Gutsy, Xgl and ATI fglrx

michael37

I had a fairly decently working Feisty setup, but upgrade to Gutsy broke a lot of things... Compiz doesn't work, and even gnome session do not load right.

With the new Xgl, it starts by default. The new control scripts are in /usr/share/xserver-xgl

As a result, I get two X sessions (as expected, Xorg on :0 and Xgl on :1)

However, my glxinfo looks outright wierd. What does it mean??

$ fglrxinfo
display: :0.0 screen: 0
OpenGL vendor string: ATI Technologies Inc.
OpenGL renderer string: ATI Mobility Radeon X1400
OpenGL version string: 2.0.6473 (8.37.6)

$ fglrxinfo -display :1
Xlib: extension "XFree86-DRI" missing on display ":1.0".
display: :1.0 screen: 0
OpenGL vendor string: ATI Technologies Inc.
OpenGL renderer string: ATI Mobility Radeon X1400
OpenGL version string: 1.2 (2.0.6473 (8.37.6))

Well, if you wanna see the full set, check this out:
$ glxinfo -display :0
name of display: :0.0
display: :0 screen: 0
direct rendering: Yes
server glx vendor string: SGI
server glx version string: 1.2
server glx extensions:
GLX_ARB_multisample, GLX_EXT_visual_info, GLX_EXT_visual_rating,
GLX_EXT_import_context, GLX_EXT_texture_from_pixmap, GLX_OML_swap_method,
GLX_SGI_make_current_read, GLX_SGIS_multisample, GLX_SGIX_hyperpipe,
GLX_SGIX_swap_barrier, GLX_SGIX_fbconfig, GLX_MESA_copy_sub_buffer
client glx vendor string: ATI
client glx version string: 1.3
client glx extensions:
GLX_EXT_visual_info, GLX_EXT_visual_rating, GLX_EXT_import_context,
GLX_ARB_get_proc_address, GLX_SGI_video_sync, GLX_ARB_multisample,
GLX_ATI_pixel_format_float, GLX_ATI_render_texture
GLX version: 1.2
GLX extensions:
GLX_EXT_visual_info, GLX_EXT_visual_rating, GLX_EXT_import_context,
GLX_ARB_multisample
OpenGL vendor string: ATI Technologies Inc.
OpenGL renderer string: ATI Mobility Radeon X1400
OpenGL version string: 2.0.6473 (8.37.6)

$ glxinfo -display :1
Xlib: extension "XFree86-DRI" missing on display ":1.0".
name of display: :1.0
display: :1 screen: 0
direct rendering: No (If you want to find out why, try setting LIBGL_DEBUG=verbose)
server glx vendor string: SGI
server glx version string: 1.2
server glx extensions:
GLX_ARB_multisample, GLX_EXT_visual_info, GLX_EXT_visual_rating,
GLX_EXT_import_context, GLX_EXT_texture_from_pixmap, GLX_OML_swap_method,
GLX_SGI_make_current_read, GLX_SGIS_multisample, GLX_SGIX_hyperpipe,
GLX_SGIX_swap_barrier, GLX_SGIX_fbconfig
client glx vendor string: ATI
client glx version string: 1.3
client glx extensions:
GLX_EXT_visual_info, GLX_EXT_visual_rating, GLX_EXT_import_context,
GLX_ARB_get_proc_address, GLX_SGI_video_sync, GLX_ARB_multisample,
GLX_ATI_pixel_format_float, GLX_ATI_render_texture
GLX version: 1.2
GLX extensions:
GLX_EXT_visual_info, GLX_EXT_visual_rating, GLX_EXT_import_context,
GLX_ARB_multisample
OpenGL vendor string: ATI Technologies Inc.
OpenGL renderer string: ATI Mobility Radeon X1400
OpenGL version string: 1.2 (2.0.6473 (8.37.6))

ruscoe

Not meant to derail the thread, but does anybody know when we're likely to see AIGLX support in the fglrx driver?

