Xgl on Debian with ATI video card and Xorg 7.0 (copy from stepien cached by Google)

August 2nd, 2006

Resolved Issues

The following section provide a brief description of resolved issues with the latest version of the ATI Proprietary Linux driver. These include:

(…)

Resolution of an XGL startup issue that prevented users from starting XGL on display :0. Further details can be found in topic number 737-22841

After wasting hours trying to get Xgl working on my box I’ve regained the hope. This could make it work finally!

I’ve downloaded drivers from ATI’s support page and the show has begun.

# sh ./ati-driver-installer-8.27.10-x86.run

I’ve went through the setup without thinking about consequences of automated installation.

# /etc/init.d/gdm stop

# modprobe -r fglrx

# cd /lib/modules/fglrx/build_mod


# ./make.sh

# cd ..

# ./make_install.sh

# fglrxinfo

display: :0.0 screen: 0

OpenGL vendor string: ATI Technologies Inc.

OpenGL renderer string: RADEON 9600 XT Generic

OpenGL version string: 2.0.5946 (8.27.10)

Allright, fglrx is updated and working. Now let’s get back to Xgl. I’ve installed it previously using Sonique’s howto around 25th of July 2006. Unfortunately my previous fglrx (as far as I can remember it was version 8.25.18 or something similar) wasn’t able to run Compiz. After update of ATI’s driver’s I’ve downloaded new version of Compiz and Xgl (get it at Sonique’s rpm site or rpmfind.net) and restarted properly configured GDM (my /etc/gdm/gdm.conf can be found over here, take a look at line 398 and three last lines).

Amazing. Xgl is working correctly. All I had to do was running Compiz using a script executed after launching Gnome (using ~/.gnome2/session).

1. #!/bin/bash


2. gnome-window-decorator&


3. sleep 2


4. compiz --replace gconf decoration wobbly fade minimize cube rotate zoom scale move resize place menu switcher water &


5. 
   

Screenshot of my working Xgl

It’s done finally. Just take a look at the screenshot. Unfortunately not everything’s running as it ought to be. I’ve noticed several drawbacks.

• Visible decrease of diverse performance aspects in various desktop applications.


• After launching Compiz saved windows layout is ignored and everything is displayed on the first desktop. It’s unbelievably annoying.


• Sudden but not particularly frequent hang-ups, especially during switching desktops. I’m skimming logs to find out what’s the cause.

In fact usage of such configured Xgl is acceptable, however drawbacks listed above make it a little bit less comforting. Well, in fact I’ve got to be glad that ATI at least enabled me to enjoy Xgl the way I’ve got it - it’s more than I’ve been expecting. I hope further versions of Xgl and Compiz will solve those problems.

Summary - How to install Xgl on Debian with ATI Linux Proprietary Driver 8.27.10 and Xorg 7.0

Here I present what I’ve done to make my Xgl work on Debian testing box with ATI Radeon 9600 XT on kernel 2.6.16.2. I assume that your Xorg 7.0 (haven’t check other versions, but there shouldn’t be any difference) is working correctly without any problems.

Download and install ATI Linux Proprietary Driver 8.27.10

• Get it at www2.ati.com/drivers/linux/ati-driver-installer-8.27.10-x86.run


• # sh ./ati-driver-installer-8.27.10-x86.run


• Choose auto installation and click OK until it’s done.


• In order to update your /etc/X11/xorg.conf you may need to run
  
  # aticonfig –initial


• Stop GDM and load fglrx module.
  

  # /etc/init.d/gdm stop
  
  
  # modprobe -r fglrx
  
  # cd /lib/modules/fglrx/build_mod
  
  # ./make.sh
  
  # cd ..
  
  # ./make_install.sh
  
  # fglrxinfo

  
  
  

  Everything’s ok if the output is simmilar to:

  
  

  display: :0.0 screen: 0
  
  OpenGL vendor string: ATI Technologies Inc.
  
  OpenGL renderer string: RADEON 9600 XT Generic
  
  OpenGL version string: 2.0.5946 (8.27.10)

  
  

  Otherwise you have to try to configure your fglrx on your own.

  
  
  

Download and install Xgl and related packages

Download Sonique’s script at sonique54.free.fr/xgl/setupxglen.sh. It ought to do everything for you. For me it works perfectly. If you don’t believe it please visit sonique54.free.fr/xgl/xgl.htm and learn how to download and configure everything manually.

There are two methods to set up Xgl as your standard X server.

• # cd /etc/X11
  
  # rm X
  
  # ln -s /usr/X11R6/bin/Xgl X



• Edit your /etc/gdm/gdm.conf. Find something similar to
  

  [servers]
  
  0=Standard

  
  

  Change it to

  
  

  [servers]
  
  0=Xgl

  
  
  

  And at the end of the file add

  
  

  [server-Xgl]
  
  name=Xgl
  
  command=/usr/X11R6/bin/Xgl :0 -fullscreen -fp /usr/share/fonts/X11/misc -ac -accel glx:pbuffer -accel xv:fbo

  
  
  

Launch Compiz and behold the real Xgl

Assuming Xgl has loaded and is running it’s time to run Compiz. Execute following script while your Gnome’s loading.

1. #!/bin/bash


2. gnome-window-decorator&



3. sleep 2


4. compiz --replace gconf decoration wobbly fade minimize cube rotate zoom scale move resize place menu switcher water &


5. 
   

Enjoy.