Arch Linux

ux&lx

Member

Registered: 2008-11-23

Posts: 101

[SOLVED]Custom kernel (2.6.28); NVIDIA problems

I compiled new custom kernel and wanted to create nvidia driver package for it. I followed the tutorial on wiki but can't seem to make the package. I also tried to install nvidia-driver package from archlinuxfr repository but get the same error:

unable to determine the target kernel version

Does anyone have any idea on what should i do next?

Last edited by ux&lx (2009-01-14 20:05:12)

ux&lx

Member

Registered: 2008-11-23

Posts: 101

Re: [SOLVED]Custom kernel (2.6.28); NVIDIA problems

One more information: i need to build 173xx version of nvidia driver for my card....

haxit

Member

From: /home/haxit

Registered: 2008-03-04

Posts: 1,247

Website

Re: [SOLVED]Custom kernel (2.6.28); NVIDIA problems

Have you tried to use the driver from the nVidia website, it worked for me.

---

Archi686 User | Old Screenshots | Old .Configs
Vi veri universum vivus vici.

ux&lx

Member

Registered: 2008-11-23

Posts: 101

Re: [SOLVED]Custom kernel (2.6.28); NVIDIA problems

Yes, that was the first thing i tried. I also tried to pass it the -k $(uname -r) argument but it still gives me the same error.

.:B:.

Forum Fellow

Registered: 2006-11-26

Posts: 5,819

Website

Re: [SOLVED]Custom kernel (2.6.28); NVIDIA problems

You already rebooted and are running the new kernel?

---

Got Leenucks? :: Arch: Power in simplicity :: Get Counted! Registered Linux User #392717 :: Blog thingy

methuselah

Member

Registered: 2007-10-02

Posts: 570

Re: [SOLVED]Custom kernel (2.6.28); NVIDIA problems

I compiled new custom kernel and wanted to create nvidia driver package for it. I followed the tutorial on wiki but can't seem to make the package. I also tried to install nvidia-driver package from archlinuxfr repository but get the same error:

unable to determine the target kernel version

Does anyone have any idea on what should i do next?

Did you use the kernel26 PKGBUILD from abs testing?  For 2.6.28?

If not then you need to use the new PKGBUILD from 2.8.28 testing..... there is a new part in the PKGBUILD that adds the correct directory..... This is how I was able to build the NVIDIA driver for 2.6.28.

This Part:

  # copy arch includes for external modules
  mkdir -p ${pkgdir}/usr/src/linux-${_kernver}/arch/x86
  cp -a arch/x86/include ${pkgdir}/usr/src/linux-${_kernver}/arch/x86/

Last edited by methuselah (2009-01-13 23:15:51)

ux&lx

Member

Registered: 2008-11-23

Posts: 101

Re: [SOLVED]Custom kernel (2.6.28); NVIDIA problems

Thanks, but i didn't use the PKGBUILD for kernel compilation, i used the traditional way of. So i don't know how this can help me.

jacko

Member

Registered: 2007-11-23

Posts: 840

Re: [SOLVED]Custom kernel (2.6.28); NVIDIA problems

Thanks, but i didn't use the PKGBUILD for kernel compilation, i used the traditional way of. So i don't know how this can help me.

Well, Not that it's the cause of your problem, but it's so much easier to use abs/makepkg/pacman system when installing anything. Arch was designed to use these tools effectively to create packages and install them with minimal effort.

I would ask you to post up your PKGBUILDS so I could correct them for you, but you didn't use them. So I guess that means your on your own.

When will people learn to do things the ARCH way?

the error you are getting suggest that the nvidia driver cannot find the appropriate kernel version needes by the drivers. With out anymore information provided on your part I suppose there isn't much to be said.

jacko

Member

Registered: 2007-11-23

Posts: 840

Re: [SOLVED]Custom kernel (2.6.28); NVIDIA problems

BTW, installing stuff without using makepkg/pacman can get you into a lot of trouble later on down the road.

If you install things with pacman, but the file is already there , pacman will bitch because it won't overwrite a file that it didn't place in your fs in the first place. This will cause any updates or installs to fail until the offending file is fixed. I know this may not seem like a huge problem, but spending time in IRC has taught me differently.

