Monday, June 25, 2007

HOWTO: Beryl with latest nvidia drivers and EDGY's built in AIGLX (no XGL)

Nvidia have released their 9xxx series drivers. In laymans terms, this allows compiz/beryl to now run directly on an x server (xorg7.1) without separate aiglx or xgl.

As far as i understand, you MUST remove all existing xgl/aiglx from your system for this method.

STEP 1: Add repos

Please ensure you have a completely updated pc before continuing:
Code:
Install your *ubuntu-desktop metapackage specific to your DE, e.g. sudo apt-get install ubuntu-desktop
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get upgrade
sudo apt-get dist-upgrade
Add this repo in "system>admin>software sources" or /etc/apt/sources.list
Code:
deb http://ubuntu.beryl-project.org edgy main
For the latest beryl. (i386 & 64bit)

Run one of these commands to add lupine's key.
Code:
wget http://ubuntu.beryl-project.org/root@lupine.me.uk.gpg -O- | sudo apt-key add -
Don't forget to
Code:
sudo apt-get update

STEP 2: Install nvidia drivers


Option 1:

Lupine's repos is now no-longer availiable.
You may use Envy, a Python script that eases installation of the official Nvidia and ATI drivers. Please see http://albertomilone.com/nvidia_scripts1.html (>=9631 driver needed...)

Option2:

If you would prefer to install the nvidia drivers from nvidia's script, you may simply download the NVIDIA drivers from here, then:

Code:
sudo nano /etc/default/linux-restricted-modules-common
Make the last line look like
Code:
DISABLED_MODULES="nv"
ctrl+x and y to save.

Then

Code:
sudo apt-get install linux-headers-`uname -r` build-essential gcc gcc-3.4 xserver-xorg-dev
sudo apt-get --purge remove nvidia-glx nvidia-settings nvidia-kernel-common
sudo rm /etc/init.d/nvidia-*
sudo /etc/init.d/gdm stop
sudo sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86-1.0-9629-pkg1.run
sudo nvidia-xconfig --add-argb-glx-visuals
sudo /etc/init.d/gdm start
The Nvidia script should change your xorg.conf to enable nvidia drivers & compositing.

Remember that following this method requires a reinstillation of them every time the kernel changes.


STEP 3: Install Beryl
Code:
sudo apt-get install beryl emerald-themes

STEP 4: Lets Go!

Type beryl-manager into alt+f2 or a terminal and all should work.

I hope this has worked If it doesn't then preferably try and get help in the IRC channel first: #ubuntu-effects on irc.freenode.net If your problem gets fixed, then post it below and i'll add it to this main post if important