Unable to initialize the Linux AGPGART driver/amd64

OldTango · l33t Joined: 21 Feb 2004 Posts: 718

Just put together a new system and after a series of install issues I have the system running. I am attempting to get my Nvidia 6800GT/256 operating correctly but doing a

petlab · Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2005 12:31 am Post subject:

Tell us what machine and how many cpus you have, also your motherboard model. I have a similar problem with my dual opteron system. I don't think I need it, but it doesn't work just like yours. Maybe we can fix it for you.
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dmpogo · Advocate Joined: 02 Sep 2004 Posts: 3269 Location: Canada

Somewhere in your BIOS there is, I hope, an option, regarding the mapping of the memory hole below 4GB.
Different BIOSes call it different, my Celestica board based BIOS used to call it continous/descrete mapping, in the latest release
it calls descrete mapping - 'compartible with Linux AGP'.

My Tyan 2885 board also has the option, but I don't remember how it is called. A year ago it was a big deal to make Linux AGP work,
and Tyan had to come with that patch to the BIOS (Celestica did not include it until mid summer 2004).

Both my motherboards came default with setting NOT compartible with Linux AGP.

Proper setting of this option is necessary to have AGP aperture properly set. IOMMU comes later, being remapped into AGP aperture range.

The New Guy · Posted: Wed Mar 30, 2005 3:26 am Post subject:

Is the AGPGART compiled as a module? Built into the kernel? If so, here was my issue...

I had to REMOVE the AGPGART from the kernel totally. Not built in, not a module. Then I followed the instructions here. Now, I am not sure if I am understanding your problem totally, but I thought I would toss this out there just in case it has a chance at helping you out somehow.

Good luck!

OldTango · l33t Joined: 21 Feb 2004 Posts: 718

Thaks for all the replys and suggestions.

My Mobo is a Tyan Tiger S2875, Running twin Opteron 246 CPU's and 4 gigs of DDR3200@400Mz

The kernel, Gentoo 2.6.9-r14, is configured with iommu enabled, which I am assuming disables the agpgart option all together, because it dosen't show up as an option.

I noticed that lowering my AGP aperture in the bios from 2048 to 512 caused the kernel messages to change. This also lowered my CPU apertures to 512. Setting the bios to 1024 also had positive affects on the agpgart messages and my CPU's All apertures registering 1024 and no AGPGART errors.

After making the above changes to the bios, setting now at 1024, a

dmpogo · Advocate Joined: 02 Sep 2004 Posts: 3269 Location: Canada

The kernel, Gentoo 2.6.9-r14, is configured with iommu enabled, which I am assuming disables the agpgart option all together, because it dosen't show up as an option.

Just opposite. IOMMU force enables agpgart. Which means that with IOMMU enabled you cannot compile agpgart as the module, and, therefore, cannot use NVIDIA AGP, but must use the kernel based one. NVIDIA option must be set for that (although the now default choice 3 (try NVIDIA then kernel agpgart) for the latest NVIDIA drivers, should work, I believe)

BTW, on my Tyan board the BIOS option which needs to be set is

MTRR mapping <Discrete>

Don't worry about IOMMU at this stage, check that you are not trying to use NVIDIA agpgart first.

OldTango · l33t Joined: 21 Feb 2004 Posts: 718

Changed my bios setting to MTRR mapping=Discrete. Thanks for that tip dmpogo........................

Now a

dmpogo · Advocate Joined: 02 Sep 2004 Posts: 3269 Location: Canada

> I can get Fast Writes enabled I am sure. I saw some info on how to do this someplace.

Look into your /etc/modules.conf (or /etc/modules.d/nvidia it is generated from).
Fast Write is the parameter to NVIDIA kernel modules and is described in the comment there.

Other than that you are done.

Don't forget to run opengl-update and add module 'glx' to the Module section of xorg.conf

Regarding the monitor, is it LCD or CRT one ?
If it is LCD you want to run it on the 'native' resolution anyway.

Most probably you don't see better modes becasue your

HorizSync and /or VertRefresh paraemters in the Monitor section of xorg.conf
are too restrictive. Default configuration of X server, if does not recognize the monitor,
sets them very restrictively as not to damage the thing.

You should configure your xorg.conf to use EDID (spelling ??) lines which monitors supplies
(most modern ones can tell the card what are their basic parameters), check NVIDIA options
for that. If not - find what are the limits on horizonatal sync and vertical refresh for your monitor
are and set them correspondingly.

Syntax is like
Section "Monitor"

# The identifier line must be present.

Identifier "SGI FX180"
VendorName "Silicon Graphics"
ModelName "FX180"
HorizSync 30-64
VertRefresh 56-75
Option "dpms"

EndSection

CRT monitors will have much larger intervals for these paraemters.

OldTango · l33t Joined: 21 Feb 2004 Posts: 718

Thanks dmpogo you have been a lot of help. Sorry for the late reply I have been busy updating to the 2005 profile and it wasn't a smooth update, but it is done now and running nicely.

My Monitor is a Apple 20 inch Cinema Display LCD. DVI only As I have never had this type of monitor before I have no experience with them at all.

It is running in Xorg but I can only get a single resolution og 1400x 1050 so far. Wil try some of your sugestions and also see if the manual will shed some more light on the subject.

As far as I can tell Apple dosen't supply much info on this monitor for the PC platform. Have been googleing for a couple of days now, Some posts in these forums but not much useful yet.

Thanks Again
I am always open for new sugestions.

jsnorman · Tux's lil' helper Joined: 24 Feb 2005 Posts: 131

PantsMan · n00b Joined: 09 Jul 2004 Posts: 36