Ubuntu Gutsy Installation Guide

Installation

For most users it won't be necessary to go into installation and configuration details of the driver. Ubuntu 7.10 (Gutsy) provides a notification saying that there are restricted drivers available. You just have to go there (Restricted Drivers Manager) and enable the "ATI acelerated graphics driver". Ubuntu will then install and configure the driver for you. If this does not provide the optimal solution you were looking for, please read ahead.

Method 1: Install the Driver the Ubuntu Way

This will install the driver that is currently in the repositories. It may be older than the current version from AMD.

sudo apt-get update	
sudo apt-get install linux-restricted-modules-generic restricted-manager
sudo apt-get install xorg-driver-fglrx
sudo depmod -a

The second line of the above may not be necessary. If apt says it cannot find the "linux-restricted-modules" package, try line 3. If that fails, check your sources.list (see top of page)

If the system complains about dependencies, use your preferred package manager to download python2.4 and, if necessary, its dependencies.

Method 2: Install the Catalyst Driver Manually

This is just an alternative installation method for the section above. It might help if you still get 'DRI missing' errors.

Download page: Catalyst 15.12 -- File: radeon-crimson-15.12-15.302-151217a-297685e.zip. This package contains both the 32-bit and 64-bit driver.

Change to the directory you downloaded the file. Make sure that you have the universe and multiverse repositories enabled in /etc/apt/sources.list before doing these steps.

There is a detailed manual with screenshots at Ubuntu Wiki.

By default, Ubuntu did not enable the Universe and Multiverse repositories, but now in Gutsy, both Universe and Multiverse are activated by default.

Install necessary tools:

Terminal Command

sudo apt-get update sudo apt-get install build-essential fakeroot dh-make debhelper debconf libstdc++5 dkms linux-headers-$(uname -r)

Uninstall previous fglrx: Using Synaptic, completely remove any packages containing "fglrx" in their name.

If using 64bit make sure to collect package "ia32-libs" before you continue!

Create .deb packages:

Terminal Command

sudo sh radeon-crimson-15.12-15.302-151217a-297685e.zip --buildpkg Ubuntu/gutsy

note: if this step fails with a signal being caught, and you are running the script on an NFS-mounted directory, copy it to a local partition, and it will work. The same error may result from insufficient disk space.

As an alternative, you can just use

Terminal Command

sudo sh ./radeon-crimson-15.12-15.302-151217a-297685e.zip --buildpkg Ubuntu --autopkg

which will download all the needed packages by itself and also automatically detects the Ubuntu version used.

If this step fails on amd64/x86_64 with a No such file or directory message about missing files in X11R6/lib, follow these instructions and come back here. Also check that your download path does not contain spaces.

Blacklist old fglrx module from linux-restricted-modules:

As Ubuntu Gutsy's linux-restricted-modules package includes the fglrx module from an old driver version (8.37.6), we have to blacklist this module to make sure the new kernel module which is needed by the new driver will be used instead.

Ubuntu/Gnome users type in:

gksu gedit /etc/default/linux-restricted-modules-common

Kubuntu/KDE users type in:

kdesu kate /etc/default/linux-restricted-modules-common

Add "fglrx" to the line "DISABLED_MODULES"

File: /etc/default/linux-restricted-modules-common

DISABLED_MODULES="fglrx"

Please note that after the modification above, the "Restricted Driver Manager" will signal "ATI accelerated graphics driver" not enabled (unticked). This is perfectly correct. At the end of the installation procedure it will signal in Status: "in use" (green light), but NOT enabled. It simply means that the fglrx module contained in the linux-restricted-modules package is not enabled, but another fglrx module (8.4) is in use.

You may also need to edit the file (if it exists):

gksu gedit /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-restricted

Put a # in front of the line "blacklist fglrx", if it is present. Otherwise, the kernel module will not load automatically, and you will not get 3D acceleration.

