Nvidia-kernel

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MrIch · Post by **MrIch** » Sat Sep 14, 2002 4:22 pm

plinux011 tmp # cat /proc/driver/nvidia/agp/status
Status: Enabled
Driver: AGPGART
AGP Rate: 4x
Fast Writes: Disabled
SBA: Disabled

How do I activate Fast Writes and SBA in the nvidia-kernel ebuild?

thx...

kirill · Post by **kirill** » Sat Sep 14, 2002 5:10 pm

MrIch wrote:plinux011 tmp # cat /proc/driver/nvidia/agp/status
Status: Enabled
Driver: AGPGART
AGP Rate: 4x
Fast Writes: Disabled
SBA: Disabled

How do I activate Fast Writes and SBA in the nvidia-kernel ebuild?

Do you even know what they stand for?
Check /proc/driver/nvidia/host-bridge and /proc/driver/nvidia/card if they support such stuff

MrIch · Post by **MrIch** » Sat Sep 14, 2002 7:02 pm

yes I really now!

When I download the drivers from nvidia and edit one .h file of the driver and then compile ist, SBA and FBA is supportet and activated!!!

My question was, is it possible to edit the .h file before emerge begin the compile process?

pdouble · Post by **pdouble** » Sat Sep 14, 2002 7:55 pm

MrIch wrote:yes I really now!

When I download the drivers from nvidia and edit one .h file of the driver and then compile ist, SBA and FBA is supportet and activated!!!

My question was, is it possible to edit the .h file before emerge begin the compile process?

What file did you edit? You can create an overlayed ebuild and a patch to do this. If it works with my nvidia, I'll create an ebuild and post it. Did the /proc/driver/nvidia/agp/card show that it supported these features before you changed the driver?

kirill · Post by **kirill** » Sat Sep 14, 2002 8:52 pm

MrIch wrote:yes I really now!

When I download the drivers from nvidia and edit one .h file of the driver and then compile ist, SBA and FBA is supportet and activated!!!

My question was, is it possible to edit the .h file before emerge begin the compile process?

yeah that's covered in the Gentoo FAQ. Read under I want to perform the ./configure step myself. Can I? -topic.

MrIch · Post by **MrIch** » Sat Sep 14, 2002 9:21 pm

pdouble wrote: Did the /proc/driver/nvidia/agp/card show that it supported these features before you changed the driver?

Before I modified the Driver it showed both NOT supported, when I changed it, both were supported!

pdouble · Post by **pdouble** » Sat Sep 14, 2002 9:23 pm

MrIch wrote:
pdouble wrote: Did the /proc/driver/nvidia/agp/card show that it supported these features before you changed the driver?
Before I modified the Driver it showed both NOT supported, when I changed it, both were supported!

So what modifications did you make? I would like to make the same and get the most out of this card

MrIch · Post by **MrIch** » Sat Sep 14, 2002 9:28 pm

oh, sorry it was not a .h file the file is named os-registry.c

line 224:
/*
* The default on x86 is to disable AGP side band addressing; if you want
* to turn it on, change the registry key below.
*/
static int NVreg_EnableAGPSBA = 0;

#***** by MrIch , this value must be set to 1! ******#

line 245:
* This is completely unsupported!
*
* Possible Values:
*
* 0 = disable Fast Writes (default)
* 1 = enable Fast Writes
*
* This option is disabled by default, see below for information on how
* to enable it.
*/

static int NVreg_EnableAGPFW = 0;
#***** by MrIch, this value must be set to 1 too! ******#

can someone of the gentoo team make an alternative nvdriver ebuild, for example an masekd nvidia-kernel-tuned?

thank you!

pdouble · Post by **pdouble** » Sat Sep 14, 2002 9:42 pm

From the code in os-registry.c, it looks like these options are module parameters, with the defaults being set to off. I'm not really fluent in kernel programming, can someone explain how to determine the module parameter name for a statement like:

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MODULE_PARM(NVreg_EnableAGPFW, "i");

