HOWTO: Gutsy Gibbon 7.10 + Xgl + ATI fglrx + Compiz Fusion

[michael37]

This document is specific to proud owners of challenging ATI video cards and to the new release of Gutsy Gibbon 7.10. The guide has two sections: instructions for the fresh Gutsy install and instructions for Feisty upgrade.


Note for Hardy Heron 8.04 and Intrepid Ibex 8.10 users. The new ATI accelerated driver supports so called AIGLX so XGL is not required. However, XGL still works, and is apparently a working strategy to address some video playback (choppy video, video tearing) problems with Compiz Fusion.

This guide supersedes Feisty guide. The original location of this guide is here. I prefer that troubleshooting takes place on the "Desktop Effects" optimization forum in the original thread rather than here.

If you are doing fresh install of Gutsy

When using apt-get, please close Synaptic Package Manager or Update Manager.

1. Enable fgrlx driver.
   
   Install linux-restricted-modules and restricted-manager provided in the restricted repositories:
   

   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".
   
   
2. Install xserver-xgl package
   

   sudo apt-get install xserver-xgl

3. Install compiz
   

   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

4. Reboot
5. Log in. 3D effects should be enabled!

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. We will end up wiping your custom Compiz settings -- but this may be required since some customizations applicable to early alpha versions of Compiz Fusion in Feisty are incompatible to more mature Compiz Fusion version in Gutsy.

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.

When using apt-get, please close Synaptic Package Manager or Update Manager.

1. Remove compiz
   

   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

2. Remove Xgl
   

   sudo apt-get --purge remove xserver-xgl

3. Clean up
   

   sudo apt-get autoremove

4. Remove customizations
   

   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
5. Reboot
6. 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

   metacity --replace

7. 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.
8. Enable fgrlx driver.
   
   Install linux-restricted-modules and restricted-manager provided in the restricted repositories:
   

   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".
9. Reboot if necessary.
10. After reboot, log back in.
    Open terminal and run
    

    fglrxinfo -display :0

    and verify that you see something like this:
    

    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 unsure, post your /etc/X11/xorg.conf in this thread.
11. =================================
12. Are you ready to get back into the wobbly windows and Desktop Cube?
13. =================================
14. Install Xgl.
    

    sudo apt-get install xserver-xgl

15. Install compiz
    

    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

16. Reboot
17. Log in. 3D effects should be enabled! You no longer need to select a special Xgl session.

Troubleshooting

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

# 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

sudo aticonfig --initial

then reboot (that's step 9).

-----------
If you have a laptop, suspect and hibernate will not work until ATI fixes a bug in the driver. More details at https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+s...22/+bug/121653
-----------

If you have any questions, please post output of commands
fglrxinfo -display :0
fglrxinfo -display :1
as well as contents of your /etc/X11/xorg.conf file in the original thread

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

[seasom]

so after going through half a dozen installation guides on this site & the wiki and being unsuccessful, this worked for me. thank you so so much!

[[ajax]]

Well, I'll concede that this worked better for me than anything else so far.

However, Compiz Fusion is quite slow, esp. compared to my old Beryl Install.

"fglrxinfo -display :0"

display: :0.0 screen: 0
OpenGL vendor string: ATI Technologies Inc.
OpenGL renderer string: Radeon X1950 Series
OpenGL version string: 2.0.6958 Release

"fglrxinfo -display :1"

display: :1.0 screen: 0
OpenGL vendor string: Mesa project: www.mesa3d.org
OpenGL renderer string: Mesa GLX Indirect
OpenGL version string: 1.2 (2.1 Mesa 7.0.1)

"xorg.conf"

# xorg.conf (xorg X Window System server configuration file)
#
# This file was generated by dexconf, the Debian X Configuration tool, using
# values from the debconf database.
#
# Edit this file with caution, and see the xorg.conf manual page.
# (Type "man xorg.conf" at the shell prompt.)
#
# This file is automatically updated on xserver-xorg package upgrades *only*
# if it has not been modified since the last upgrade of the xserver-xorg
# package.
#
# If you have edited this file but would like it to be automatically updated
# again, run the following command:
# sudo dpkg-reconfigure -phigh xserver-xorg

Section "Files"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Generic Keyboard"
Driver "kbd"
Option "CoreKeyboard"
Option "XkbRules" "xorg"
Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
Option "XkbLayout" "us"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Identifier "Configured Mouse"
Driver "mouse"
Option "CorePointer"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/mice"
Option "Protocol" "ImPS/2"
Option "ZAxisMapping" "4 5"
Option "Emulate3Buttons" "true"
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Driver "wacom"
Identifier "stylus"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
Option "Type" "stylus"
Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4" # Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Driver "wacom"
Identifier "eraser"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
Option "Type" "eraser"
Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4" # Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "InputDevice"
Driver "wacom"
Identifier "cursor"
Option "Device" "/dev/input/wacom"
Option "Type" "cursor"
Option "ForceDevice" "ISDV4" # Tablet PC ONLY
EndSection

Section "Device"
Identifier "Generic Video Card"
Driver "fglrx"
Option "VideoOverlay" "on"
Option "OpenGLOverlay" "off"
BusID "PCI:6:0:0"
EndSection


Section "Monitor"
Identifier "SyncMaster"
Option "DPMS"
EndSection

Section "Screen"
Identifier "Default Screen"
Device "Generic Video Card"
Monitor "SyncMaster"
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection "Display"
Modes "1440x1440" "1440x900" "1280x1024" "1280x960" "1152x864" "1024x768" "832x624" "800x600" "720x400" "640x480"
EndSubSection
EndSection

Section "ServerLayout"
Identifier "Default Layout"
Screen "Default Screen"
InputDevice "Generic Keyboard"
InputDevice "Configured Mouse"

# Uncomment if you have a wacom tablet
# InputDevice "stylus" "SendCoreEvents"
# InputDevice "cursor" "SendCoreEvents"
# InputDevice "eraser" "SendCoreEvents"
EndSection

Section "Extensions"
Option "Composite" "Disable"
EndSection

[keithk]

Just thought I'd chime in also. This worked for me after a long series of disaoopointments. thanks!

[[ajax]]

Fixed the problem. Word of warning: the ATI 42.x.3 (whatever the latest one is as of 11/25/07) sucks. I downgraded the driver to get things to run smoothly.

[adrianmak]

Does this guide applicable on new ati display like ati 2400, 2600, 2900, 3850, 3870 card ?

[accog]

when i attempt to install the xserver-xgl i get this from the terminal:
E: dpkg was interrupted, you must manually run 'dpkg --configure -a' to correct the problem.
anyone got any ideas?

[olskar]

when i attempt to install the xserver-xgl i get this from the terminal:
E: dpkg was interrupted, you must manually run 'dpkg --configure -a' to correct the problem.
anyone got any ideas?

Run "sudo dpkg --configure -a" as it tells you

[accog]

Thanks a bunch! (D'oh!)

But now when i try to install the xserver-xgl package its telling me it cannot find it. Does it no longer exist?!?

accog@accog-desktop:~$ sudo apt-get install xserver-xgl
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
E: Couldn't find package xserver-xgl
accog@accog-desktop:~$

[flipfone]

i followed this tutorial however i get the same problem as all other tries. i will bootup to the login screen then ill login after about 20 seconds of blank screen the screen goes black then back to the login screen? any ideas? im using an ati x1650


fglrxinfo -display :0
display: :0.0 screen: 0
OpenGL vendor string: ATI Technologies Inc.
OpenGL renderer string: Radeon X1650 Series
OpenGL version string: 2.1.7059 Release