Remove any old fglrx debs from /usr/src/:

sudo rm /usr/src/fglrx-kernel*.deb

Install .deb packages:

sudo dpkg -i xorg-driver-fglrx_8.476-0*.deb fglrx-kernel-source_8.476-0*.deb fglrx-amdcccle_8.476-0*.deb

Additional 64-bit instructions

If you have a 64 bit install, the above dpkg command will likely complain that "Errors were encountered while processing: fglrx-amdcccle". This is because of a dependency of the amdccle package on 32 bit libraries. If you receive this error, issue the following command after the above dpkg command, which will force the installation of all of the 32 bit dependencies, and then the amdccle package:

sudo apt-get install -f

Catalyst 8.3 on 64-bit systems requires the --force-overwrite command in the above dpkg command:

sudo dpkg -i --force-overwrite xorg-driver-fglrx_8.476-0*.deb fglrx-kernel-source_8.476-0*.deb fglrx-amdcccle_8.476-0*.deb

Troubleshooting Installation Errors

Kernel -rt users

If you are running the -rt kernel, you will fail to compile the kernel module with "FATAL: modpost: GPL-incompatible module fglrx.ko uses GPL-only symbol '__rcu_read_lock'". Follow the instructions on 64bitstudio.com for a workaround.

Missing kernel sources

Error! Your kernel source for kernel 2.6.22-14-386 cannot be found at
/lib/modules/2.6.22-14-386/build or /lib/modules/2.6.22-14-386/source.

You must install the specific headers package for your kernel:

$ uname -r
$ sudo aptitude install linux-headers-2.6.22-14-386

Where "2.6.22-14" is the version reported by uname.

Bad file descriptor

If you get a 'Bad file descriptor' message concerning the xorg.conf file try switching user to root and repeating the same command without sudo. This might be valid for the following commands too. (Ubuntu Gutsy installs with no password set for root by default. You can set a password for the root by typing 'sudo passwd root' first.)

Configure the Driver

• NOTE THIS WILL ERASE SETTINGS IN /etc/X11/xorg.conf you should be sure there is a backup.
• Note Method 2 Users: Before you carry out this step you must reboot your machine. Or else the fglrx driver will not be in use on xorg.conf and using the aticonfig options will cause a memory dump and not intialise the Driver properly.
• Note: An alternative to the aticonfig --initial command is to edit /etc/X11/xorg.conf and replace the string "ati" with "fglrx" in the "Device" section. This way you won't lose your old "Screen" and "Monitor" settings. Afterwards you can use aticonfig for setting overlay etc. Another alternative is aticonfig --initial --force if you encounter issues with the first command.

sudo aticonfig --initial

Then:

sudo aticonfig --overlay-type=Xv

• Note: Alternative in the overlay-type to "Xv" can be "opengl" or "disable" if the TV-out makes problems in videos.

Alternative: Configure the Driver, The Manual Way:

An alternative to the "sudo aticonfig" commands is to edit "/etc/X11/xorg.conf" and change the "Device" section for the video card as shown below. This way you won't lose your old settings.

gksu gedit /etc/X11/xorg.conf

Section "Device"
	[...]
#       Driver          "vesa"
	Driver		"fglrx"
	Option		"VideoOverlay"		"on"
	Option		"OpenGLOverlay"		"off"
	[...]
EndSection

TV - Out

The composite TV-Out is not working simultaneously with the VGA on my System. To use it I have turned the VGA off and only the TV on. Attention! This command turns off your Monitor!!

sudo aticonfig --enable-monitor=tv

To change back to VGA:

sudo aticonfig --enable-monitor=crt1

Some have had luck with both mirrored.

sudo aticonfig --force-monitor=crt1
sudo aticonfig --enable-monitor=crt1,tv

reboot after that and it should mirror the CRT1 onto the TV.