I will post and/or research more of the source code if requested. Possibly I will figure it out before an answer is posted too

MrIch · Post by **MrIch** » Sat Sep 14, 2002 9:43 pm

Now I downloaded the Nvidia driver and I have modified and build them. After one reboot I could see that:

sh-2.05a$ cat /proc/driver/nvidia/agp/card
Fast Writes: Not Supported
SBA: Supported
AGP Rates: 4x 2x 1x
Registers: 0x1f000207:0x1f000304
sh-2.05a$ cat /proc/driver/nvidia/agp/status
Status: Enabled
Driver: AGPGART
AGP Rate: 4x
Fast Writes: Disabled
SBA: Enabled

Fast Writes is still disabled, but I think this is not a driver problem! My bios dactivate Fast Writes I think!

pdouble · Post by **pdouble** » Sat Sep 14, 2002 9:45 pm

pdouble wrote:From the code in os-registry.c, it looks like these options are module parameters, with the defaults being set to off. I'm not really fluent in kernel programming, can someone explain how to determine the module parameter name for a statement like:
Code: Select all
MODULE_PARM(NVreg_EnableAGPFW, "i");
I will post and/or research more of the source code if requested. Possibly I will figure it out before an answer is posted too

Argh, posted too fast. According to the beginning of the file, the module parameter names are made from the "NVreg_NAME" variables. Just remove the "NVreg_" and that's the module parameter. I can't test right now, but will today and post my results. So, it should work like so:

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modprobe NVdriver EnableAGPSBA=1 EnableAGPFW=1

pdouble · Post by **pdouble** » Sun Sep 15, 2002 3:09 am

I believe I've found a way to enable the SBA and Fast Write support without changing the driver source. If you run:

Code: Select all

modinfo -p /lib/modules/2.4.19-gentoo-r7/video/NVdriver

you'll get a list of available module parameters. To enable said options:

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modprobe NVdriver NVreg_EnableAGPSBA=1 NVreg_EnableAGPFW=1

I tried this and it took it, but nothing changed for me. I have a laptop and prehaps the hardware doesn't support this. I made the change in the source code as you did and still no change, so I think my hardware doesn't support it. For the benefit of others, could some one could try this and see if it works?

kirill · Post by **kirill** » Sun Sep 15, 2002 10:58 am

pdouble wrote:To enable said options:
Code: Select all
modprobe NVdriver NVreg_EnableAGPSBA=1 NVreg_EnableAGPFW=1
I tried this and it took it, but nothing changed for me. I have a laptop and prehaps the hardware doesn't support this. I made the change in the source code as you did and still no change, so I think my hardware doesn't support it. For the benefit of others, could some one could try this and see if it works?

Hi.

I just made some experiments with my system using the following settings:

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1. modprobe NVdriver NVreg_EnableAGPSBA=1 NVreg_EnableAGPFW=1
2. modprobe NVdriver NVreg_EnableAGPSBA=1
3. modprobe NVdriver NVreg_EnableAGPFW=1

The system hanged on X-server startup with variants 1 and 2. I suspect it has something to do with my video card since it doesn't support neither SBA nor Fast Writes

while my motherboard's chipset (Intel 440BX) supports SBA.

All that with the AGPGART implementation. I didn't bother to test with Nvidia's own NvAgp since my hardware doesn't support SBA or FW anyways. But you may want to.

NOTE: With NVdriver you need to reboot each time you change some module parameters!

TuxFriend · Post by **TuxFriend** » Sun Sep 15, 2002 12:10 pm

kirill wrote:NOTE: With NVdriver you need to reboot each time you change some module parameters!

Why is that?, isn't unloading and reloading the module sufficient?

TuxFriend

kirill · Post by **kirill** » Sun Sep 15, 2002 12:19 pm

TuxFriend wrote:
kirill wrote:NOTE: With NVdriver you need to reboot each time you change some module parameters!
Why is that?, isn't unloading and reloading the module sufficient?

