Mageia forum

Apparently the first Linux distros have a solution for Hybrid Graphics on laptops. The combination of the everyday Intel and the artist Nvidia or ATI.
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/HybridGraphics
http://jfsaucier.wordpress.com/2011/01/ ... ics-cards/
http://en.gentoo-wiki.com/wiki/Vga_switcheroo
http://airlied.livejournal.com/70348.html
Will Mageia have it?

up ..... up

====================

just for asking about something

we already have new X. Org server (1.10.x)

so what about hybrid graphic supporting ???????

Up, up! Other distros already had solutions (vga switcheroo, bumblebee), does anyone figure out how to "do" this on Mageia?

Hi, have tried to send suggestions to the Wiki or the mailing list specified. So can the section of ideas and suggestions on the forum.

Wiki , technical specification in Mageia wiki
Mageia email lists

Perhaps it is good to read also:
to contribute to Mageia

Maybe also read http://airlied.livejournal.com/74176.html

I can confirm VGA_SWITCEROO is present in the kernel and sort of works for me... Except I can't use the discreet graphics, but this problem is not unique to mageia...

I have bumblebee working on my mageia 1 installation.
NB: bumblebee is an nvidia-optimus controller for linux, allowing you to run apps on your nvidia card, instead of the intell one. see https://github.com/Bumblebee-Project
NOTE THIS WILL DISABLE YOUR 3D EFFECTS FOR YOUR INTEL CARD.
To re-enable 3d on the intel card, use Mageia Control Center Choose: Hardware -> Set up the graphical server, which will break the nvidia 3d.

Steps (thanks to bumblebee team, and Jaron Vietor who posted this http://forum.mandriva.com/en/viewtopic.php?f=35&t=135018#p850742 on the mandriva forums)
NB: You will need;
- to be able to edit files as root user
- to install git (details below, you may skip this if you know how to install bumblebee without it)
- to install virtualGL (details below)

Notes on code (below) (Read this only if your not used to using terminal or konsole)
- All non gui code is bash script used in a linux terminal like konsole.
- To open a terminal: Find "konsole" in your applications launcher
- To run commands as root user type: su [enter], and enter you root password. (to leave root user mode type: exit [enter].
- Code here can then be simply copied and pasted into your terminal

-0: Backup your working xorg.conf file
- As root:

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cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf.intel

-1: Install the nvidia drivers using the mageia configuration tool. (You may need to setup you Mageia repositories)
- Open: Mageia Control Center
- Choose: Hardware -> Set up the graphical server
- Click: Graphic Card and select Nvidia -> GeForce model [GeForce 400 series and later, or GeForce 6100 to GeForce 360]
- You should get a "There is a proprietary driver availabe... Do you wish to use it?" Select Yes
- Allow Mageia to install all the drivers, and select ok to the settings screen.
- DO NOT TEST!
- Select Quit, and Yes to "Keep the changes?"

!!! Do NOT restart your computer !!!
-2: Disable nvidia driver (it will not work at this stage)
- Copy the new xorg.conf file and save as xorg.conf.nvidia
As root:

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mv /etc/X11/xorg.conf /etc/X11/xorg.conf.nvidia

- Copy old conf back as main
As root:

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cp /etc/X11/xorg.conf.old /etc/X11/xorg.conf

RESTART YOUR COMPUTER


-3 Install virtualgl
- Download virtual: http://www.virtualgl.org I used http://sourceforge.net/projects/virtualgl/files/VirtualGL/2.2.1/ and chose VirtualGL-2.2.1.x86_64.rpm
- Install. Double-click downloaded rpm

-4: Install git (You may need to setup you Mageia repositories)
(you may skip this if you know how to install bumblebee without it)
- As root:

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urpmi git

-5 Install bumblebee using git
- As root:

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git clone git://github.com/Bumblebee-Project/Bumblebee.git

This should create a Bumblebee folder in your current directory, before we install we need to make some modifications to the install file.
- Edit Bumblebee/install, and comment out lines like the following ( As bumblebee does not know of our distro.)

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  #install_step determinedistro    "" "precheck build install postconfig"
  #install_step "$DISTRO/setvars"  "" "precheck build install postconfig"
  #install_step "$DISTRO/checkdependencies" "Checking dependencies" precheck
  #install_step "$DISTRO/configure" "" postconfig


- Install As root:

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cd Bumblebee;./install

- Add users to the bumblebee group.
As root:

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usermod -a -G bumblebee YOURUSERNAME

-6 Modify bumblebee.conf
NB: Replace "lib64" with just "lib" if you are using a 32 bit OS
- As root edit /etc/bumblebee/bumblebee.conf, and add to the bottom
# My args
LD_LIBRARY_PATH="/usr/lib64/nvidia-current"
X_DAEMON="/etc/X11/X"
X_LD_LIBRARY_PATH="/usr/lib64/xorg"

EG As root:

