Howto for fglrx / catalyst (Ati driver)

leigh123linux · #1 20th May 2007, 12:58 AM

EDIT: Added July 2, 2012

Howto for F16 & F17

Click this link to make sure your card is supported by this driver (All ATI cards below the HD series are unsupported, in F17 all HD4xxx and below are unsupported)

0. Clean: IF you previously installed this driver using the binary package provided by AMD-ATI, you must un-install it, then repair Mesa:

Code:

su
yum reinstall mesa-libGL

1. Update kernel

Code:

su
yum update kernel

reboot to the new kernel

2. Install driver

install the rpmfusion driver

Using akmod: This is the best option in my opinion as you don't get any problems when a new kernel is released.

Code:

su
yum --nogpgcheck install http://download1.rpmfusion.org/free/fedora/rpmfusion-free-release-stable.noarch.rpm http://download1.rpmfusion.org/nonfree/fedora/rpmfusion-nonfree-release-stable.noarch.rpm
yum install akmod-catalyst xorg-x11-drv-catalyst xorg-x11-drv-catalyst-libs.i686

Or using kmod (which saves a bit of disk space but will have problems with every kernel update.)

Code:

su
yum --nogpgcheck install http://download1.rpmfusion.org/free/fedora/rpmfusion-free-release-stable.noarch.rpm http://download1.rpmfusion.org/nonfree/fedora/rpmfusion-nonfree-release-stable.noarch.rpm
yum install kmod-catalyst xorg-x11-drv-catalyst xorg-x11-drv-catalyst-libs.i686

For PAE kernels

Code:

su
yum --nogpgcheck install http://download1.rpmfusion.org/free/fedora/rpmfusion-free-release-stable.noarch.rpm http://download1.rpmfusion.org/nonfree/fedora/rpmfusion-nonfree-release-stable.noarch.rpm
yum install kmod-catalyst-PAE xorg-x11-drv-catalyst-libs.i686 xorg-x11-drv-catalyst

Or (akmod builds the required kmod on bootup)

3. Make sure radeon is removed from initramfs

Code:

su
mv /boot/initramfs-$(uname -r).img /boot/initramfs-$(uname -r)-radeon.img
dracut /boot/initramfs-$(uname -r).img $(uname -r)

4. Reboot

Quote:

Originally Posted by deprecated old content

Howto for F16

I haven't bothered to do a F16 guide as the catalyst driver is complete garbage.
Do yourself a favour and use the open source Radeon driver, if this isn't good enough BUY A NVIDIA CARD INSTEAD.

leigh123linux · #2 20th May 2007, 10:03 AM

Howto for F15 (Please note that gnome-shell doesn't work with fglrx)

Click this link to make sure your card is supported by this driver ( All ATI cards below the HD series are unsupported )

0. Clean: IF you previously installed this driver using the binary package provided by AMD-ATI, you must un-install it, then repair Mesa:

Code:

su
yum reinstall mesa-libGL

1. Update kernel

Code:

su
yum update kernel

reboot to the new kernel

2. Install driver

install the F15 rpmfusion driver

Using akmod: This is the best option in my opinion as you don't get any problems when a new kernel is released.

Code:

su
rpm -Uvh   http://download1.rpmfusion.org/free/fedora/rpmfusion-free-release-stable.noarch.rpm     http://download1.rpmfusion.org/nonfree/fedora/rpmfusion-nonfree-release-stable.noarch.rpm
yum install akmod-catalyst xorg-x11-drv-catalyst  xorg-x11-drv-catalyst-libs.i686

Or using kmod (which saves a bit of disk space but will have problems with every kernel update.)

