3 11th August 2008, 09:47 PM

Using the generic drivers from the Nvidia site is the wrong way, use the drivers compiled and packaged for Fedora from the Livna repository. See also: http://rpm.livna.org/rlowiki/LivnaSwitcher and http://www.fedorafaq.org/#nvidia

dragon2309 · #4 11th August 2008, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leigh123@linux

Install the kernel development files !

Code:

su
yum install kernel-devel  kernel-headers

You don't need to reboot ! , this command will stop X

Code:

su -
init 3

then run the installer!

ok, tried both of those, installed the development files and kernel-headers, still get the same error though. About itnot being able to find the source tree or something along those lines.

Quote:

Originally Posted by markkuk

Using the generic drivers from the Nvidia site is the wrong way, use the drivers compiled and packaged for Fedora from the Livna repository. See also: http://rpm.livna.org/rlowiki/LivnaSwitcher and http://www.fedorafaq.org/#nvidia

As you can probably tell, im not exactly an expert here, i downloaded the FC9 rep rpm but the package installer says i dont have privelages to isntall local packages, even though im currently logged in under root... *confused*

Regards, Dave

brebs · #5 11th August 2008, 10:08 PM

Show the *actual* error messages as they appear on-screen, not your "interpretation" of them

dragon2309 · #6 12th August 2008, 05:34 PM

Ok, I completely screwed all of that up, i have a clean fresh install of FC9, does anybody who knows want to guide me through the correct process of installing up to date nvidia drivers.

Bare in mind i havent compiled or installed any kernel source files as i have no idea which way if any is correct.

Cheers, dave

brebs · #7 12th August 2008, 05:40 PM

See /etc/rc.local script and ignore the livna fanboys

dragon2309 · #8 12th August 2008, 05:43 PM

ok, so this isnt going to need any kernel source trees or anything or anything extra compiled?

also, that looks as if its for 64-bit FC, im running 32

JN4OldSchool · #9 12th August 2008, 05:45 PM

That would be a mistake. Livna is the better way to go. At the least it will keep you from having to rebuild the driver with every new kernel. See this site:

http://www.mjmwired.net/resources/mjm-fedora-f9.html

for a how-to. It is a matter of 3 simple commands. When installed be sure to also install akmod-nvidia as this will rebuild the driver automatically with every new kernel.

Some people just insist on doing things the hard way even when there is no reason for it.

dragon2309 · #10 12th August 2008, 05:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JN4OldSchool

That would be a mistake. Livna is the better way to go. At the least it will keep you from having to rebuild the driver with every new kernel. See this site:

http://www.mjmwired.net/resources/mjm-fedora-f9.html

for a how-to. It is a matter of 3 simple commands. When installed be sure to also install akmod-nvidia as this will rebuild the driver automatically with every new kernel.

Some people just insist on doing things the hard way even when there is no reason for it.

oh, ok... well, being a noob i'll trust you via your post count, i jjust ran "# yum update" to update everything. Thats still completing, 500Mb in total to d/l

when thats done, i suppose i have to register the livna repos with yum? and then install the nvidia driver via livna?

and that should be ok?

JN4OldSchool · #11 12th August 2008, 06:01 PM

Code:

su -
(your root password)
rpm -ivh http://rpm.livna.org/livna-release-9.rpm
rpm --import /etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY-livna
yum install kmod-nvidia akmod-nvidia

I added the akmod-nvidia because I am pretty sure it will not be picked up as a dependency.

This is it. Then just reboot. You should never have to worry about it again.

edit: I was mistaken about Breb's method though, from what I read in his link he has apparently found a way to automatically rebuild the nvidia binary? Either way though, unless you had a distinct reason for not using Livna then this would be kinda like going from Florida to New York via Oregon.

dragon2309 · #12 12th August 2008, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JN4OldSchool

Code:

su -
(your root password)
rpm -ivh http://rpm.livna.org/livna-release-9.rpm
rpm --import /etc/pki/rpm-gpg/RPM-GPG-KEY-livna
yum install kmod-nvidia akmod-nvidia

I added the akmod-nvidia because I am pretty sure it will not be picked up as a dependency.

This is it. Then just reboot. You should never have to worry about it again.

thanks buddy, hopefully it will work without a hitch, im on here under root anyway, so shouldnt have to su anything.

Thanks mate, i shall have a play and report back

brebs · #13 12th August 2008, 06:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JN4OldSchool

automatically rebuild the nvidia binary

Of course. My method, i.e. nvidia's method, works. I see no reason to rely on a third-party (livna) repository, and am frankly amazed and flabbergasted that all you guys do.

Kindly state what the disadvantages to nvidia's method are.

JN4OldSchool · #14 12th August 2008, 06:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brebs

Of course. My method, i.e. nvidia's method, works. I see no reason to rely on a third-party (livna) repository, and am frankly amazed and flabbergasted that all you guys do.

Kindly state what the disadvantages to nvidia's method are.

Just for starters ease of installation and automatic updates would be a big benefit. I am also under the impression that the Livna drivers are tweaked for Fedora, though you would know more about the technical stuff than I would.

I have used the Livna drivers since FC4 with no problems and cant really see any reason not to. It has always been the accepted method. OTOH, there certainly is nothing wrong with using the nvidia binary, many people do. Especially if it can be automatically rebuilt. I guess it amounts to whatever works for you. But I will continue to recommend Livna to the newer folks simply because of ease of installation.

dragon2309 · #15 12th August 2008, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by brebs

Of course. My method, i.e. nvidia's method, works. I see no reason to rely on a third-party (livna) repository, and am frankly amazed and flabbergasted that all you guys do.

Kindly state what the disadvantages to nvidia's method are.

Quote:

Originally Posted by JN4OldSchool

Just for starters ease of installation and automatic updates would be a big benefit. I am also under the impression that the Livna drivers are tweaked for Fedora, though you would know more about the technical stuff than I would.

I have used the Livna drivers since FC4 with no problems and cant really see any reason not to. It has always been the accepted method. OTOH, there certainly is nothing wrong with using the nvidia binary, many people do. Especially if it can be automatically rebuilt. I guess it amounts to whatever works for you. But I will continue to recommend Livna to the newer folks simply because of ease of installation.

woah, i didnt want to start arguments, i honestly dont care which method is used, they all end up at the same destination.

anyway, jn4oldschool, i did as you instructed, system came back up, the screen isnt mirrored onto the second one anymore, but there now isnt any ouput to it at all, how in the world does one go about getting monitor spanning to work...?

Oh btw... Livna Display Config states that the nvidia driver is now installed. YAY