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echo "# My args" >> /etc/bumblebee/bumblebee.conf
echo "LD_LIBRARY_PATH=\"/usr/lib64/nvidia-current\"" >> /etc/bumblebee/bumblebee.conf
echo "X_DAEMON=\"/etc/X11/X\"" >> /etc/bumblebee/bumblebee.conf
echo "X_LD_LIBRARY_PATH=\"/usr/lib64/xorg\"" >> /etc/bumblebee/bumblebee.conf


-6 Modify the xorg.conf.nvidia in /etc/bumblebee directory
NB: If your unsure of the busid for your nvidia card try

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lspci -d 10de: -n | grep '030[02]:' | cut -d' ' -f1

NB: The busid will probably be "01:00:0"

- Modify /etc/bumblebee/xorg.conf.nvidia:
Add: BusID "01:00:0", and Option "AddARGBGLXVisuals", to device section.
Remove: The whole files section
So /etc/bumblebee/xorg.conf.nvidia should look like

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Section "ServerLayout"
    Identifier "Layout0"
    Option "AutoAddDevices" "false"
EndSection

Section "Device"
    Identifier "Device1"
    Driver "nvidia"
    VendorName "NVIDIA Corporation"
    BusID "01:00:0"
    Option "NoLogo" "true"
    Option "UseEDID" "false"
    Option "ConnectedMonitor" "DFP"
    Option "AddARGBGLXVisuals"
EndSection


-7 Test:
- Open 2 terminals, 1 as root and 1 as your normal user.
- In the root terminal, start the bumblebee service:

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bumblebee -d

- In the user terminal test an app:

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optirun kwrite

- The root terminal should show the output of starting the nvidia xorg conf, and kwrite should launch from the user terminal.
- Press cntrl-c to kill the bumblebee service in the root terminal.
- To start bumblebee in the normal way as a service:

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/etc/init.d/bumblebee start

- To start at boot use the Mageia drakxservices tool. Mageia Control Center -> System -> Manage System services by ena ...

-8 To det the intel glx drivers working again (which will break the nvidia 3d drivers)
- Open: Mageia Control Center
- Choose: Hardware -> Set up the graphical server
- Choose:All the default options Mageia gives
- Select Quit, and Yes to "Keep the changes?", REBOOT

-8 To det the intel nvidia drivers working again (which will break the intel drivers)
Redo steps 1 & 2

Maybe someone could post how to use Section "path" in the nvidia xorg.conf so bumblebee can load the nvidia 3d drivers/modules?

Good luck!

Gratulations, that's one fine step-by-step guide. Nice work!
Would you give us permissions to reuse this for a MAQeia about Hybrid graphics?

Absolutely. Please use as you like

Powersave: How to turn off the nvidia card to save power, useing acpi_call.
Note: The above bumblebee installation does not turn off the nvidia card when it's not being used which can use up a lot of power just sitting there doing nothing, I got switching the card on and off working in the following way.
WARNING: Turning the card off means you will need to restart before bumblebee optirun can work again.

Steps (see, and thanks to, the team at http://linux-hybrid-graphics.blogspot.com/)
NB: You will need;
- to be able to edit files as root user
- to install git (details below, you may skip this if you know how to install acpi_call without it)

Notes on code (Read this only if your not used to using terminal or konsole)
- All non gui code is bash script used in a linux terminal like konsole.
- To open a terminal: Find "konsole" in your applications launcher
- To run commands as root user type: su [enter], and enter you root password. (to leave root user mode type: exit [enter].
- Code here can then be simply copied and pasted into your terminal

-1 Install git. (If you haven't already)
As Root

Code: Select all

urpmi git

-2 Install acpi_call
As Root

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git clone https://github.com/mkottman/acpi_call.git
cd acpi_call
make
insmod acpi_call.ko


-3 Find your machines parameters
As Root

Code: Select all

chmod +x test_off.sh
./test_off.sh


You should get a list of tries like this

Trying \_SB.PCI0.P0P1.VGA._OFF: failed
Trying \_SB.PCI0.P0P2.VGA._OFF: failed
Trying \_SB_.PCI0.OVGA.ATPX: failed
Trying \_SB_.PCI0.OVGA.XTPX: failed
Trying \_SB.PCI0.P0P3.PEGP._OFF: failed
Trying \_SB.PCI0.P0P2.PEGP._OFF: failed
Trying \_SB.PCI0.P0P1.PEGP._OFF: failed
Trying \_SB.PCI0.MXR0.MXM0._OFF: failed
Trying \_SB.PCI0.PEG1.GFX0._OFF: failed
Trying \_SB.PCI0.PEG0.GFX0.DOF: failed
Trying \_SB.PCI0.PEG1.GFX0.DOF: failed
Trying \_SB.PCI0.PEG0.PEGP._OFF: failed
Trying \_SB.PCI0.XVR0.Z01I.DGOF: failed
Trying \_SB.PCI0.PEGR.GFX0._OFF: works!

The line that ends with "works!" is the one you want.
Using the example above I can now;
-turn the nvidia card off
As root

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echo '\_SB.PCI0.PEGR.GFX0._OFF' > /proc/acpi/call

-turn the nvidia card on
As root

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echo '\_SB.PCI0.PEGR.GFX0._ON' > /proc/acpi/call

-4 testing
Unplug the power and look at your battery power availabe.