I heard it was coming up towards the end of this year and I would prefer it over using XGL.

Alexander Heß

AIGLX support is supposed to be included in the 8.42 release which should come this month. That is if they don't screw up their “one release per month” schedule.

ruscoe

Fingers crossed then. Thanks for the info.

michael37

Woohoo!!! I just got it working... gonna work on writing a quick HOWTO.

I gotta tell ya, it probably is not that hard if you have a brand new Gutsy install. If you have had working fglrx+Xgl config in Feisty, you need to find and backrev nearly all the changes MANUALLY before anything works.

Aramil Moonmist

link to the how to plz?

michael37 · 02:57 AM

Well, let's try here and see if I can help you... If yes, I will create a Wiki page.

Before we begin -- supported hardware list

Taken from fglrx driver description for Gutsy.

This version of the ATI driver officially supports:

* FireGL: V7350, V7300, V7200, V7100, V5200, V5100, V5000, V3400,
V3300, V3200, V3100, X3-256, X3, X2-256, Z1-128, T2-128,
X1-128, X1-256p
* FireMV: 2200 (Single card PCI-e configuration)
* Mobility FireGL: V5000, T2
* Mobility Radeon: X1800, X1600, X1400, X1300, X800, X700, X600, X300,
9800, 9600, 9550, 9500
* Radeon Xpress: 200M series, 1250 IGP, 200 series
* Radeon: X1900, X1800, X1600, X1300, X850, X800, X700, X600, X550,
X300, 9800, 9700, 9600, 9550, 9500

ATI All-in-Wonder variants of the above cards/chips are also supported,
but video capture is not.

If you are doing fresh install of Gutsy

Enable fgrlx driver.

Install linux-restricted-modules and restricted-manager provied in the restricted repositories:
Code:
```
sudo apt-get update 
sudo apt-get install linux-restricted-modules-generic restricted-manager
```
Open the restricted drivers manager in "System -> Administration -> Restricted Drivers Manager" and select "ATI accelerated graphics driver".
Install xserver-xgl package
Code:
```
sudo apt-get install xserver-xgl
```

Install compiz

Code:

sudo apt-get install compizconfig-settings-manager compiz compiz-core compiz-fusion-plugins-main compiz-fusion-plugins-extra compiz-gnome compiz-plugins libcompizconfig-backend-gconf libcompizconfig0

Reboot
Log in. 3D effects should be enabled!
Customize Compiz Fusion.
Select System → Preferences → Advanced Desktop Effects Settings
In the new window, General Options → Desktop Size → Horizontal Virtual Size. Set it to 4.
The other two options have to be left at 1.

Continue customization per Forlong's guide at http://forlong.blogage.de/article/20...-Compiz-Fusion

michael37 · 04:28 PM

If you are upgrading from Feisty 7.04 or earlier versions and you have run Xgl before.

When upgrading, you may experience blank screen, a screen with no windows and toolbars, a screen with only a background, or any other mess. It is caused by the customized scripts for Xgl which do not work with Gutsy. So, we need to clean up.

If you really can't log into a working X session and open a terminal, simply press "Ctrl-Alt-F1" to get into the text prompt and follow the removal steps (1-4) from the text interface. After a reboot, the graphics should work better.

Remove compiz

Code:

sudo echo "activate sudo"
sudo apt-get --purge remove compiz*
sudo apt-get --purge remove libcompiz*
sudo apt-get --purge remove libdecoration0
sudo apt-get --purge remove compizconfig-settings-manager 
sudo apt-get --purge remove python-compizconfig

