G550 Dual-DVI install on clean Debian Etch system,Xorg7.1.1

[AndreasMeier]

Hi there,

first of all, thank you very much for opening this forum, I was shocked as I saw that the Matrox forum was closed some days ago.

I have a G550 in my computer and I have Debian Etch with Xorg 7.1.1 installed.
Furthermore I have 2 TFT which I want to use with DVI.
In the past, I used a config for Dual-Screen over DVI and it was working perfectly.

But then, the X-server version changed and I lost the ability to use the Dual-Screen/DVI-setup.

Now I have a clean install of the system again, but only with a single screen config.

My question is, if I can install the latest mga-driver from tuxx-home.at without many problems ?
(also the installation process was working perfectly with my last xserver-version).

Thanks in advance,
kind regards
Andreas

[csp]

Hi Andreas,

install driver from tuxx-home and then:

There is a issue with the mga_hal file. This is closes source from matrox and compiled by matrox. It is not available for Xorg 7.1.x.

In default xserver exits with error that a module is not compiled for this xserver.

work around: disable ABI checking.
eigther
via -ignoreABI in X's command line (e.g. in gdm.conf)
or
in xorg.conf:

Section "ServerFlags"
Option "IgnoreABI" "True"
EndSection

[csp]

or see http://matrox.tuxx-home.at/viewtopic.php?t=2

[tuxx-home.at]

first of all, thank you very much for opening this forum, I was shocked as I saw
that the Matrox forum was closed some days ago.

You're welcome. Writing posts in "the matrox forum" has become part of my
day and therefore when Matrox closed the forum, I had to do something about
it.

I hope, that this forum will be the new platform for all Matrox users out there.

My question is, if I can install the latest mga-driver from tuxx-home.at without
many problems ?

Yes, mga 4.4.1 works perfectly for your distribution.
The only issue to mention is the one with the ABI mismatch as mentioned
by csp already. There's also a workaround for kdm, so if you're using
kdm, please tell me.

Today I'll start adding some entries to the FAQ forum that will cover all
those common issues.

[AndreasMeier]

Hi there,

thanks you both for your replies.

Writing posts in "the matrox forum" has become part of my
day and therefore when Matrox closed the forum, I had to do something about
it.

I know as I already read your postings on the former forum
And I was looking at your site after the close in order to see an reaction of your side.

So, now I installed the driver on my system.
I had to use the overwrite-switch, because something was blocking the installation first.
But then, the installation went smootly.

Now, I took my former xorg.conf, which had enabled Dual-Screen over DVI on the old system :

Code: Select all

Section "Files"
   FontPath "/usr/share/X11/fonts/misc"
   FontPath "/var/lib/defoma/x-ttcidfont-conf.d/dirs/TrueType"
   FontPath "/usr/share/X11/fonts/100dpi"
   FontPath "/usr/share/X11/fonts/75dpi"

#   FontPath "/var/lib/defoma/x-ttcidfont-conf.d/dirs/CID"
#   FontPath "/usr/share/X11/fonts/cyrillic"
#   FontPath "/usr/share/X11/fonts/100dpi/:unscaled"
#   FontPath "/usr/share/X11/fonts/75dpi/:unscaled"
#   FontPath "/usr/share/X11/fonts/Type1"
#   FontPath "/usr/share/X11/fonts/CID"
EndSection


Section "Module"
   Load   "dbe"
   Load   "ddc"
   Load   "drm"
   Load   "dri"
   Load   "extmod"
   Load   "freetype"
   Load   "glx"
EndSection


Section "InputDevice"
   Identifier "Generic Keyboard"
   Driver "kbd"
   Option "CoreKeyboard"
   Option "XkbRules" "xorg"
   Option "XkbModel" "pc105"
   Option "XkbLayout" "de"
   Option "XkbVariant" "nodeadkeys"
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" # Braucht man nur, wenn man keine Dreitastenmaus besitzt.
EndSection


Section "Device"
   BoardName "Matrox G550 AGP"
   Identifier "Device[0]"
   Driver "mga"
   BusID "1:0:0"
   Screen 0
#   Option "DigitalScreen1" "on"
EndSection


Section "Device"
   BoardName "Matrox G550 AGP"
   Identifier "Device[1]"
   Driver "mga"
   BusID "1:0:0"
   Screen 1
#   Option "DigitalScreen1" "on"
EndSection


Section "Monitor"
   Identifier "Monitor[0]"
   Option "DPMS"
   HorizSync 30-65
   VertRefresh 50-75
EndSection


Section "Monitor"
   Identifier "Monitor[1]"
   Option "DPMS"
   HorizSync 30-65
   VertRefresh 50-75
EndSection


Section "Screen"
   Identifier "Screen[0]"
   Device "Device[0]"
   Monitor "Monitor[0]"
   DefaultDepth 24
   SubSection "Display"
      Depth 24
      Modes "1280x1024"
   EndSubSection
EndSection


Section "Screen"
   Identifier "Screen[1]"
   Device "Device[1]"
   Monitor "Monitor[1]"
   DefaultDepth 24
   SubSection "Display"
      Depth 24
      Modes "1280x1024"
   EndSubSection
EndSection


Section "ServerLayout"
   Identifier "Default Layout"
   InputDevice "Generic Keyboard"
   InputDevice "Configured Mouse"
   Option "Clone" "off"
   Option "Xinerama" "on"
   Screen "Screen[0]" LeftOf "Screen[1]"
   Screen "Screen[1]"
EndSection

Section "ServerFlags"
Option "IgnoreABI" "True"
EndSection

Section "DRI"
   Mode 0666
EndSection



Please have a short look at it, if it should work and also, if the IgnoreABI-Section is in the correct place.

