Crismon's Blog

It is possible to install the graphic driver (NVIDIA) on Linux in two different ways. The first method involves the manual installation from a source; the second instead needs the repository.

First way

First of all We have to open the official Nvidia’s website where We can download the most suitable driver for our computer. Click here. After that We must make us sure that We have already installed the following packages:

• make
• Gcc
• Kernel-source

Now push CTRL+ALT+F1 and log in a root user when We are supposed to do that. Through the command "cd" let’s enter the folder where We have put the installer and key in:

• init 3
• sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86-100.14.11-pkg1.run -q

At this point We have to finish the installation following the instructions. After finishing the installation We have to key in:

• sax2 -r -m 0=nvidia ("0" is ZERO)

Thanks to this command We can configurate xorg.conf properly and enter Sax2. Now let’s check all the monitor’s settings, they must be correct. Let’s save everything and get out. Type "init 5" for executing the X server. If everything is fine your computer will work in a three-dimensional way.

Second Way

The second way is simpler and faster.than the other one. Let’s open Yast–> Software repositories and We add this source:

Protocol: HTTP Server
Name: download.nvidia.com
Directory on Server: /opensuse/10.2

Now Yast–> Software Management and install:

• x11-video-nvidia or x11-video-nvidiaGO1
• nvidia-gfx-kmp-"kernel-flavor" or nvidia-gfxGO1-kmp-"kernel-flavor"

As far as the kernel modules We must be careful when We choose It. The most common are:

• x11-video-nvidiaGO1
• nvidia-gfxGO1-kmp-"kernel-flavor"

If our card appears on this list: 

0×0110 GeForce2 MX/MX 400
0×0111 GeForce2 MX 100/200
0×0112 GeForce2 Go
0×0113 Quadro2 MXR/EX/Go
0×0170 GeForce4 MX 460
0×0171 GeForce4 MX 440
0×0172 GeForce4 MX 420
0×0173 GeForce4 MX 440-SE
0×0174 GeForce4 440 Go
0×0175 GeForce4 420 Go
0×0176 GeForce4 420 Go 32M
0×0177 GeForce4 460 Go
0×0178 Quadro4 550 XGL
0×0179 GeForce4 440 Go 64M
0×017A Quadro NVS
0×017C Quadro4 500 GoGL
0×017D GeForce4 410 Go 16M
0×0181 GeForce4 MX 440 with AGP8X
0×0182 GeForce4 MX 440SE with AGP8X
0×0183 GeForce4 MX 420 with AGP8X
0×0185 GeForce4 MX 4000
0×0188 Quadro4 580 XGL
0×018A Quadro NVS 280 SD
0×018B Quadro4 380 XGL
0×018C Quadro NVS 50 PCI
0×01A0 GeForce2 Integrated GPU
0×01F0 GeForce4 MX Integrated GPU
0×0200 GeForce3
0×0201 GeForce3 Ti 200
0×0202 GeForce3 Ti 500
0×0203 Quadro DCC
0×0250 GeForce4 Ti 4600
0×0251 GeForce4 Ti 4400
0×0253 GeForce4 Ti 4200
0×0258 Quadro4 900 XGL
0×0259 Quadro4 750 XGL
0×025B Quadro4 700 XGL
0×0280 GeForce4 Ti 4800
0×0281 GeForce4 Ti 4200 with AGP8X
0×0282 GeForce4 Ti 4800 SE
0×0286 GeForce4 4200 Go
0×0288 Quadro4 980 XGL
0×0289 Quadro4 780 XGL
0×028C Quadro4 700 GoGL

We’d better install them:

• x11-video-nvidia
• nvidia-gfx-kmp-"kernel-flavor"

("Kernel flavor" depends on the kernel version installed so We need to check It opening a konsole through the command uname-r) After that We can try to restart Server X and check if the system works in a three-dimensional way through Sax2 otherwise We can open another konsol and type:

• init 3
• sax2 -r -m 0=nvidia

Check all the monitor’s settings and if everything is fine save everything and type

• init 5

in order to go back to the Server X. Now your system must work in the three-dimensional way.

If You have any problem, please write a message below.