Remove Xgl
Code:
```
sudo apt-get --purge remove xserver-xgl
```
Clean up
Code:
```
sudo apt-get autoremove
```
Remove customizations
Code:
```
rm -rf ~/.compiz
rm -rf ~/.config/compiz
rm -rf ~/.gconf/apps/compiz
sudo rm -i /usr/local/bin/startxgl.sh
sudo rm -i /usr/share/xsessions/xgl.desktop
```
When asked to remove the files, type YES. If the files were present and you removed them, proceed to the next item. Otherwise, undo customizations to /etc/gdm/gdm.conf and /etc/gdm/gdm.conf-custom that you have made from this section of the guide
Reboot
Login back in and find yourself in a 3D effect devoid session. You may not even be running a windows manager. If you can't move windows and don't see window decorations, press "Alt-F2" and type
Code:
```
metacity --replace
```
Verify that everything else is working properly, e.g. Firefox opens, Wired and/or Wireless Network connects, etc. This is the best time to troubleshoot everything else until we enable 3D effects.
Enable fgrlx driver.

Install linux-restricted-modules and restricted-manager provided in the restricted repositories:
Code:
```
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install linux-restricted-modules-generic restricted-manager
```
Open the restricted drivers manager in "System -> Administration -> Restricted Drivers Manager" and select "ATI accelerated graphics driver".
Reboot if necessary.
After reboot, log back in.
Open terminal and run
Code:
```
fglrxinfo -display :0
```
and verify that you see something like this:
Code:
```
display: :0.0  screen: 0
OpenGL vendor string: ATI Technologies Inc.
OpenGL renderer string: ATI Mobility Radeon X1400
OpenGL version string: 2.0.6473 (8.37.6)
```
If you don't have command fglrxinfo, you either don't have a supported ATI card or you missed a step or two. Go back through all steps.
If you see "Mesa GLX Indirect" instead of "ATI Technologies", see Troubleshooting section below. If still unsure, post your /etc/X11/xorg.conf in this thread. DO NOT CONTINUE INSTALLATION UNTIL YOU FIX THIS ISSUE AND GET RID OF MESA.
=================================
Are you ready to get back into the wobbly windows and Desktop Cube?
=================================
Install Xgl.
Code:
```
sudo apt-get install xserver-xgl
```

Install compiz

Code:

sudo apt-get install compizconfig-settings-manager compiz compiz-core compiz-fusion-plugins-main compiz-fusion-plugins-extra compiz-gnome compiz-plugins libcompizconfig-backend-gconf libcompizconfig0

Reboot
Log in. 3D effects should be enabled! You no longer need to select a special Xgl session.
Customize Compiz Fusion.
Select System → Preferences → Advanced Desktop Effects Settings
In the new window, General Options → Desktop Size → Horizontal Virtual Size. Set it to 4.
The other two options have to be left at 1.

Continue customization per Forlong's guide at http://forlong.blogage.de/article/20...-Compiz-Fusion

Troubleshooting

Solving the 'Mesa nightmares' mystery. This is becoming a hot topic in this guide.

A common problem in step 10 is fgrlxinfo output like this:

Code:

# fglrxinfo -display :0
display: :0.0 screen: 0
OpenGL vendor string: Mesa project: www.mesa3d.org
OpenGL renderer string: Mesa GLX Indirect
OpenGL version string: 1.4 (2.1 Mesa 7.0.1)

.
That means you are not using the restricted driver. Enable it via Restricted Driver Manager -- see step 8. Just in case, run command

Code:

sudo aticonfig --initial

then reboot.
-----------
More Mesa troubleshooting. Some people reported broken drivers. This has nothing to do with compiz or Xgl -- it's a matter of having a broken driver installed. Technically speaking, there are two drivers for the video card. One driver is a part of the kernel, and one driver is for X. They need to both work and match.

* Kernel driver

Verify that the most recent kernel is installed:

Code:

uname -r

should 2.6.22-14-generic
and both packages are installed:

Code:

dpkg -l linux-restricted-modules-2.6.22-14-generic
dpkg -l linux-image-2.6.22-14-generic

Check if your kernel module is loaded:

Code:

lsmod | grep fglrx

should return something like:
fglrx 765588 51

You can also check if you are using the right version of the kernel driver:

Code:

modinfo fglrx

should return something like this:

filename: /lib/modules/2.6.22-14-generic/volatile/fglrx.ko
depends: agpgart
vermagic: 2.6.22-14-generic SMP mod_unload 586
license: Proprietary. (C) 2002 - ATI Technologies, Starnberg, GERMANY
description: ATI Fire GL
author: Fire GL - ATI Research GmbH, Germany
parm: firegl:charp

If you don't have fglrx kernel module loaded, please report the problem in this thread. I don't have generic instructions for you yet.

