HOWTO: Installation Instructions for the ATI Proprietary Linux Driver

Contents

• Before you install
• Installation using RPM
• Possible Installation Issues
• Advanced Installation Topics

Before you install

Make sure the following software is already installed on your system:

• glibc version 2.2 or 2.3
• XFree86 version 4.1.0, 4.2.0, or 4.3.0
• Kernel source code
• Kernel header (include) files
• GCC compiler
• Make Utility

NOTE: Kernel source code and header files must match the version of the kernel you are using. For example, Mandrake 10.0's precompiled kernel version is 2.6.3-7mdk, for which you should need kernel-source-2.6.3-7mdk RPM release. NOTE: Your kernel may have restrictions on which compiler versions can be used. Please check your Linux documentation for more information on installing kernel source code.

Download the correct ATI driver package for the XFree86 version you have installed. If you are not sure which, you may download and run the following script to make sure:

• Check.sh

Installation using RPM

For each of these steps you will have to be logged on as the root user.

1. cd to the directory containing the ATI Driver rpm package
   
   
2. Issue the following command:

   rpm -Uh --force <ati_package_name>.rpm

   Note any error messages that may occur while installing (see below)

3. Run the fglrxconfig utility to configure the driver
   • Answer the questions as prompted
   • When asked to generate an XF86Config-4 file, answer y


4. Restart and log into X-Windows
   
   
5. Run fglrxinfo to verify the driver is installed correctly

If the output reads OpenGL vendor string: ATI Technologies Inc. then your ATI drivers are installed and configured correctly.

Otherwise, if fglrxinfo indicates that MESA Indirect (software) Rendering is being used, then you may want to repeat the steps listed above, while paying careful attention to the following:

• Any error messages during install (see below)
• All answers given during fglrxconfig

The following messages may appear while installing the ATI Proprietary Linux Driver:

• "no kernel module build environment"
• "Warning: loading fglrx.o will taint the kernel"
• "conflicts with file from package XFree86-Mesa-libGL-4.3.0-2"
• "The QT based control panel application did not load in any version"
• unresolved symbols

Advanced Installation Topics

How can I:

• uninstall or remove the ATI Proprietary Linux Driver?
• enable AGP Support in Linux?
• build and install the ATI (fglrx) kernel module manually?
• configure multiple monitors in Linux?