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Xorg drivers updated

March 17, 2010 — BarryK
I'm planning on uploading Quirky 010 in a couple of days, so getting things organized for that.

I have updated these Xorg drivers:

xf86-video-ati-6.12.6
xf86-video-geode-2.11.7
xf86-video-intel-2.10.902
xf86-video-nv-2.1.17
xf86-video-vesa-2.3.0


Also the Xorg server:

xorg-server-1.7.6

Comments

intel driver again
Username: BarryK
Oh c**p, the Intel driver has gone south again. After compiling the Xorg server, I restarted X to make sure it worked, that was ok. What I neglected to do was restart X after compiling the Intel driver. Just now when I turned on my laptop, X failed to start. The error log reports that "screens are found but none are usable" or words to that affect. That's it, no further information. Hence the expletive, and I have rolled back to the Intel driver that was compiled in T2, version 2.9.1. Actually, version 2.9.1 works fine for me, and I don't need to upgrade it unless others are having trouble with Intel video.

xkb
Username: mavrothal
"Could you pls add "olpc" in xkb/compact and xkb/symbols if not included? Thx

olpc
Username: BarryK
"I don't have them. Where to get them from?

xkb
Username: mavrothal
"... more specifically http://cgit.freedesktop.org/xkeyboard-config/tree/compat/olpc and http://cgit.freedesktop.org/xkeyboard-config/tree/symbols/olpc

intel quirky
Username: ttuuxxx
"Hi Barry this was one issue report on intel driver in tpup/quirky 08 Would not start xorg (black screen freeze) with my Inspiron 700m, intel 855gm graphics. Same problem with most Quirkys. which uses xserver-xorg-video-i810 driver from the post located at http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?p=400238#400238 Also as you update Quirky in woof, are you also updating Tpup as you go? That would be helpful to keep Tpup moving smoothly forward so we might get a future Stable Series 5 release. I don't mind maintaining/building Tpup, but its nice if the base was/is as stable as quirky, Quirky08 loads on all 3 of my Pc's, Tpup/08 loads on 2 of them. The other one I just get a black screen I can't do anything with other than reboot. ttuuxxx

problems with intel in dpup
Username: shankargopal
"Don't know if this is relevant, but I've had a lot of problems with the intel video driver in dpup. The first report I made on the forum is here: http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?p=350726&sid=1ff0092fdb2010dddf73b557749f3f36#350726 The error that appears in xerrs.log is about "LpRing" or something of the kind. At least one other user (gerry) has reported the same problem in the dpup forums.

problems with intel in dpup
Username: shankargopal
"Don't know if this is relevant, but I've had a lot of problems with the intel video driver in dpup. The first report I made on the forum is here: http://www.murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?p=350726&sid=1ff0092fdb2010dddf73b557749f3f36#350726 The error that appears in xerrs.log is about "LpRing" or something of the kind. At least one other user (gerry) has reported the same problem in the dpup forums.

Tpup vs Quirky
Username: BarryK
"ttuuxxx, Yeah, Tpup should be building the same as Quirky. I don't know why you are finding a difference. Tpup and Quirky both use the same list of packages, in file DISTRO_PKG_SPECS-t2-8.0rc. All of the PET packages that I am compiling in Quirky should also be automatically used for a Tpup build. Make sure that the compatible-distro settings remain as "t2" and "8.0rc".

xserver-xorg-video-i810 driver
Username: kirk
"ttuuxxx, If that's with KMS, and I think that's required now, there's a bug in the kernel module. You can test to see if this bug is your problem by booting with acpi disabled. I think this is fixed in 2.6.33.1.

Quirky/Tpup08 Xorg
Username: ttuuxxx
"Hi Barry another user is having issues with Xorg in Quirky&Tpup, He even made a forum thread about it, His graphics card uses, Intel 855GM chipset http://murga-linux.com/puppy/viewtopic.php?p=402316#402316 ttuuxxx

Xorg rollback
Username: BarryK
"testing with my Nvidia card, the situation has gotten worse. The 'nv' driver used to work for me, now it doesn't. I have rolled back xorg-server, xf86-video-nv, xf86-video-vesa, in addition to xf86-video-intel mentioned above.

KMS
Username: BarryK
"The problem with the latest Intel video driver, 2.10.902, I think, is that it requires the kernel to be KMS-enabled. So, I've been reading-up on KMS, and it is sooo immature. A comment: [i]In case the message got lost in all of this, the main thing I'm trying to say here is that kernel mode setting is becoming an increasingly big deal in Linux, and for users of Intel video, it not only doesn't help but pretty much renders the given distro unusable.[/i] ...by Steven at http://insidesocal.com/click/2010/02/turning-off-kernel-mode-settin.html So once again Xorg development is going into a period of trouble. We already had a year or two of great difficulty with the Intel driver, now they are doing it to us again. Sometimes I think, I wish one or two Xorg developer guys fork Xorg 7.2 or 7.3 and just focus on updating those drivers to work on more recent hardware, keeping the relative simplicity of those earlier Xorgs. Also, keep Kdrive working.


Tags: quirky