Finish the Installation

Now save any open document and reboot your system:

sudo shutdown -hr now

• Note: An alternative to rebooting is to restart the X Server by pressing your CTRL ALT BACKSPACE keys. You must remove any old kernel modules such as "drm" "radeon" or "fglrx" using the "rmmod" command. Example: sudo rmmod fglrx
• Note: Another way to reboot:

sudo reboot

Post-Installation Checks and Tweaks

Verifying

Run the following command to check its output to ensure the fglrx driver is installed properly:

$fglrxinfo 
display: :0.0  screen: 0
OpenGL vendor string: ATI Technologies Inc.
OpenGL renderer string: ATI MOBILITY RADEON X300
OpenGL version string: 2.1.7415 Release

64bit Users only ( 32bit users can continue to the fglrxinfo test ), after rebooting you may have noticed that you cant open aticonfig, and the fglrxinfo test below may not show ati in the info from the test, to fix this in terminal do the following command

sudo ln -s /usr/lib/libGL.so.1.2 /usr/lib/libGL.so.1

The OpenGL vendor string should read ATI and not Mesa.

If it still says Mesa and not ATI, even after re-enabling the driver from the Restricted-manager: You can try the following:

• $ less /var/log/Xorg.0.log |grep EE

  if this command returns (EE) fglrx(0): incompatible kernel module detected - HW accelerated OpenGL will not work then remove the kernel module and reinstall it.

$ sudo dkms remove -m fglrx -v 8.471 --all

• Remove all the packages provided by the xserver-xorg-video-all meta-package (search for it using Synaptic or Adept), then restart the machine. The X Server should now use the new fglrx driver by force (provided the driver is being used in xorg.conf).

If you can't log in after this, you'll have to log in to a terminal in the login screen, and reinstall the xserver-xorg-video-all package. Your problem is probably somewhere else. (taken from [1]).

• Remove the package xserver-xgl.

Explanation: If you installed this previously in order to make compiz work, it will not allow direct rendering on your display. You can check out if this is what it causing the problem by running

DISPLAY=:0 glxinfo | grep render

If it returns an ATI renderer, it means that xgl is being displayed indirectly on the display 1. (Taken from [2])

Warning: This might make your compiz stop working as it is configured to use XGl. A solution might be to run the Envy script in order to configure compiz.

Note: Here is the glxinfo of a good install (for those interested).

Enable laptop mode on battery power

Enabling laptop mode on battery power gives you much better battery life, however be aware that sometimes it causes odd hangs.

Switch ENABLE_LAPTOP_MODE to true

File: /etc/default/acpi-support

# Switch to laptop-mode on battery power - off by default as it causes odd # hangs on some machines ENABLE_LAPTOP_MODE=true

Switch FGLRX_ACPI_SWITCH_POWERSTATES to true

File: /etc/default/fglrx

# Uncomment the next line to enable powerstate switching on ACPI # events for lid open/close and AC adapter on/off FGLRX_ACPI_SWITCH_POWERSTATES=true

Additional configure with aticonfig tool

You can configure the driver even further with the aticonfig tool, more information can be found at Configuring.

For example:

• use powerplay option to switch power state for battery friendly or performance mode
• use dual head or one big desktop mode
• turn second monitor on/off on the fly

Specific Issues

3D desktop effects

The new ATI drivers use AIGLX so there is not need to install XGL that older drivers (< 8.40) required.

Remove this section from to the /etc/X11/xorg.conf file. The new xorg server enables "Composite" by default.

# Section "Extensions"
#        Option  "Composite" "0"
# EndSection

Compiz does not know about the fglrx driver. You can either skip the checks

mkdir -p ~/.config/compiz && echo SKIP_CHECKS=yes >> ~/.config/compiz/compiz-manager

or add it to the compiz white list, and clear the blacklist pci Ids variable *Recommended*

sudo gedit /usr/bin/compiz

# Driver whitelist
WHITELIST="fglrx nvidia intel ati radeon i810"

# blacklist based on the pci ids 
# BLACKLIST_PCIIDS="$T"
BLACKLIST_PCIIDS=""

You might have to modify the path for line 30 and 31

   COMPIZ_BIN_PATH="/usr/bin/" # For window decorators and compiz
   PLUGIN_PATH="/usr/lib/compiz/"

The COMPIZ_NAME on line 35 should also be modified accordingly

   COMPIZ_NAME="compiz.real" # Final name for compiz (compiz.real) 

After the necessary configurations, just restart X and enjoy the cool effects.