If you are running a wrong version of kernel, your install may have a bigger issue than non-working 3D effects. Please address those issues first.

* X driver

See if your X driver is installed

Code:

dpkg -l xorg-driver-fglrx

You should have version 7.1.0-8.37.6+2.6.22.4-14.9 installed. If you got something else, I recommend to uninstall it and reinstall it:
Typical output is:
ii xorg-driver-fg 7.1.0-8.37.6+2 Video driver for ATI graphics accelerators

Code:

sudo apt-get --purge remove xorg-driver-fglrx
sudo apt-get install xorg-driver-fglrx

Once done, reboot and get back into X session. Go back to step 8 and enable the restricted driver. You may need yet another reboot after enabling the driver.

If that didn't help, you are running into the dreaded "Mesa issue". Gutsy "Restricted Driver Manager" does everything possible to avoid it. I have never run into the "Mesa issue", so I don't know how to troubleshoot it. Please refer to this excellent updated Wiki page or Fixing the "Mesa Issue" for ATI Cards thread -- the original post is very outdated, but the troubleshooting section at the end is good.
-----------
Mesa nightmares continued.
If you have any questions, please post output of commands
fglrxinfo -display :0
fglrxinfo -display :1
-----------
Envy and/or newer drivers from ATI

Some users report using Envy or alternative mechanisms to install newer drivers. This is very dangerous. As this press-release indicates, many with older GPUs had immediately upgraded with some then having a foul experience. In this guide, "older" means anything but 2000HD series!!! That's what most of us run. So, if you have have a video card from the supported hardware section (see my previous post), then you must not upgrade to the newer driver.

References
DO NOT FOLLOW THESE LINKS BLINDLY. MOST ARE WRITTEN FOR FEISTY AND THIS GUIDE UNDOES WHAT IS SUGGESTED IN THESE GUIDES.

http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php...&postcount=217
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=488385
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BinaryDriverHowto/ATI
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RestrictedDrivers/ATI
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/CompositeManager/Xgl

toupeiro

Great howto! Kudo's!!

sewmyheadon

Hey Michael,

I just upgraded to the Release Candidate (can't wait for the actual release tomorrow) on my Dell Inspiron 9300 notebook.

As you experienced, Compiz no longer worked.

I had previously installed Compiz Fusion on Feisty and had it working quite nicely. Once the Gutsy upgrade was complete, I could see and access my desktop, but couldn't get Desktop Effects to work.

So, I followed your instructions and have it working like a charm now. It didn't preserve my settings, but that didn't matter.

Thanks!