Yeah one could think reloading is enough, but it's not. That is mentioned in the nVidia Linux Driver Troubleshooting Guide:

Bear in mind that switching AGP drivers or disabling them usually requires a system reboot before the changes really take effect. loading different AGP drivers w/o a reboot may cause lockups or general system instability.

I also read somewhere that you'd better to reboot after unloading and reloading the NVdriver, since it may cause some instability.

MrIch · Post by **MrIch** » Mon Sep 16, 2002 8:10 am

so with this information, I think there is no need for a new "tuned" nvidia ebuild, I did not know the module options for the NVdriver!

pdouble · Post by **pdouble** » Mon Sep 16, 2002 12:55 pm

I tried rebooting and using the module parameters and not go. Probably my card doesn't support SBA or FW, although the chipset does. Alas, I will stick with 600 FPS (benchmark from glxgears). Not too bad though, I get 40 FPS from armagetron in 1024x768 windowed mode. I have a Dell Inspiron 8200, if someone knows something contrary to what I've found, i.e. it DOES support SBA and/or FW, please let me know and I'll try harder

phlashback · Post by **phlashback** » Mon Sep 16, 2002 5:21 pm

Setting up the Nvidia kernel module is not realy that difficult, I spent so much time on it, that when I figured it out, I felt like a complete idiot.

First, Check to see that your card and board both support it, and that it is not already enabled

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phishhead stash# cat/proc/driver/nvidia/agp/host-bridge
Host Bridge:	AMD 760MP
Fast Writes:	Supported
SBA:			Supported
AGP Rates:		4x 2x 1x
Registers:		0x0f000217:0x00000314

phishhead stash# cat/proc/driver/nvidia/agp/card
Fast Writes:	Supported
SBA:			Supported
AGP Rates:		4x 2x 1x
Registers:		0x1f000217:0x0f000314

phishhead stash# cat/proc/driver/nvidia/agp/status
Status:		Enabled
Driver:		NVIDIA
AGP Rate:		4x
Fast Writes:	Disabled
SBA:			Disabled

If the card or board does not support SBA and/or Fast Writes, do not try to enable it, it should not work.

Now we have determined that SBA and or Fast Writes are Supported (on my board and card, yours may vary). This next part is important. I had first tried setting the Nvidia driver up in
/etc/modules.autoload
Don't bother, because the driver module is already loaded without options, and will not accecpet new options (in my experience).

To display a list of modules paramaters:

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phishhead stash#modinfo -p /lib/modules/{your kernel version}/video/NVdriver

Trick:

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phishhead stash# nano -w /etc/modules.d/nvidia

The edited files should look like this(in my system):

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alias char-major-195 NVdriver
        options NVdriver NVreg_EnableAGPSBA=1 NVreg_EnableAGPFW=1

finaly:

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phishhead stash# update-modules nvidia

After all that it is importaint to

REBOOT

Upon rebooting:

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phishhead stash# cat /proc/driver/nvidia/agp/status
Status:		Enabled
Driver:		NVIDIA
AGP Rate:		4x
Fast Writes:	Enabled
SBA:			Enabled

Warning...
This works on my sytem, but you may or may not have trouble, so be warned that you may need to change these options if you notice stability problems

I hope this helps.

de4d · Post by **de4d** » Mon Sep 16, 2002 6:54 pm

any1 knows if gforce2MX cards should support FW or SBA?
i dont find this information on the nvidia page... and i dont get this to work...
thanx

MrIch · Post by **MrIch** » Mon Sep 16, 2002 7:12 pm

yes, geforce mx soulhd supports both, but it is more important that, your mainboard support these features too!

de4d · Post by **de4d** » Mon Sep 16, 2002 7:16 pm

it does (if this definitely indicates that)