If it still does not work, locate /etc/xdg/compiz/compiz-manager.ubuntu [this line may instead be in /etc/xdg/compiz/compiz-manager] and see if it contains an infinite loop in it. If it does, comment out the line that causes the infinite loop.

# . /etc/xdg/compiz/compiz-manager.ubuntu

For Kubuntu you need some extra steps:

sudo apt-get install compiz compiz-kde compizconfig-settings-manager compiz-core compiz-fusion-plugins-main compiz-plugins

To test 3D Effects, press ALT+F2 and type "compiz --replace".

To configure use the tool KMenu->Settings->Avanced Desktop Effect Settings.

Suspend/Hibernation work with 7.12

With Gutsy release, there was a big problem using the ATI proprietary drivers. The Suspend/Hibernate function stopped working. The problem was due to the new SLUB allocator incorporated in 2.6.22 / 2.6.23 Kernel.

The problem has been solved in the AMD Catalyst 7.12 driver release. UPDATE: The problem has NOT been solved in the AMD Catalyst 7.12 driver release.

Suspend/hibernate is not working for FireGL 5250. For FireGL 5200, suspend works with the 7.12 fglrx kernel module loaded (which did not work before this release) , but does not work if X is running.

For Thinkpad T60 with ATI X1400, to get the laptop to wake up from suspend, I had to change the following in /etc/default/acpi-support:

SAVE_VBE_STATE=false

POST_VIDEO=false

Even with the above settings (like POST_VIDEO=false, etc.) my ASUS Z96J with an X1600 does not suspend.

This bug has been a serious issue for several months now. There is a lot of frustration over this, because Ubuntu/Canonical has not been helpful. They've said things like suggesting not using fglrx (thanks a lot, that really helps).

Current status on this bug can be found here: https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/linux-source-2.6.22/+bug/121653/

If you get /usr/X11R6/lib/modules/dri/fglrx_dri.so not found

sudo ln -s /usr/lib/ /usr/X11R6/lib/modules

It may be necessary to create the /usr/X11R6/lib directory first:

sudo mkdir /usr/X11R6/lib

If you get /usr/X11R6/lib64/modules/dri/fglrx_dri.so not found

sudo ln -s /usr/lib/ /usr/X11R6/lib64/modules

Segmentation Fault with glxinfo/fglrxinfo

If fglrxinfo or glxinfo returns a Segmentation fault like this:

$ fglrxinfo
display: :0.0  screen: 0
OpenGL vendor string: ATI Technologies Inc.
OpenGL renderer string: ATI Radeon Xpress Series
OpenGL version string: 1.4 (2.1.7170 Release)

Segmentation fault

Set output of libGL to verbose with

$ export LIBGL_DEBUG=verbose

Run fglrxinfo or glxinfo again

libGL: XF86DRIGetClientDriverName: 8.44.3 fglrx (screen 0)
libGL: OpenDriver: trying /usr/lib/dri/fglrx_dri.so
libGL error: dlopen /usr/lib/dri/fglrx_dri.so failed (/usr/lib/dri/fglrx_dri.so: cannot open shared object file: Permission denied)
libGL error: unable to load driver: fglrx_dri.so
display: :0.0  screen: 0
OpenGL vendor string: ATI Technologies Inc.
OpenGL renderer string: ATI Radeon Xpress Series
OpenGL version string: 1.4 (2.1.7170 Release)

Segmentation fault

Don't know if its always fglrx_dri.so, but the fix is to add read permissions to the file.