Code:

su -
rpm -Uvh   http://download1.rpmfusion.org/free/fedora/rpmfusion-free-release-stable.noarch.rpm     http://download1.rpmfusion.org/nonfree/fedora/rpmfusion-nonfree-release-stable.noarch.rpm
yum install kmod-catalyst xorg-x11-drv-catalyst xorg-x11-drv-catalyst-libs.i686

For PAE kernels

Code:

su -
rpm -Uvh   http://download1.rpmfusion.org/free/fedora/rpmfusion-free-release-stable.noarch.rpm     http://download1.rpmfusion.org/nonfree/fedora/rpmfusion-nonfree-release-stable.noarch.rpm
yum install kmod-catalyst-PAE xorg-x11-drv-catalyst-libs.i686  xorg-x11-drv-catalyst

Or (akmod builds the required kmod on bootup )

3. Reboot

.

leigh123linux · #3 21st May 2007, 09:25 PM

Howto for F14

Click this link to make sure your card is supported by this driver ( All ATI cards below the HD series are unsupported )

0. Clean: IF you previously installed this driver using the binary package provided by AMD-ATI, you must un-install it, then repair Mesa:

Code:

su
yum reinstall mesa-libGL

1. Update kernel

Code:

su
yum update kernel

reboot to the new kernel

2. Install driver

install the F14 rpmfusion driver

Using akmod: This is the best option in my opinion as you don't get any problems when a new kernel is released.

Code:

su
rpm -Uvh    http://download1.rpmfusion.org/free/fedora/rpmfusion-free-release-stable.noarch.rpm       http://download1.rpmfusion.org/nonfree/fedora/rpmfusion-nonfree-release-stable.noarch.rpm
yum  install   akmod-catalyst xorg-x11-drv-catalyst    xorg-x11-drv-catalyst-libs.i686

Or using kmod (which saves a bit of disk space but will have problems with every kernel update.)

Code:

su -
rpm -Uvh   http://download1.rpmfusion.org/nonfree/fedora/rpmfusion-nonfree-release-stable.noarch.rpm     http://download1.rpmfusion.org/free/fedora/rpmfusion-free-release-stable.noarch.rpm
yum install kmod-catalyst  xorg-x11-drv-catalyst xorg-x11-drv-catalyst-libs.i686

For PAE kernels

Code:

su -
rpm -Uvh   http://download1.rpmfusion.org/nonfree/fedora/rpmfusion-nonfree-release-stable.noarch.rpm     http://download1.rpmfusion.org/free/fedora/rpmfusion-free-release-stable.noarch.rpm
yum install  kmod-catalyst-PAE xorg-x11-drv-catalyst-libs.i686   xorg-x11-drv-catalyst

Or (akmod builds the required kmod on bootup )

3. Reboot

.

distr0 · #4 21st May 2007, 10:28 PM

yeaaah. its pretty

games seem to run horribly now though, is there a solution for this?

leigh123linux · #5 21st May 2007, 10:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by distr0

yeaaah. its pretty

games seem to run horribly now though, is there a solution for this?

When I play games I normally disable the effects.

try

gnome-xgl-switch --disable-xgl

distr0 · #6 22nd May 2007, 02:36 AM

yep, games run alot smoother with xgl disabled

im glad i swiched to i686, i was having major issues with fglrx in x64, everything just WORKS now running 32 bit

nicofo · #7 22nd May 2007, 07:08 PM

To play a game, run it with "noXgl <myGame>".

Rem: the command "gnome-xgl-switch" is not supported with my script: don't use it !

leigh123linux · #8 22nd May 2007, 08:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nicofo

To play a game, run it with "noXgl <myGame>".

Rem: the command "gnome-xgl-switch" is not supported with my script: don't use it !

Hi nicofo,

Great script ( I hope you don't mind me using it in my howto ) , I was aware that the switches were different .
Being a Nvidia user I have been unable to test so I was unable to include any switches.
Could you please post any more usefull switches.