eric

October 7th, 2007	#1
michael37 Has an Ubuntu Drip Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Boston, MA, USA Beans: 788 Ubuntu 9.10 Karmic Koala	Gutsy, Xgl and ATI fglrx I had a fairly decently working Feisty setup, but upgrade to Gutsy broke a lot of things... Compiz doesn't work, and even gnome session do not load right. With the new Xgl, it starts by default. The new control scripts are in /usr/share/xserver-xgl As a result, I get two X sessions (as expected, Xorg on :0 and Xgl on :1) However, my glxinfo looks outright wierd. What does it mean?? $ fglrxinfo display: :0.0 screen: 0 OpenGL vendor string: ATI Technologies Inc. OpenGL renderer string: ATI Mobility Radeon X1400 OpenGL version string: 2.0.6473 (8.37.6) $ fglrxinfo -display :1 Xlib: extension "XFree86-DRI" missing on display ":1.0". display: :1.0 screen: 0 OpenGL vendor string: ATI Technologies Inc. OpenGL renderer string: ATI Mobility Radeon X1400 OpenGL version string: 1.2 (2.0.6473 (8.37.6)) Well, if you wanna see the full set, check this out: $ glxinfo -display :0 name of display: :0.0 display: :0 screen: 0 direct rendering: Yes server glx vendor string: SGI server glx version string: 1.2 server glx extensions: GLX_ARB_multisample, GLX_EXT_visual_info, GLX_EXT_visual_rating, GLX_EXT_import_context, GLX_EXT_texture_from_pixmap, GLX_OML_swap_method, GLX_SGI_make_current_read, GLX_SGIS_multisample, GLX_SGIX_hyperpipe, GLX_SGIX_swap_barrier, GLX_SGIX_fbconfig, GLX_MESA_copy_sub_buffer client glx vendor string: ATI client glx version string: 1.3 client glx extensions: GLX_EXT_visual_info, GLX_EXT_visual_rating, GLX_EXT_import_context, GLX_ARB_get_proc_address, GLX_SGI_video_sync, GLX_ARB_multisample, GLX_ATI_pixel_format_float, GLX_ATI_render_texture GLX version: 1.2 GLX extensions: GLX_EXT_visual_info, GLX_EXT_visual_rating, GLX_EXT_import_context, GLX_ARB_multisample OpenGL vendor string: ATI Technologies Inc. OpenGL renderer string: ATI Mobility Radeon X1400 OpenGL version string: 2.0.6473 (8.37.6) $ glxinfo -display :1 Xlib: extension "XFree86-DRI" missing on display ":1.0". name of display: :1.0 display: :1 screen: 0 direct rendering: No (If you want to find out why, try setting LIBGL_DEBUG=verbose) server glx vendor string: SGI server glx version string: 1.2 server glx extensions: GLX_ARB_multisample, GLX_EXT_visual_info, GLX_EXT_visual_rating, GLX_EXT_import_context, GLX_EXT_texture_from_pixmap, GLX_OML_swap_method, GLX_SGI_make_current_read, GLX_SGIS_multisample, GLX_SGIX_hyperpipe, GLX_SGIX_swap_barrier, GLX_SGIX_fbconfig client glx vendor string: ATI client glx version string: 1.3 client glx extensions: GLX_EXT_visual_info, GLX_EXT_visual_rating, GLX_EXT_import_context, GLX_ARB_get_proc_address, GLX_SGI_video_sync, GLX_ARB_multisample, GLX_ATI_pixel_format_float, GLX_ATI_render_texture GLX version: 1.2 GLX extensions: GLX_EXT_visual_info, GLX_EXT_visual_rating, GLX_EXT_import_context, GLX_ARB_multisample OpenGL vendor string: ATI Technologies Inc. OpenGL renderer string: ATI Mobility Radeon X1400 OpenGL version string: 1.2 (2.0.6473 (8.37.6))

October 7th, 2007	#2
ruscoe Just Give Me the Beans! Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Green Bay Beans: 59 Ubuntu 7.04 Feisty Fawn	Re: Gutsy, Xgl and ATI fglrx Not meant to derail the thread, but does anybody know when we're likely to see AIGLX support in the fglrx driver? I heard it was coming up towards the end of this year and I would prefer it over using XGL. __________________ Dan Ruscoe

October 7th, 2007	#3
Alexander Heß First Cup of Ubuntu Join Date: Jul 2006 Location: Munich, Germany Beans: 7 Ubuntu 7.04 Feisty Fawn	Re: Gutsy, Xgl and ATI fglrx AIGLX support is supposed to be included in the 8.42 release which should come this month. That is if they don't screw up their “one release per month” schedule.