Check if read permission is not there

ls -l /usr/lib/dri/ |grep fglrx_dri
-rw-rw---- 1 root root 17462688 2008-01-13 17:42 fglrx_dri.so

Add read permission

$ sudo chmod +r /usr/lib/dri/fglrx_dri.so

Check read permission

ls -l /usr/lib/dri/ |grep fglrx_dri
-rw-rw-r-- 1 root root 17462688 2008-01-13 17:42 fglrx_dri.so

libGL error

• fglrxinfo gives: libGL.so.1: cannot open shared object file.
• Check the permission of the libGL.so.1.2 file with command:

 ls -l /usr/lib/libGL*

• The file permission of libGL.so.1.2 should be "-rw-rw-r--". If the permission reads "-rw-rw----", do command

 sudo chmod o+r /usr/lib/libGL.so.1.2

• If the permission is correct, fixed with command:

sudo ln -s /usr/lib/libGL.so.1.2 /usr/lib/libGL.so.1

Monitor detection (1680x1050 Resolution Issue)--- SOLVED

As specified in the release notes, "Connecting a display device that supports 1680x1050 to a system running Linux may result in a maximum display resolution of 1280x1024 only being available". (from thread)

[It works with the latest driver]

Fglrx driver does not detect some monitors correctly, so you have to do it manually (google about your monitor spec with keyword: xorg.conf).

For example: Samsung 205BW 1680x1050 monitor needs manually set:

File: /etc/X11/xorg.conf

Section "Monitor" Option "DPMS" Identifier "samsung-monitor" VendorName "Samsung" ModelName "SyncMaster 205BW" HorizSync 31.4 - 80.0 VertRefresh 56.000 - 75.000 Modeline "1680x1050" 146.25 1680 1784 1960 2240 1050 1053 1059 1089 EndSection Section "Screen" Identifier "samsung-screen" Device "samsung-device" Monitor "samsung-monitor" Defaultdepth 24 SubSection "Display" Depth 24 Modes "1680x1050" EndSubSection EndSection

A possible problem with fglrx.ko conflicts

NOTE: I've run into strange problem building fglrx-kernel-source_8.443.1-1_i386.deb. If pentium-builder is installed, dkms fails to build fglrx.ko for make error (mixed implicit and static pattern rules. Stop.). It is caused by gcc.real and other indirections and wrong gcc version detection. Removing pentium-builder cures the problem.

It's necessary, because sometimes this file is written by other packages, and so there's no 3D acceleration. Check that the file /lib/modules/$(uname -r)/misc/fglrx.ko has been created.

Create the following folder

sudo mkdir /lib/modules/$(uname -r)/volatile

Note: the volatile directory might already exist at this stage then simply continue with the next step.

Create a symbolic link

sudo ln -sf /lib/modules/$(uname -r)/misc/fglrx.ko /lib/modules/$(uname -r)/volatile/fglrx.ko

NOTE : On my Gutsy install, after a reboot this link was always removed automatically leaving me without an fglrx module loaded, and thus no ATI rendering. There have been several ways of getting around this suggested here, and here is the one that worked for me:

sudo gedit /etc/init.d/ati-module-fix

And put this in it:

#!/bin/sh -e

# For loading ATI display drivers

ln -sf /lib/modules/$(uname -r)/misc/fglrx.ko /lib/modules/$(uname -r)/volatile/fglrx.ko
exit 0

Make it executable

sudo chmod ugo+x /etc/init.d/ati-module-fix

Now, make this run before gdm

To check the gdm sequence number,

ls /etc/rc2.d/

The value for [seqno] in the section below should be the gdm sequence number -1.

sudo update-rc.d ati-module-fix defaults [seqno]

Hang at logout

If you experience hangs when logging out (of X) try disabling atieventsd with this command:

sudo /usr/sbin/update-rc.d -f atieventsd remove

Revert to Xorg driver

If (for any reason) the fglrx install fails, you can revert to the Xorg driver by executing

sudo dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg

and selecting the "ati" driver, or simply restoring the previous /etc/X11/xorg.conf file, if you made a backup.

You also need to remove the xorg-driver-fglrx or your manually installed drivers to get the 3D acceleration back, since it is provided by file /usr/lib/libGL.so.1.2 which belongs to libgl1-mesa package and which is moved to backup and replaced at the installation of xorg-driver-fglrx (or the manually built) package. In case the removal of the fglrx drivers fails to restore the file from libgl1-mesa, you have to reinstall the package by running:

sudo apt-get install --reinstall libgl1-mesa-glx

See Also

• Frequently Asked Questions
• Performance Issues
• Troubleshooting