Many thanks Leigh

joao82 · #9 23rd May 2007, 02:28 PM

when I do "fglrxinfo" on the terminal I get this:

Quote:

Xlib: extension "XFree86-DRI" missing on display ":0.0".
display: :0.0 screen: 0
OpenGL vendor string: Mesa project: www.mesa3d.org
OpenGL renderer string: Mesa GLX Indirect
OpenGL version string: 1.2 (1.5 Mesa 6.5.1)

nothing shows ATI, is this good or bad? apart from that, everything went ok, it automatically changed "radeon" to "fglrx" on xorg.conf.

and when I type glxinfo i get the following:

Quote:

name of display: :0.0
Xlib: extension "XFree86-DRI" missing on display ":0.0".
display: :0 screen: 0
direct rendering: No
server glx vendor string: SGI
server glx version string: 1.2
server glx extensions:
GLX_ARB_multisample, GLX_EXT_visual_info, GLX_EXT_visual_rating,
GLX_EXT_import_context, GLX_EXT_texture_from_pixmap, GLX_OML_swap_method,
GLX_SGI_make_current_read, GLX_SGIS_multisample, GLX_SGIX_hyperpipe,
GLX_SGIX_swap_barrier, GLX_SGIX_fbconfig, GLX_MESA_copy_sub_buffer

leigh123linux · #10 23rd May 2007, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by joao82

when I do "fglrxinfo" on the terminal I get this:

nothing shows ATI, is this good or bad? apart from that, everything went ok, it automatically changed "radeon" to "fglrx" on xorg.conf.

and when I type glxinfo i get the following:

1. Did you edit your xorg.conf as described in section 3 ?
2. Did you restart X or reboot as this is needed . ?

if the above steps fail post the output from

cat /var/log/Xorg.0.log | grep EE

and

cat /var/log/Xorg.0.log | grep WW

Zero-Override · #11 23rd May 2007, 02:53 PM

i am definitly going to like this i think, as soon as i get all my other hardware (mainly my wireless linksys system) then i will try this out!!

joao82 · #12 23rd May 2007, 02:54 PM

sorry, i forgot to do "fglrx-config-display enable"
everything is exactly how you described now. I can now vote on the poll =)

nicofo · #13 24th May 2007, 07:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by leigh123@linux

Hi nicofo,

Great script ( I hope you don't mind me using it in my howto ) , I was aware that the switches were different .
Being a Nvidia user I have been unable to test so I was unable to include any switches.
Could you please post any more usefull switches.

Many thanks Leigh

Hi,

there is no other command to know except chooseCompositeWM. To summarize the useful commands:

noXgl to play a game or use a 3D application. The "-a" option is useful for windowed applications (ex: noXgl ppracer / noXgl -a googleearth)
chooseCompositeWM to choose between beryl or compiz (==> you don't need to run them manually). This command is also located in System -> Preferences -> XGL Window Manager [gnome] or K Menu -> Settings -> XGL Window Manager [KDE]

They are all described http://nicofo.tuxfamily.org/dotclear...eryl-on-fedora as well.

And finally, to start / stop using XGL, there is no command for that: you have just to log in and choose or not the XGL session at the login screen.

Enjoy your 3D desktop with ATI

leigh123linux · #14 24th May 2007, 07:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nicofo

Hi,

there is no other command to know except chooseCompositeWM. To summarize the useful commands:

noXgl to play a game or use a 3D application. The "-a" option is useful for windowed applications (ex: noXgl ppracer / noXgl -a googleearth)
chooseCompositeWM to choose between beryl or compiz (==> you don't need to run them manually). This command is also located in System -> Preferences -> XGL Window Manager [gnome] or K Menu -> Settings -> XGL Window Manager [KDE]

They are all described http://nicofo.tuxfamily.org/dotclear...eryl-on-fedora as well.

And finally, to start / stop using XGL, there is no command for that: you have just to log in and choose or not the XGL session at the login screen.

Enjoy your 3D desktop with ATI

Thanks Leigh

Zero-Override · #15 25th May 2007, 12:43 AM

i must have fudged up somewhere

okay here is what i did and have:

i have a fully operational and fresh install of fc7test4
i have the i686 kernel
i have yum and downloaded the packages,

what i don have

i don't have the the namechange from mesa to ati in the xorg.conf
when i tell it to do "service fglrx restart" it says

Code:

 bash: service: command not found

when i reboot it tells me that itś enabling the fglrx and that it may take a while, that works out okay and passes, then whenit should load my xserver it fails and says i fudged something up and that it will repair it =/

what would you suggest i do next?

oh btw, i have my xorg.conf exactly like described