How To : Compiz Fusion for ATI cards + Xgl in Feisty

[Mr Greencastle]

Edit: Forgot to mark this as a HOWTO, and I don't know how to change it, so...
Edit 2: Hey guys, long time no talk, I've been quite busy with my personal life, school etc, so I haven't been here in awhile.

Anyways, I'm in the midst of updating this guide, so I should have a new one that has instructions for Gutsy aswell (Using same hardware).

Mr Green.


I'm making this guide because I have seen many people lately with problems installing Beryl or Compiz Fusion with Xgl. I have taken some parts of other guides and have also contributed my own parts, just to make things easier. (Many thanks to lamalex, as I have used that guide countless times to get Feisty boxes running Beryl)

If you follow each step carefully (mostly copy/paste), I guarantee you'll be going with desktop effects in no time!

Guide:

After installing Feisty, make sure your system is completely updated. Paste this into a terminal:

sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade
sudo apt-get dist-upgrade

First step is getting your drivers set up. To do this use the Restricted Driver Manager.

System >> Administration >> Restricted Drivers Manager

Enable your ATI driver (By clicking the little box) and let it do its thing. Once finished , reboot the computer and make sure fglrx loaded correctly. There should be an icon (small and green) in the notification area telling you that you have restricted modules loaded.

Now we need to install XGL.

sudo apt-get install xserver-xgl

Good now, XGL won't load on its own so we need to write a few scripts to have it start.

sudo gedit /usr/local/bin/startxgl.sh

Now copy and paste this into the file that pops up:

#!/bin/sh
Xgl :1 -fullscreen -ac -br -accel xv:pbuffer -accel glx:pbuffer &
DISPLAY=:1
cookie="$(xauth -i nextract - :0 | cut -d ' ' -f 9)"
xauth -i add :1 . "$cookie"
exec dbus-launch --exit-with-session gnome-session

SAVE THIS FILE! Once its done saving, make that fire executable (like a program) by pasting this into a terminal:

sudo chmod a+x /usr/local/bin/startxgl.sh

Now we need to make a way to start that session from your login menu, paste this into a terminal:

sudo gedit /usr/share/xsessions/xgl.desktop

And paste this into the file:

[Desktop Entry]
Encoding=UTF-8
Name=GNOME with XGL
Comment=
Exec=/usr/local/bin/startxgl.sh
Icon=
Type=Application

Now make this script executable by pasting this into a terminal:

sudo chmod a+x /usr/share/xsessions/xgl.desktop

Now test your login. Logout, click sessions and chose GNOME with XGL. If you get to the desktop you're now very close.

The first thing we need to do is add the security key, do this by pasting into a terminal:

sudo wget http://download.tuxfamily.org/3v1deb/DD800CD9.gpg -O- | sudo apt-key add -

Then type in:

sudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list

This will open a file, add this to the very bottom by pasting:

deb http://download.tuxfamily.org/3v1deb feisty eyecandy

Then save and exit.

You will need to update again, so paste into a terminal:

sudo apt-get update

BERYL
If you want Compiz Fusion - skip ahead to the Compiz Fusion section.

Now to install Beryl (and Emerald window decorator) paste this into a terminal:

sudo apt-get install beryl beryl-manager beryl-core beryl-plugins beryl-settings emerald emerald-themes

AND VOILA! Beryl is installed, to start it simply paste this into a terminal:

beryl-manager

You may need to change the window manager, do this by right-clicking the beryl icon and selecting Beryl from the 'Select Window Manager' menu.

Then you're all set! Oh and don't forget to add this to your startup:

system > preferences > sessions

Click on 'New' and type in 'Beryl' (without quotes) for the name, and for the command type: 'beryl-manager' (again without quotes)


COMPIZ FUSION
Start by pasting this into a terminal:

sudo apt-get install compiz compizconfig-settings-manager compiz-plugins compiz-gnome compiz-fusion-plugins-extra emerald emerald-themes

AND VOILA! It is installed, add this as two separate entries in the startup sessions:

System >> Preferences >> Sessions

Click 'new' and make its name: Compiz
And make its command: compiz --replace

And make one more:
Name: Emerald
Command: emerald --replace

Now just logout, then log back in, and BOOM! Shiny desktop effects!


Hope that helped!


Mr Green

[LouisvilleLIP]

You rule. My compiz fusion broke, and I couldn't get it fixed. I removed the cf/emerald packages, followed this, and it's back. Thanks for posting.

[jw5801]

Great how-to! Needed XGL to get Avant Window Manager working and this did it.

[jamesey]

wow! this really made my desktop smooth. I was skeptical because before enabling the restricted drivers that I didn't know about the whole ubuntu experiece was a little clunky. suddenly it's way smooth and I have wobbly windows, a cube, and a dock (AWM.)

[jimminy_kriket]

Does anyone know how to do this in xubuntu? A guide would be much appreciated.

[cor2y]

It works somewhat on my system although i thought it wasn't working because it took compiz fusion a while to load.
Also Emerald Themes do not work for me i can't switch to a new theme.
I don't know why.

[Creeture]

Originally Posted by cor2y It works somewhat on my system although i thought it wasn't working because it took compiz fusion a while to load. Also Emerald Themes do not work for me i can't switch to a new theme. I don't know why.

As far as emerald themes goes, that's a pretty long-standing bug in (IIRC) GTK. I don't know why it is still broken. To fix, just bring up the Emerald Themer and a terminal window at the same time. Choose your theme in the Themer then type "emerald --replace &" in your terminal. Wash, rinse, repeat until you get the one you want.

[haricharan]

thanks for the repo....works awesome!!!

[nystud162]

Originally Posted by cor2y It works somewhat on my system although i thought it wasn't working because it took compiz fusion a while to load. Also Emerald Themes do not work for me i can't switch to a new theme. I don't know why.

Im not sure if you can do this with compiz fusion, but install beryl manager in the terminal.

I had the same problem on my Presario V2000.

sudo apt-get install beryl-manager

Press alt-F2 and run beryl manager.
if your window manager changes just switch back over to compiz by right clicking on the red diamond on the upper right hand side of your screen and going to select window manager. Then go to the emerald theme manager by right clicking on the red diamond. Then choose your theme you want to switch over to (it wont work). Then finally, right click on the red diamond again and reload the Window Decorator and your new theme should be displayed. You have to do this everytime that you want to change your theme.

[Magneticgravity]

When i click on 'Restricted Drivers Manager' it says 'Your hardware does not need any restricted drivers.'

Could i use this guide instead?
http://www.howtoforge.com/ubuntu_fei...ryl_ati_radeon