Arch Linux

virusso80

Member

From: Italy

Registered: 2007-03-09

Posts: 325

[SOLVED] Unknown display on a fresh arch installation

Hi all,
I installed a fresh (yet to be finalized) Arch on my desktop and configured the nvidia driver (i own a nvidia GTX 1060 6GB VGA).
However, when started everything, the GDM, and then entered with the user, I noticed that the resolution was 640x480, unable to change it, maybe because my monitor (4k) has not been recognized.
(also GRUB has a very low resolution, but it will be managed afterwards)

I think I have to enable DRM, as written here.
I am now maybe a bit confused/tired and cannot understand HOW to do that.

Links point to kernel mode setting page which, for nvidia, cycles back to the nvidia page; and to kernel module which I do not understand very well.
So, please, correct me if I misunderstood...
I tried the manual load using modprobe, but I obtain the following output

# modprobe nvidia_drm modeset=1
modprobe: FATAL: Module nvidia_drm not found in directory /lib/modules/6.5.9-arch2-1

I tried both nvidia_drm and nvidia-drm

Any help?

Last edited by virusso80 (2023-11-17 22:58:43)

virusso80

Member

From: Italy

Registered: 2007-03-09

Posts: 325

Re: [SOLVED] Unknown display on a fresh arch installation

I found the solution on a Linux Mint forum.
I had to edit /etc/default/grub:

GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX="nvidia_drm.modeset=1 nvidia_drm.fbdev=1"

save and the regenerate the grub configuration file /boot/grub/grub.cfg:

grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg

I don't know why the installation guide and nvidia page does not contain this small explanation.
i think the installation guide, which is supposed to be ALSO for newbie people that are installing Arch, should contain this example.
I am going to add this simple example in the wiki page. I think it would help lot of people

thanks

seth

Member

From: Don't DM me only for attention

Registered: 2012-09-03

Posts: 74,307

Re: [SOLVED] Unknown display on a fresh arch installation

I am going to add this simple example in the wiki page. I think it would help lot of people

Hold on.

1. https://wiki.archlinux.org/title/NVIDIA … de_setting

modprobe: FATAL: Module nvidia_drm not found in directory /lib/modules/6.5.9-arch2-1

uname -a
pacman -Qs nvidia
modinfo nvidia_drm
lspci | grep -i nvidia

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virusso80

Member

From: Italy

Registered: 2007-03-09

Posts: 325

Re: [SOLVED] Unknown display on a fresh arch installation

hi,
below are the outputs

$ uname -a
Linux kosung 6.6.1-arch1-1 #1 SMP PREEMPT_DYNAMIC Wed, 08 Nov 2023 16:05:38 +0000 x86_64 GNU/Linux

$ pacman -Qs nvidia
local/egl-wayland 2:1.1.13-1
    EGLStream-based Wayland external platform
local/libvdpau 1.5-2
    Nvidia VDPAU library
local/libxnvctrl 545.29.02-1
    NVIDIA NV-CONTROL X extension
local/nvidia 545.29.02-4
    NVIDIA drivers for linux
local/nvidia-settings 545.29.02-1
    Tool for configuring the NVIDIA graphics driver
local/nvidia-utils 545.29.02-2
    NVIDIA drivers utilities

$ modinfo nvidia_drm
filename:       /lib/modules/6.6.1-arch1-1/extramodules/nvidia-drm.ko.xz
version:        545.29.02
supported:      external
license:        MIT
srcversion:     8B0352E34C3EBAAAF79764B
alias:          pci:v000010DEd*sv*sd*bc06sc80i00*
alias:          pci:v000010DEd*sv*sd*bc03sc02i00*
alias:          pci:v000010DEd*sv*sd*bc03sc00i00*
depends:        nvidia-modeset
retpoline:      Y
name:           nvidia_drm
vermagic:       6.6.1-arch1-1 SMP preempt mod_unload 
parm:           modeset:Enable atomic kernel modesetting (1 = enable, 0 = disable (default)) (bool)
parm:           fbdev:Create a framebuffer device (1 = enable, 0 = disable (default)) (EXPERIMENTAL) (bool)

$ lspci | grep -i nvidia
0b:00.0 VGA compatible controller: NVIDIA Corporation GP106 [GeForce GTX 1060 6GB] (rev a1)
0b:00.1 Audio device: NVIDIA Corporation GP106 High Definition Audio Controller (rev a1)

Just for the sake of clarity...I launched the commands "after" the settings I wrote in the previous post

cheers

Last edited by virusso80 (2023-11-18 21:11:44)

seth

Member

From: Don't DM me only for attention

Registered: 2012-09-03

Posts: 74,307

Re: [SOLVED] Unknown display on a fresh arch installation

Did you possibly update the kernel and didn't reboot before attempting the modprobe that resulted in "FATAL: Module nvidia_drm not found in directory /lib/modules/6.5.9-arch2-1"?
The status quo otherwise looks intact

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virusso80

Member

From: Italy

Registered: 2007-03-09

Posts: 325

Re: [SOLVED] Unknown display on a fresh arch installation

Since the fresh system installation was discontinued (because i was away), i checked and YES i did a kernel update and probably i did not reboot in that moment.
I rebooted several times after I noticed that screen resolution, trying to find a fix

just for clarity, this is the kernel installation history

$ pwd
/var/cache/pacman/pkg

$ ls -l --time=birth linux-*.zst
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 133631053 Nov  3 14:55 linux-6.5.9.arch2-1-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 134872982 Nov 17 23:21 linux-6.6.1.arch1-1-x86_64.pkg.tar.zst
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root   1262907 Nov  3 14:56 linux-api-headers-6.4-1-any.pkg.tar.zst
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root 169907787 Nov  3 14:55 linux-firmware-20231030.2b304bfe-1-any.pkg.tar.zst
-rw-r--r-- 1 root root     32930 Nov  3 14:56 linux-firmware-whence-20231030.2b304bfe-1-any.pkg.tar.zst

Last edited by virusso80 (2023-11-18 21:37:33)

seth

Member

From: Don't DM me only for attention

Registered: 2012-09-03

Posts: 74,307

Re: [SOLVED] Unknown display on a fresh arch installation

You were certainly booting a dated kernel when you received the error, the simpledrm device exists longer but does typically not cause a VGA resolution.

I'd almost guess that you booted the older kernel and the lack of the nvidia module for that version got you the VGA resolution
And I regardless doubt  that you'll need the fbdev parameter (but certainly want the modeset one)

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virusso80

Member

From: Italy

Registered: 2007-03-09

Posts: 325

Re: [SOLVED] Unknown display on a fresh arch installation

I took those parameters from the wiki page...
Maybe I was using an old archiso...but isn't the installation always downloading the last packages, also for the kernel?

seth

Member

From: Don't DM me only for attention

Registered: 2012-09-03

Posts: 74,307

Re: [SOLVED] Unknown display on a fresh arch installation

Ah, that's new-ish.
Is the simpledrm device now not ignored?

sudo journalctl -b | grep -i simple

isn't the installation always downloading the last packages, also for the kernel?

Yes, but the olders version you've is 6.5.9 which also was the running kernel when you attempted the failing modprobe.

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virusso80

Member

From: Italy

Registered: 2007-03-09

Posts: 325

Re: [SOLVED] Unknown display on a fresh arch installation

$ sudo journalctl -b | grep -i simple
Nov 18 23:51:25 kosung kernel: The simpledrm driver will not be probed
Nov 18 23:55:06 kosung NetworkManager[580]: <info>  [1700348106.5566] Config: added 'bgscan' value 'simple:30:-70:86400'

Thanks for the clarification