Bug 150174

Created attachment 111609 [details]
Xorg server log

The "radeon" driver included in RHEL 4, has DRI compiled in but
disabled by default due to some instability that was found on
certain combinations of hardware.  In order to use DRI you must
manually re-enable it by editing the config file and using
the following in the device section:

    Option "DRI"

If you have further problems, please contact Red Hat Global Support
Services via telephone at 1-888-RED-HAT1 and a support representative
will assist.

Thanks.

Setting status to "NOTABUG".

Informational update:

We have been diagnosing the various DRI lockup problems that various people
have reported for the "radeon" driver, and have made some progress, however
the current driver still has instabilities so we've decided to leave DRI
disabled by default on "radeon" for the upcoming RHEL4 U1 update.

In the mean time, users can still use the 'Option "dri"' override suggested
in comment #2 above to manually override the default and force DRI to be
enabled.  Users are cautioned however that enabling DRI override, may cause
system instability.

We will continue to work with X.Org on resolving the DRI lockups in the
"radeon" driver, and look forward to being able to provide RHEL 4 customers
with stable DRI in a future update.

Patch added to 6.8.2-1.EL3.13.11 to allow DRI on Radeon by default
except for Radeon 7000, which is disabled by default due to other
problems which are still being investigated.

Please test this build or a later build during RHEL alpha/beta
testing releases and indicate if the problem is now resolved
or not.

Thanks in advance.

Setting status to "MODIFIED", pending testing.

ftp://people.redhat.com/mharris/testing/4E/xorg-x11/6.8.2-1.EL.13.11

Please test this build as soon as possible and report back the results,
to ensure there is enough time for us to review the problem again and
try other solutions if the issue remains.

Thanks in advance.

From User-Agent: XML-RPC

xorg-x11-6.8.2-1.FC3.45 has been pushed for FC3, which should resolve this issue.  If these problems are still present in this version, then please make note of it in this bug report.

An advisory has been issued which should help the problem
described in this bug report. This report is therefore being
closed with a resolution of ERRATA. For more information
on the solution and/or where to find the updated files,
please follow the link below. You may reopen this bug report
if the solution does not work for you.

http://rhn.redhat.com/errata/RHBA-2005-500.html

Installing the RHEL U2 updates, including xorg-x11-6.8.2-1.EL.13.20, on my Dell
Poweredge SC1425 (Chipset: "ATI Radeon VE/7000 QY (AGP/PCI)" (ChipID = 0x5159))
broke X.  When it should display the gdm login screen the display goes dark and
my LCD monitor complains about invalid sync frequencies.  The X process is hung
and can not be killed.

Adding 'Option "DRI" "off"' to the Device section of xorg.conf doesn't help.
/var/log/Xorg.0.log shows that it sees the Option line but still loads and
enables DRI.  Removing the 'Load "dri"' line from the Module section instead of
adding the Option line does the trick - DRI isn't loaded and X works as it did
before the update.

BTW, there's a misleading message in Xorg.0.log:
   (WW) RADEON(0): Direct Rendering is disabled by default on Radeon VE/7000
           hardware due to instability, but has been forced on with
           "Option "dri" in xorg.conf.  You may experience instability.
As I understand it DRI is now enabled by default, plus that message is generated
whether or not DRI is loaded or enabled and whether or not there's an "Option
DRI" or "Load DRI" line in xorg.conf.

(In reply to comment #20)
> Installing the RHEL U2 updates, including xorg-x11-6.8.2-1.EL.13.20, on my Dell
> Poweredge SC1425 (Chipset: "ATI Radeon VE/7000 QY (AGP/PCI)" (ChipID = 0x5159))
> broke X.  When it should display the gdm login screen the display goes dark and
> my LCD monitor complains about invalid sync frequencies.  The X process is hung
> and can not be killed.
> 
> Adding 'Option "DRI" "off"' to the Device section of xorg.conf doesn't help.
> /var/log/Xorg.0.log shows that it sees the Option line but still loads and
> enables DRI.  Removing the 'Load "dri"' line from the Module section instead of
> adding the Option line does the trick - DRI isn't loaded and X works as it did
> before the update.
> 
> BTW, there's a misleading message in Xorg.0.log:
>    (WW) RADEON(0): Direct Rendering is disabled by default on Radeon VE/7000
>            hardware due to instability, but has been forced on with
>            "Option "dri" in xorg.conf.  You may experience instability.
> As I understand it DRI is now enabled by default, plus that message is generated
> whether or not DRI is loaded or enabled and whether or not there's an "Option
> DRI" or "Load DRI" line in xorg.conf.
> 

See bug #170008