What is your main reason for custom installing a kernel? Is it a simple config change?

ux&lx

Member

Registered: 2008-11-23

Posts: 101

Re: [SOLVED]Custom kernel (2.6.28); NVIDIA problems

I always compile custom kernel mainly for performance purposes (boot time) and because i like having clean kernel without a huge number of included modules which i don't need. I compiled kernel in the traditional way because this is the way kernel is supposed to be compiled and i got used to it in Slackware (in which i never had any problems). Not that i say that the ABS way isn't good, i just prefer to do it the "normal" way. I never upgrade my kernel and because of that i don't have te need for a kernel package. If there's a security bug in kernel i just patch it myself or rerely change it with a newer version.
@ B:
Yes ofcourse, i'm running the new kernel...

Last edited by ux&lx (2009-01-14 13:35:21)

broch

Banned

From: L.A. California

Registered: 2006-11-13

Posts: 975

Re: [SOLVED]Custom kernel (2.6.28); NVIDIA problems

assuming that this is 32-bit check if you have
symlink
/usr/src/linux-2.6.28.x/include/asm -> asm-x86

if not then create it. Other than that, all depends on your nvidia driver version.
Hope this will help.

Personally I think that old way of compiling kernel is way easier than from PKGBUILD. But this is my personal opinion of course.

ux&lx

Member

Registered: 2008-11-23

Posts: 101

Re: [SOLVED]Custom kernel (2.6.28); NVIDIA problems

Thanks for the advice but i've already checked this earlier on; the symlink is there. It seems like that this is the problem with driver version, but i can't install the new version because it doesn't support my card. I even tried the ancient 96 version and faced the same problem.

broch

Banned

From: L.A. California

Registered: 2006-11-13

Posts: 975

Re: [SOLVED]Custom kernel (2.6.28); NVIDIA problems

latest legacy 96.x series is
96.43.07
nvidia claims that they restored compatibility with 2.6 kernels. Have you tried this one?
If this driver is not working, I ould suggest to open a new topic at
http://www.nvnews.net/vbulletin/forumdi … forumid=14
with full bug report

you can also try 96.43.07 (beta) with further improved compatibility with 2.6 kernels.

@jacko
note about Arch way.
I hope that you understand that this is linux and that Arch specifically is trying to keep stuff simple. I never had any problems with software installed by distro mixed with software compiled from sources irrelevant of packaging system debian, rmp based distros, slack, gentoo or arch.
I don't see any point to try frighten users.

Last edited by broch (2009-01-14 17:35:40)

methuselah

Member

Registered: 2007-10-02

Posts: 570

Re: [SOLVED]Custom kernel (2.6.28); NVIDIA problems

I always compile custom kernel mainly for performance purposes (boot time) and because i like having clean kernel without a huge number of included modules which i don't need. I compiled kernel in the traditional way because this is the way kernel is supposed to be compiled and i got used to it in Slackware (in which i never had any problems). Not that i say that the ABS way isn't good, i just prefer to do it the "normal" way. I never upgrade my kernel and because of that i don't have te need for a kernel package. If there's a security bug in kernel i just patch it myself or rerely change it with a newer version.
@ B:
Yes ofcourse, i'm running the new kernel...

But why not just run the new 2.6.28 PKGBUILD that includes the "external modules" section? All you need to do is upgrade mkinitcpio to the new version, and then run that PKGBUILD with the "make menuconfig" option instead of "make config".

This works for me.

substitute this:

  # load configuration
  yes "" | make config
  # build!

With this:

  # load configuration
  make menuconfig
  # build!

methuselah

Member

Registered: 2007-10-02

Posts: 570

Re: [SOLVED]Custom kernel (2.6.28); NVIDIA problems

One last question..... do you have this file:

/lib/modules/2.6.28-ARCH/build/arch/x86/include/asm

with these files in it:

ux&lx

Member

Registered: 2008-11-23

Posts: 101

Re: [SOLVED]Custom kernel (2.6.28); NVIDIA problems

Yes i have the asm directory with similar contents. If i used PKGBUILD the changes you mentioned wouldn't be neccesary because i have my config file configured as i want.

broch

Banned

From: L.A. California

Registered: 2006-11-13

Posts: 975

Re: [SOLVED]Custom kernel (2.6.28); NVIDIA problems

sorry,
I meant nvidia beta 96.43.09

Have you tried this?

excuse me but what this:
  # load configuration
  make menuconfig
  # build!

has to do with nvidia compatibility?

