installing a driver from a .o file

[leonpmu]

I have an SIS 650 card on my laptop, although it ahs 1280x1024 res using the standard display driver (MDK 9.1) I went to the SIS site and surprise , surprise, there was a linux driver, in all its 235KB glory (as apposed to an 18MB file for win2k!!!)

It is a650.o file, now pray tell, how do I install it so that my display card can use it??

Do I do a make install module ***.o or what.

Sorry guys

Thanks in advance

L

To the mods : I am guessing this is the right place for this ;D

[freakmn]

If I understand correctly, your video card is already working. If so, why would you want to change it? But, in answer to your question:

A .o file is a module, which is loaded into a kernel. I believe you could try "insmod a650.o". Just put what's inside quotes on a command prompt. I don't quite know how the XF86config changes would work, but someone else might. I also believe that the .o file would have to be compiled for the kernel you are using. If the file you downloaded is specific to your distro, you chould be fine, but if not, it might not work. Good Luck!

[leonpmu]

I am guessing that the sis file would probably have the 3d support that I am wanting, also maybe eliminate the window shadow when moving a window around the screen, you know as if you are in slow-mo and then it catches up when you stop......

Ah well, maybe I am wasting my time, but it would be good to know anyway.....

L

[voidinit]

First copy the a650.o file to /usr/X11/lib/modules/drivers/.

That's the easy part.

Now we need to get X to load that module by defaut instead of using the VESA or FrameBuffer driver you are probably using now. Open /etc/X11/XF86Config in a text editor. Then look for the section that looks something like this.


Section "Device"
Identifier "NVidia"
Driver "nvidia"
EndSection


Replace the Driver "nvidia" with Driver "a650"

Note, you do not need the .o at the end or else X will look for a file named a650.o.o and that will not work. If there are extra lines of text between the Section "Device" and the EndSection that state videoram or BusID or anything like that, either delete them or put an '#' in front of them with no quotes.

Restart X and see what you've got. If for some reason you get only low res like 640X780 or only 8-bit color, add a line to the above section like VideoRam "8192" if you have 8MB of video ram. Basically the number you add will be MB of Video Ram multiplied by 1024.

If you changed the Identifier "Nvidia" line in the above section, the screens section will not recognize the new device. To solve this, scroll way down in XF86Config and fine the section that looks like this.



Section "Screen"
Identifier "Screen 1"
Device "NVidia"
Monitor "My Monitor"
DefaultDepth 32
Subsection "Display"
Depth 32
Modes "1024x768"
EndSubsection


Edit the Device "NVidia" line so that it is looking for the same label you set Identifier to in the Device section.

[leonpmu]

I tried it, but it broke :rolleyes:

Anyway, as you said, it works the way it is, so Ill just deal with it, my tower has 3d acceleration it for my ATI, and I wanted to play tuxracer on my laptop, and it is no-go with the standard vesa driver. Great res, huge screen, but no 3d :rolleyes:

Thanks for the help anyways.

C U on the forum

L