October 7th, 2007	#4
ruscoe Just Give Me the Beans! Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Green Bay Beans: 59 Ubuntu 7.04 Feisty Fawn	Re: Gutsy, Xgl and ATI fglrx Fingers crossed then. Thanks for the info. __________________ Dan Ruscoe

October 7th, 2007	#5
michael37 Has an Ubuntu Drip Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Boston, MA, USA Beans: 788 Ubuntu 9.10 Karmic Koala	Re: Gutsy, Xgl and ATI fglrx Woohoo!!! I just got it working... gonna work on writing a quick HOWTO. I gotta tell ya, it probably is not that hard if you have a brand new Gutsy install. If you have had working fglrx+Xgl config in Feisty, you need to find and backrev nearly all the changes MANUALLY before anything works.

October 15th, 2007	#6
Aramil Moonmist 5 Cups of Ubuntu Join Date: Feb 2007 Beans: 19	Re: Gutsy, Xgl and ATI fglrx link to the how to plz?

October 16th, 2007	#7
michael37 Has an Ubuntu Drip Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Boston, MA, USA Beans: 788 Ubuntu 9.10 Karmic Koala	Re: Gutsy, Xgl and ATI fglrx Well, let's try here and see if I can help you... If yes, I will create a Wiki page. Before we begin -- supported hardware list Taken from fglrx driver description for Gutsy. This version of the ATI driver officially supports: * FireGL: V7350, V7300, V7200, V7100, V5200, V5100, V5000, V3400, V3300, V3200, V3100, X3-256, X3, X2-256, Z1-128, T2-128, X1-128, X1-256p * FireMV: 2200 (Single card PCI-e configuration) * Mobility FireGL: V5000, T2 * Mobility Radeon: X1800, X1600, X1400, X1300, X800, X700, X600, X300, 9800, 9600, 9550, 9500 * Radeon Xpress: 200M series, 1250 IGP, 200 series * Radeon: X1900, X1800, X1600, X1300, X850, X800, X700, X600, X550, X300, 9800, 9700, 9600, 9550, 9500 ATI All-in-Wonder variants of the above cards/chips are also supported, but video capture is not. If you are doing fresh install of Gutsy Enable fgrlx driver. Install linux-restricted-modules and restricted-manager provied in the restricted repositories: Code: sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install linux-restricted-modules-generic restricted-manager Open the restricted drivers manager in "System -> Administration -> Restricted Drivers Manager" and select "ATI accelerated graphics driver". Install xserver-xgl package Code: sudo apt-get install xserver-xgl Install compiz Code: sudo apt-get install compizconfig-settings-manager compiz compiz-core compiz-fusion-plugins-main compiz-fusion-plugins-extra compiz-gnome compiz-plugins libcompizconfig-backend-gconf libcompizconfig0 Reboot Log in. 3D effects should be enabled! Customize Compiz Fusion. Select System → Preferences → Advanced Desktop Effects Settings In the new window, General Options → Desktop Size → Horizontal Virtual Size. Set it to 4. The other two options have to be left at 1. Continue customization per Forlong's guide at http://forlong.blogage.de/article/20...-Compiz-Fusion Last edited by michael37; October 23rd, 2007 at 02:57 AM..