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acpi

Repeat turning your nvidia card off and on
As Root

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acpi
echo '\_SB.PCI0.PEGR.GFX0._OFF' > /proc/acpi/call
sleep 3; acpi
echo '\_SB.PCI0.PEGR.GFX0._ON' > /proc/acpi/call
sleep 3;acpi


You should see a difference in battery life of 1-3 hours. The "sleep 3" is to give the system time to update the battery drain, and useage.

-5 (Optional) Create your own powersaving script
Below is my script example, copy into a file called powersave_custom

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#!/bin/bash

USEAGE="useage: ${0##*/} [stop,start]
help:   Turns off/on custom power saving
requrs: /etc/acpi/call/acpi_call.ko
Note:   Root users only
"

# Check user is root
if [ "$(whoami)" != "root" ]
then
  echo -e "${USEAGE}" > /dev/stderr
  exit 0
fi

# Check acpi_call module is loaded
if ! lsmod | grep -q acpi_call
then
  # Check module exists
  if [ ! -e "/etc/acpi/call/acpi_call.ko" ]
  then
    echo -e "${USEAGE}" > /dev/stderr
    exit 0
  else
    # Install acpi_call module
    insmod /etc/acpi/call/acpi_call.ko
  fi
fi

# Show battery useage before
echo "Before switch `acpi`"

if  echo "${1}" | grep -qEi "start"
then

  ##############################################################
  # HERE you can put whatever code you want to run to save power
  ##############################################################
  /etc/init.d/wine stop > /dev/null 2>&1
  /etc/init.d/bumblebee stop > /dev/null 2>&1
  echo '\_SB.PCI0.PEGR.GFX0._OFF' > /proc/acpi/call

elif echo "${1}" | grep -qEi "stop"
then

  ##############################################################
  # HERE you can put whatever code you want to run for full power
  ##############################################################
  /etc/init.d/wine start > /dev/null 2>&1
  /etc/init.d/bumblebee start > /dev/null 2>&1
  echo '\_SB.PCI0.PEGR.GFX0._ON' > /proc/acpi/call

else
  echo -e "${USEAGE}"
  exit 1
fi

# Wait a few seconds for power usage to update
sleep 3
# Show battery useage before
echo "After switch `acpi`"



As Root

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cd ..
mv acpi_call/ /etc/acpi/call
cp powersave_custom /usr/sbin/powersave_custom
chmod +x /usr/sbin/powersave_custom


To run As Root

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powersave_custom start
powersave_custom stop


NB: You may want to put this script in your "Power Management Profiles"
"Run Script" -> powersave_custom start

Hope this helps.

Dear blosomax, again i used this post of yours for additional information in the MAQeia.
Let me know when there should be any objection please, and thanks for your great contributions.

....

Owdy wrote:Please do this

Regards,
ASUS N73SV

Please do what????

He means you should use his posts for a MAQeia, i think

isadora wrote:

Owdy wrote:Please do this

Regards,
ASUS N73SV

Please do what????

Arghhh, wrong topic, sorry

I'm a linux noob (sort of) and I was wondering if there is an updated/better method for installing bumblebee now since these instructions are a few months old.

Thanks!

Nope, not that i know of.

Can we use this? http://download.opensuse.org/repositori ... riva_2011/

If noone tries, you'll never know.
FWIW, maybe you also want to check https://bugs.mageia.org/show_bug.cgi?id=1748

Ill try it. Lots of distros using that http://download.opensuse.org/repositori ... e-develop/

edit: hmmm how do i ad that repo?

You can't, opensuse build service doesn't provide correct meta data for this.

You need to download all three packages for your current system, either i586 for 32bit system or x86_64 for 64bit system. If you don't know, which your're currently using, uname -m will tell you. Then put them all in one directory, which contains no other packages, open up a terminal, change to that directory, and run the following command as root:

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urpmi ./*.rpm

Ok, lets see what happends.

Didnt work.I get black screen after reboot. Tryed with nvidia and noveau drivers.

I installed bumblebee as per the instructions above and it works for the most part. I get some permission denied errors on the bumblebee.conf file when I use optirun (I did add myself as a user) but it still seems to work regardless. I did notice when I run something full screen, upon exit my toolbar is partially blacked out on the right side, until I resize it. Probably a refresh problem. I did notice there is now a bumblebeed package which is bumblebee written in C and is supposed to include power management also. There is also bbswitch which can be used to disable the graphics card when not in use, although I haven't tried to install it yet. Does anyone know if either of these will work with Mageia?

z wrote:I did notice there is now a bumblebeed package which is bumblebee written in C and is supposed to include power management also. There is also bbswitch which can be used to disable the graphics card when not in use, although I haven't tried to install it yet. Does anyone know if either of these will work with Mageia?

Nice to hear that it works for you.

And for your question the same answer as above: If you don't try, you'll never know. Not that many hybrid graphics users who want to use this, or so it seems.