Yes, I have the KDM in use. Do I have to do something special before I do a system restart ?

Kind regards
Andreas

[csp]

Hi,

first of all, copy your current and running xorg.conf e.g. to your home for backup. Then apply your changes. IrgnoreABI looks fine. Xinerama is enabled. But it seems, that digital output is disabled?

# Option "DigitalScreen1" "on"

I don't know this exactly because I do not use DVI on my computer.

Then copy this xorg.conf to /etc/X11.

If X does not start properly afterwards, login on text screen pressing "ALT F1" resp. "CTRL ALT F1" and copy your working xorg.conf back.

/var/log/Xorg.0.log tells you more about problems when starting X.

br
CSP

[AndreasMeier]

Thanks for the hint regarding DVI.
That must be happened with all the trying.

Now my system is up and running again, but only restarted the Xserver by pressing CTRL-ALT-Backspace (hopefully this is enough).
Dualscreen is working, tool.

But I still wondering, what tuxx-home.at had mentioned with the KDM-workaround.

Anyways... thank you for all the help.

I think, I will lock down the xserver-version in APT, so that a update in the future will not be applicable by mistake and break my system again

Kind regards
Andreas

[tuxx-home.at]

Regarding the kdm configuration, please refer to the following link:
[http://tuxx-home.at/cmt.php?article=/2006/10/24/T11_52_15/index.html]

The most interesting comment is quoted here:

Solution for KDE with these drivers

Edit /kdmrc Mine was located at /etc/kde3/kdm/kdmrc
Find ServerArgsLocal and uncomment it.
The new line should be "ServerArgsLocal=-ignoreABI"

Besides that, your xorg.conf looks good.

Thanks for the hint regarding DVI.
That must be happened with all the trying.

Usually, the driver detects displays attached to DVI ports automatically,
so it is only necessary to specify the DigitalScreenX options if it does not
work (usually).

Now my system is up and running again, but only restarted the Xserver by
pressing CTRL-ALT-Backspace (hopefully this is enough).

Yes, it is.

I think, I will lock down the xserver-version in APT, so that a update in the
future will not be applicable by mistake and break my system again

Don't do this!!!!111 If it does really break something, come here and we'll
fix that That's what we are here for, right?

[AndreasMeier]

Thanks for the fixing offer, will think about it

Again, thank you very much for the quick help.

[tuxx-home.at]

Thanks for the fixing offer, will think about it

Great

[AndreasMeier]

Now its time for your fixing offer

Yesterday, a new Xserver-Update was installed ( a minor one, I thought).
But this morning, the Xserver gone to a black screen, when starting.

System seems to be running, because when I press the On/Off-button, the system is going to halt.

So, what should I do ?

Just re-install the driver package ?

And can you tell me, why it will break by every update? Just for my understanding.

Thanks for your help.

Regards
Andreas

[tuxx-home.at]

Yesterday, a new Xserver-Update was installed ( a minor one, I thought).
But this morning, the Xserver gone to a black screen, when starting.

System seems to be running, because when I press the On/Off-button, the
system is going to halt.

How far do you get? Do you see the Matrox Parhelia splashscreen when
starting the system or not?
Is it possible to switch to a text console by pressing CTRL-ALT-F1 f.ex.?

So, what should I do ?
Just re-install the driver package ?

Yes, at first, this would be the best idea.
If you really got a new X server version with a different version string,
then the install script will definetly fail telling you that your "currently
installed X server version is not supported".

If so, please post the output of `X -version` here and I'll make an updated
installer script.

And can you tell me, why it will break by every update?

It can have multiple reasons why the installer might fail after upgrading
your system.
Let us get that fixed first and then I'll be able to tell you what the cause
was.

[AndreasMeier]

No no, that was just boring.
The installer with overwrite-option enabled just wrote above my existing config and brought the xserver up running again.
As I said, just boring
Ok, enough kidding.

The update was just a minor one, only the last number changed.
The installer skript runs through again. I had the overwrite-option enabled. No error message, just goog working.
And now the config is fixed again.

If I had knew that it was so simple, I had started the installer by myself.
Sorry for confusion, the last big broke of the config was scary enough, that now I just wanted to ask you first.

Thanks and regards
Andreas

[tuxx-home.at]

No no, that was just boring.

Oh, well, life can't always be exciting

[AndreasMeier]

I have a simple question:
When I press ALT+F2, I did not get a console window with a.m. configuration, just a black screen.
When I press ALT+F7, I get back again to the normal screen.

Do you know, if this is "normal" / correct ?

Kind regards
Andreas