Rodolfo J. Paiz wrote:
Guys/gals:
I've read a great deal of pro/con on this list about NVIDIA issuing closed-source binary drivers and had not formed my own opinion yet. But last week, I got a sweet bargain on a new system, and it had an NVIDIA GeForce MX 400 card (64MB) in it. Since the driver (nv, I think...) which X installed had noise on the screen at anything above 800x600 which got worse at higher resolutions, I went to get their closed drivers.
Despite the fact that I love RPM and was nervous about using something else, their installer was extremely well done, and worked beautifully. I had to install the kernel-source RPM package so it could compile its kernel module, and I was easily able to follow the instructions to modify my /etc/X11/XF86Config file. Inside of 10 minutes, I went from 800x600 with noise to 1600x1200 and gorgeous.
I was delighted to see that they support many varieties of Linux, that they provide a single driver file to fit nearly all their cards, that the "nvidia-installer" can update itself to a newer version, and that even though I can't manage it with RPM it makes things very easy for me. I've always used the graphics card maker's own drivers on Windows too (Matrox, ATI, others) so this is no different.
Their two primary arguments are that this installer is the only way they can support lots and lots of Linux distros, kernel versions, etc., and that the extremely competitive nature of their business makes it unhealthy for them to open-source their code. I am willing to buy those arguments as being reasonable; so while I would *prefer* open-source and RPM, I can *accept* closed-source and custom installer.
After all, the end result is more hardware that can be used optimally under Linux, easier adoption of Linux by more people, and an easier computing experience for me. Conclusion? Two thumbs up!
Ok, so far so good. Now the following scenario:
You need an option in the kernel for which you have to rebuild it. Hence you do so follow the recipy in /usr/src/linux/README.
Reboot and.... NO DISPLAY Now you are in text mode (you think) and try to install the nvidia dirver. That fails because that says you are in X11 mode.
Hence `init 3` and you are realy in text mode. Next problem says nvidia: bad source....
... an that's the stage I'm in at this verry moment.
Other system, running SuSE and connected to the internet with a modem: nvidia will not install unles the kernel is patched. THis patching of the kernel and kernel source only takes a couple of hours to download, just to show me it does not work because the kernel is updated after the nvidia drivers...
My opinion:
For core drivers like for keyboard, display, mouse, disk, I'd say to open the specs of the software interface and let the community build and maintain the drivers.
For non-core drivers I might accept the nvidia way only for hardware I don't use. And that is reversable if it is known in advance.
CBee
