Description of problem: The current nVidia video drivers are designed for the 2.6.11 kernel, and are not stable on other systems. We are experiencing stability issues, but the most con crete information is just the warning that is emitted when the drivers are installed... It would be very helpful if RedHat and nVidia could work together to offer full support for the nVidia drivers. Version-Release number of selected component (if applicable): nVidia drivers version 1.0-7676 and foward. (Probably more.) How reproducible: Every time. Steps to Reproduce: 1. Install the nVidia drivers. Get the warning. Actual results: The warnings we get when installing on RH Desktop 4 (2.6.9-22.0.1.EL) NVRM: loading NVIDIA Linux x86_64 NVIDIA Kernel Module 1.0-7676 Fri Jul 29 13:15:16 PDT 2005 NVRM: WARNING: Your Linux kernel has problems in its implementation of NVRM: the change_page_attr kernel interface. The NVIDIA kernel NVRM: module will attempt to work around these problems, but NVRM: system stability may be affected. It is recommended that NVRM: you update to a 2.6.11 or newer kernel. Additional info: this happens on x86_64 and x86, and older versions of RH Desktop as well.
The problem described above appears to be an incompatibility between Nvidia's kernel module and the shipping RHEL kernel. Depending on the type of support contract you have with Red Hat, please contact Red Hat support services via http://www.redhat.com/support or at 1-888-RED-HAT1 for further assistance. This is a bug in Nvidia's kernel module, which Nvidia will need to address directly. It is not a bug in Red Hat's kernel or X implementation, so I'm setting status to "CANTFIX", as only Nvidia can fix their kernel module to be compatible with the RHEL kernel.
Also, changing component to 'kernel' as this issue is kernel related, not X server related.
It's somewhat an incompatibility, yes. But to say "it's nVidia's problem, we're ignoring it" is a premature response at best. Getting graphic drivers that work on modern systems is important for all users; it improves stability and performance for any 3D application, be it a game, scientific software, or just a random screen saver. Basically, I'd like for you guys to offer some kind of choice. Either offer a 2.6.11 kernel path, or work with nVidia to back-patch the required fixes into 2.6.9 so that their drivers will work. It'll benefit both of your companies, in the short and long terms.
This is not a bug in Red Hat X, nor a bug in the Red Hat kernel. It is a bug in Nvidia's driver, and the proper way to handle that is to contact Red Hat support and open up a proper support ticket. Bugzilla is for tracking bugs in Red Hat software components, not for bypassing our official support mechanisms. Please use the correct method for obtaining support.
I've used both systems, actually. I have been informed by multiple RedHat employees and large customers at conferences and trade shows that the best way to report a large-scale bug to RedHat is to both use the internal web ticketing system *and* bugzilla.redhat.com. And yes, it is a bug in the 2.6.9 kernel that is causing nVidia to support only 2.6.11+, where the bug is fixed; the specific bug is listed in the error message nVidia offers ("Your Linux kernel has problems in its implementation of the change_page_attr kernel interface").
I've reassigned this to the kernel component, so that our kernel maintainers are aware of the issue you are reporting. They will review the issue and report back wether they consider this to be a Red Hat kernel bug or an Nvidia kernel module problem. Please update the bug report with the support ticket ID that you've filed from the support system, and your TAM info for reference. Thanks in advance.
It's Service Request 768006. And...TAM info?
Seriously, what's TAM info?
This will not occur on 1.0-8174. 1.0-7676 assumed that all Linux kernels < 2.6.11 for the x86_64 platform were broken with regards to the change_page_attr() interface. A dynamic detection mechanism has since been added. If you need to stick with 1.0-7676, you can try passing NVreg_UseCPA=1 as a kernel module parameter. This is a safe parameter to use on the 2.6.9-22.0.1.EL x86_64 kernel. Please do _NOT_ use this parameter on kernels that do not contain the change_page_attr() interface fixes.
It looks like the 8174 patch won't solve our problems. From our head video developer: I've tested these drivers and they (NVidia) managed to break OpenGL shading language support pretty badly in that version. I'd probably recommend that we use a different rev that doesn't have these GLSL problems. I'm hoping they'll have a new driver version posted in early January, otherwise we may want to pick one of the versions from November or so, which worked as I recall. I'll look into the NVreg_UseCPA option.
Again, while the updated drivers don't exercise the particular bug I complained about above - the kernel issues - they still don't work with our systems, or for anybody that's trying to use the OpenGL shading library. To me, this means the bug isn't fixed.
Tim, Please generate an nvidia-bug-report.log from a system where you're experiencing the problem with GLSL, along with instructions on how the problem can be reproduced. Thanks, Lonni
http://www.nvnews.net/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=63109 It's the same problem, and John is one of my co-workers.
Tim, I'm the same Lonni as in the thread you referenced, in which I've verified that the GLSL bug will likely be resolved in the next driver release. John had the last post in that thread stating that he'd provide a "set of scripts and test data" for me to test more thoroughly, so right now, it looks like the action is on John, if additional testing/verification is desired. Thanks, Lonni
Tim what kernel issues are you referring to in comment #12? thanks.
Jason, see Comment #14.
I don't see any evidence there of a Red Hat kernel bug (which is how this is filed). Thus, i am closing this as NOTABUG.