October 17th, 2007	#8
michael37 Has an Ubuntu Drip Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Boston, MA, USA Beans: 788 Ubuntu 9.10 Karmic Koala	Re: Gutsy, Xgl and ATI fglrx If you are upgrading from Feisty 7.04 or earlier versions and you have run Xgl before. When upgrading, you may experience blank screen, a screen with no windows and toolbars, a screen with only a background, or any other mess. It is caused by the customized scripts for Xgl which do not work with Gutsy. So, we need to clean up. If you really can't log into a working X session and open a terminal, simply press "Ctrl-Alt-F1" to get into the text prompt and follow the removal steps (1-4) from the text interface. After a reboot, the graphics should work better. Remove compiz Code: sudo echo "activate sudo" sudo apt-get --purge remove compiz* sudo apt-get --purge remove libcompiz* sudo apt-get --purge remove libdecoration0 sudo apt-get --purge remove compizconfig-settings-manager sudo apt-get --purge remove python-compizconfig Remove Xgl Code: sudo apt-get --purge remove xserver-xgl Clean up Code: sudo apt-get autoremove Remove customizations Code: rm -rf ~/.compiz rm -rf ~/.config/compiz rm -rf ~/.gconf/apps/compiz sudo rm -i /usr/local/bin/startxgl.sh sudo rm -i /usr/share/xsessions/xgl.desktop When asked to remove the files, type YES. If the files were present and you removed them, proceed to the next item. Otherwise, undo customizations to /etc/gdm/gdm.conf and /etc/gdm/gdm.conf-custom that you have made from this section of the guide Reboot Login back in and find yourself in a 3D effect devoid session. You may not even be running a windows manager. If you can't move windows and don't see window decorations, press "Alt-F2" and type Code: metacity --replace Verify that everything else is working properly, e.g. Firefox opens, Wired and/or Wireless Network connects, etc. This is the best time to troubleshoot everything else until we enable 3D effects. Enable fgrlx driver. Install linux-restricted-modules and restricted-manager provided in the restricted repositories: Code: sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install linux-restricted-modules-generic restricted-manager Open the restricted drivers manager in "System -> Administration -> Restricted Drivers Manager" and select "ATI accelerated graphics driver". Reboot if necessary. After reboot, log back in. Open terminal and run Code: fglrxinfo -display :0 and verify that you see something like this: Code: display: :0.0 screen: 0 OpenGL vendor string: ATI Technologies Inc. OpenGL renderer string: ATI Mobility Radeon X1400 OpenGL version string: 2.0.6473 (8.37.6) If you don't have command fglrxinfo, you either don't have a supported ATI card or you missed a step or two. Go back through all steps. If you see "Mesa GLX Indirect" instead of "ATI Technologies", see Troubleshooting section below. If still unsure, post your /etc/X11/xorg.conf in this thread. DO NOT CONTINUE INSTALLATION UNTIL YOU FIX THIS ISSUE AND GET RID OF MESA. ================================= Are you ready to get back into the wobbly windows and Desktop Cube? ================================= Install Xgl. Code: sudo apt-get install xserver-xgl Install compiz Code: sudo apt-get install compizconfig-settings-manager compiz compiz-core compiz-fusion-plugins-main compiz-fusion-plugins-extra compiz-gnome compiz-plugins libcompizconfig-backend-gconf libcompizconfig0 Reboot Log in. 3D effects should be enabled! You no longer need to select a special Xgl session. Customize Compiz Fusion. Select System → Preferences → Advanced Desktop Effects Settings In the new window, General Options → Desktop Size → Horizontal Virtual Size. Set it to 4. The other two options have to be left at 1. Continue customization per Forlong's guide at http://forlong.blogage.de/article/20...-Compiz-Fusion Troubleshooting Solving the 'Mesa nightmares' mystery. This is becoming a hot topic in this guide. A common problem in step 10 is fgrlxinfo output like this: Code: # fglrxinfo -display :0 display: :0.0 screen: 0 OpenGL vendor string: Mesa project: www.mesa3d.org OpenGL renderer string: Mesa GLX Indirect OpenGL version string: 1.4 (2.1 Mesa 7.0.1) . That means you are not using the restricted driver. Enable it via Restricted Driver Manager -- see step 8. Just in case, run command Code: sudo aticonfig --initial then reboot. ----------- More Mesa troubleshooting. Some people reported broken drivers. This has nothing to do with compiz or Xgl -- it's a matter of having a broken driver