Last edited by broch (2009-01-14 18:21:53)

ux&lx

Member

Registered: 2008-11-23

Posts: 101

Re: [SOLVED]Custom kernel (2.6.28); NVIDIA problems

I was wandering the same thing, but it doesn't matter. The right driver for my card is 173 actually, i just said that i even tried the 96 version branch.

methuselah

Member

Registered: 2007-10-02

Posts: 570

Re: [SOLVED]Custom kernel (2.6.28); NVIDIA problems

Yes i have the asm directory with similar contents.

Ok my bad. So it probably isn't that external modules section then.... When using the old 2.6.27 PKGBUILD I had been missing that "include" directory so there weren't those important files in "asm" to build against.

If i used PKGBUILD the changes you mentioned wouldn't be neccesary because i have my config file configured as i want.

Well, I was just responding to what you said about being able to strip out all of your unused modules from your post below:

I always compile custom kernel mainly for performance purposes (boot time) and because i like having clean kernel without a huge number of included modules which i don't need. I compiled kernel in the traditional way because this is the way kernel is supposed to be compiled and i got used to it in Slackware (in which i never had any problems).

I was only saying that you could use menuconfig in a PKGBUILD to do what you like to do..... and even if you have a .config that you use and are happy with..... then you can always use that one in your PKGBUILD which loads your settings into the "make menuconfig" so all you have to do is quickly check the newest options that are introduced into the new kernel versions.

Hell, you probably know much more about this than me..... so I'm done adding my amateur help to this post. I only tried to share what worked for me..... and it turns out that it seems that your nvidia problem is different than the one I had experienced when I upgraded to 2.6.28.

methuselah

Member

Registered: 2007-10-02

Posts: 570

Re: [SOLVED]Custom kernel (2.6.28); NVIDIA problems

sorry,
I meant nvidia beta 96.43.09

Have you tried this?

excuse me but what this:
  # load configuration
  make menuconfig
  # build!

has to do with nvidia compatibility?

Absolutely nothing..... it had to do with the discussion that jacko and ux&lx were having about "traditional" kernel compilation vs. "abs PKGBUILD" compilation..... and I was only pointing out that all of the "striping of useless modules" that ux&lx had said that he does could also be done using a modified ABS PKGBUILD.

Is that ok for you broch?

In fact..... I only posted that because the topic had switched to "abs" vs "traditional" in post #8, #9, #10, #11, and post #13.... 2 of the posts being yours...... I only added my "make menuconfig" comment to add a simple fact that a kernel can be customized in the same way with a PKGBUILD.

Last edited by methuselah (2009-01-14 18:44:28)

broch

Banned

From: L.A. California

Registered: 2006-11-13

Posts: 975

Re: [SOLVED]Custom kernel (2.6.28); NVIDIA problems

I assume that you have tested beta 173.14.15
also in this case nvidia claims improved compatibility

I would post your problems at nvidia/linux site. It is possible that Zander & Co. will issue fast patch. 2.6.28 is relatively new, so you may be one of the first who have these issues with 173.x/2.6.28 combination

I have 7400 so I am using 177 (patched) without issues related to 2.6.28

ux&lx

Member

Registered: 2008-11-23

Posts: 101

Re: [SOLVED]Custom kernel (2.6.28); NVIDIA problems

@ methuselah: You misunderstood. I just commented but it doesn't meen that i am not very thankful for your suggestions and help.

@ broch:

Thank you very much for the information on new beta driver. That solved my problem finaly. I downloaded tham and installed without problems. So my problem is solved. Thank you all for you help