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bnws04:/home/de4d# cat /proc/driver/nvidia/agp/host-bridge
Host Bridge:     Via Apollo Pro KT266
Fast Writes:     Supported
SBA:             Supported
AGP Rates:       4x 2x 1x
Registers:       0x1f000217:0x00000104

now its up to me to find out whats wrong *gnarf*

tnx tho

de4d · Post by **de4d** » Mon Sep 16, 2002 9:09 pm

ok. gave up.
if someone happens to own an abit kr7a or kr7a-raid and gforce2mx (if this actually matters) please lemme know if it (SBA & FW) works for u, if u want to be asked some silly questions about your system configuration ^^

phlashback · Post by **phlashback** » Tue Sep 17, 2002 5:19 am

Are you sure that you have the NVIDIA as your agp driver?

cat /proc/driver/nvidia/agp/host-bridge

Status should be enabled, and Driver should be NVIDIA, if either are not then the modules wont matter.

also,

cat /proc/driver/nvidia/card
Status must be Supported on the lines for Fast Writes, and SBA

also be sure that you put the "options" line from above post into the /etc/modules.d/nvidia

also

run "update-modules nvidia"

finly reboot.

I remember reading in the documentation from Nvidia that thier were issues with some via chipsets. also somewhere else in the documentation I remember reading that the driver may choose to disable some options in favor of system stability.
Just a hunch, but you may want to investigat.

Good luck.

Soory if above is redundent, it's my bro's birthday, and we just cashed the second keg

de4d · Post by **de4d** » Tue Sep 17, 2002 8:25 am

phlashback wrote: cat /proc/driver/nvidia/agp/host-bridge

posted above -> "supported"

cat /proc/driver/nvidia/card
Status must be Supported on the lines for Fast Writes, and SBA

this is my problem ... its not supported even after modprobe with these options ...

also be sure that you put the "options" line from above post into the /etc/modules.d/nvidia
run "update-modules nvidia"

done - its successfully included in /etc/modules.conf

I remember reading in the documentation from Nvidia that thier were issues with some via chipsets. also somewhere else in the documentation I remember reading that the driver may choose to disable some options in favor of system stability.
Just a hunch, but you may want to investigat.

the readme file from nvidia says, agp4x is disabled on some via chipsets
i dont think this is my problem, cuz i got some other via chipset and 4x works fine (even without Enable_NVagpVia4x_whatever it defaults to 4x)

to be quite sure to do nothing wrong i did this after reboot (shortened):

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# lsmod
-> NVdriver _not_ loaded b4
# modprobe NVdriver FW=1 SBA=1
-> loads mod
# cat /pathto/host
-> everything fine
# cat /pathto/card
-> 2x "not sup"
# cat /pathto/status
-> disabled (as to expect...)

i hope this way i could exclude having done something wrong about those /etc/module stuff.
...and i hope anyone can prove me wrong :D

phlashback · Post by **phlashback** » Tue Sep 17, 2002 3:13 pm

de4d...

please post your /etc/modules.d/nvidia file.

also, after closer reading of your post I realized that /proc/{you know wher I am Going}/card states that Fast Writes and SBA are not supported.

In your bios do you have an option to enable/disable Fast Writes ... I would start there (your bios may be disabling the ability on the chipset)... That is the only thing I can think of that would change the supported status.

Chances are if your bios is configured right (currently), then your card just dows not support Fast Writes and/or SBA, and if that is the case, I do not belive that any amount of module tweaking will change that.. (you can't enable circitry that does not exist).

Just as a reference, when I started both my host-bridge and card displayed Supported. If you didn't start with that, I belive that you may be SOL.

On my Tiger 2460 w/ only 1 AMD Athlon MP 1900+
w/ Gforce-4Ti4600, my glxgears only increased 50 fps (total 4437.200 avg FPS) Translated: no noticible gain in performance.

Once again I wish you the best of luck... agh who am i kidding luck has nothin to do with it, it is either supported or not, and if supported, I am sure you'll get it working.

Nvidia-kernel

Nvidia-kernel

Re: Nvidia-kernel

How to enable SBA and Fast Writes

What is your status?

Re: What is your status?