installed. Technically speaking, there are two drivers for the video card. One driver is a part of the kernel, and one driver is for X. They need to both work and match. * Kernel driver Verify that the most recent kernel is installed: Code: uname -r should 2.6.22-14-generic and both packages are installed: Code: dpkg -l linux-restricted-modules-2.6.22-14-generic dpkg -l linux-image-2.6.22-14-generic Check if your kernel module is loaded: Code: lsmod \| grep fglrx should return something like: fglrx 765588 51 You can also check if you are using the right version of the kernel driver: Code: modinfo fglrx should return something like this: filename: /lib/modules/2.6.22-14-generic/volatile/fglrx.ko depends: agpgart vermagic: 2.6.22-14-generic SMP mod_unload 586 license: Proprietary. (C) 2002 - ATI Technologies, Starnberg, GERMANY description: ATI Fire GL author: Fire GL - ATI Research GmbH, Germany parm: firegl:charp If you don't have fglrx kernel module loaded, please report the problem in this thread. I don't have generic instructions for you yet. If you are running a wrong version of kernel, your install may have a bigger issue than non-working 3D effects. Please address those issues first. * X driver See if your X driver is installed Code: dpkg -l xorg-driver-fglrx You should have version 7.1.0-8.37.6+2.6.22.4-14.9 installed. If you got something else, I recommend to uninstall it and reinstall it: Typical output is: ii xorg-driver-fg 7.1.0-8.37.6+2 Video driver for ATI graphics accelerators Code: sudo apt-get --purge remove xorg-driver-fglrx sudo apt-get install xorg-driver-fglrx Once done, reboot and get back into X session. Go back to step 8 and enable the restricted driver. You may need yet another reboot after enabling the driver. If that didn't help, you are running into the dreaded "Mesa issue". Gutsy "Restricted Driver Manager" does everything possible to avoid it. I have never run into the "Mesa issue", so I don't know how to troubleshoot it. Please refer to this excellent updated Wiki page or Fixing the "Mesa Issue" for ATI Cards thread -- the original post is very outdated, but the troubleshooting section at the end is good. ----------- Mesa nightmares continued. If you have any questions, please post output of commands fglrxinfo -display :0 fglrxinfo -display :1 ----------- Envy and/or newer drivers from ATI Some users report using Envy or alternative mechanisms to install newer drivers. This is very dangerous. As this press-release indicates, many with older GPUs had immediately upgraded with some then having a foul experience. In this guide, "older" means anything but 2000HD series!!! That's what most of us run. So, if you have have a video card from the supported hardware section (see my previous post), then you must not upgrade to the newer driver. References DO NOT FOLLOW THESE LINKS BLINDLY. MOST ARE WRITTEN FOR FEISTY AND THIS GUIDE UNDOES WHAT IS SUGGESTED IN THESE GUIDES. http://ubuntuforums.org/showpost.php...&postcount=217 http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=488385 https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BinaryDriverHowto/ATI https://help.ubuntu.com/community/RestrictedDrivers/ATI https://help.ubuntu.com/community/CompositeManager/Xgl Last edited by michael37; October 29th, 2007 at 04:28 PM.. Reason: expanding

October 17th, 2007	#9
toupeiro Way Too Much Ubuntu Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Central California My beans are hidden! Ubuntu Karmic Koala (testing)	Re: Gutsy, Xgl and ATI fglrx Great howto! Kudo's!! __________________ Primary O.S: Ubuntu 9.04 x64 test OS: OpenSolaris 2008.11 CPU: Core i7 940 \| GFX: NVidia GTX260 OC "Get your facts first, then you can distort them as you please." -Mark Twain

October 17th, 2007	#10
sewmyheadon 5 Cups of Ubuntu Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Gig Harbor, WA Beans: 30 Ubuntu 8.10 Intrepid Ibex	Re: Gutsy, Xgl and ATI fglrx Hey Michael, I just upgraded to the Release Candidate (can't wait for the actual release tomorrow) on my Dell Inspiron 9300 notebook. As you experienced, Compiz no longer worked. I had previously installed Compiz Fusion on Feisty and had it working quite nicely. Once the Gutsy upgrade was complete, I could see and access my desktop, but couldn't get Desktop Effects to work. So, I followed your instructions and have it working like a charm now. It didn't preserve my settings, but that didn't matter. Thanks! eric __________________ eric a.

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