hybrid-graphics-linux team mailing list archive

[Andreas Heider <andreas@xxxxxxxx>]

Hi Adrian,

On 05/10/2012 05:12 PM, adrian15 wrote:
> I've been taking a look at your switching development and according to:
>
> http://linux-hybrid-graphics.blogspot.com.es/2012/04/apple-macbook-pro-and-linux-hybrid_21.html
>
>
> http://linux-hybrid-graphics.blogspot.com.es/2012/04/apple-macbook-pro-and-linux-hybrid_21.html
>
>
> it seems quite reasonable to make some tries on my Debian Unstable system.
>
> I've always wanted to try that supposed 8 hour autonomy but with nvidia
> being always ON on Gnu/Linux it was not an easy thing.
>
> And the other problem that I want to solve is Nvidia card hanging the
> full computer. The other day I learnt that it was something also found
> in native macs. I suppose that switching the card off will workaround
> the problem.

That sounds like a hardware problem, I read that some macbooks are 
flawed. But yeah, just switching the Nvidia GPU off might help.

> ----------------
>
> Here there are my doubts/thoughts:
>
> * I have an MBP 6,2.
> * Any special piece of advice about me using Debian Unstable?

Well, the kernel part is distribution independent, and the userspace 
scripts should be relatively straightforward to port.

> * I am going to use Nvidia propietary so I will have to blacklist it.

I'd suggest starting with nouveau, just to rule out one potential source 
of problems.

> * This bumblebee stuff... What's for? So... I work with Intel card, and
> somehow the optirun command makes a new application to run with Nvidia
> card. Is that?

Yes, it makes it possible to run individual applications using the 
dedicated card.

> *
>  > It's also useful to have a dump of your vbios and to know what
>  > PDISPLAY_VGA_ROM_WINDOW should be. Run get_vbios.sh and
>  > get_rom_window.sh. The output of get_rom_window.sh should be
>  > something like "00619f04: 000ffe09".
>
> This is a bit confusing. Taking a look at the code you need to do:
> get_vbios.sh
> which dumps automatically to vbios.bin file.
> And then you have to dump it manually in the case of get_rom_windows.sh:
> get_rom_windows.sh > my_rom_windows.txt
> .
>
>  > Make sure there is _no_ /etc/X11/xorg.conf, xorg should start on the
>  > right card automatically.
>
> I'm used to always run nvidia-xconfig so that the propietary driver gets
> the optimal resolution... that makes a new xorg.conf to appear. I will
> have to check how well current nvidia driver works without any xorg.conf
> file.
I haven't tested that, but it will probably cause problems when you try 
to use the integrated card.

>  > 1. Compile and install the patched kernel
> Is there any chance that I can apply these changes to Debian kernel git
> repository (not sure there is but I bet that there would be)?
>
> Has anyone tried (by any luck) these steps on Debian Unstable?
>
> What improvements does have ubuntu-kernel-mbp over an Ubuntu stock kernel?

A few bugfixes to nouveau, a patch to force enable dual lvds (which 
fixes an display error with the intel card), and the actual switching stuff.
>  > sudo cp apple_gmux.ko
> /lib/modules/3.2.0-18-mbp/kernel/drivers/platform/x86/apple-gmux.ko
>
> You might be interested to substitue 3.2.0-18-mbp with $(uname -r) to
> make the howto a little easier.
>
>  > Configure Grub
> I suppose these are files that you copy in /etc/grub.d/ folder and then
> you run update-grub so that changes get effective.
>
> About the boot parametres the documentation (talking only about the
> README) is lacking that you should put them after the kernel filename
> and separated by spaces.
>
>  > Configure bumblebee:
>  > Make sure it isn't started automatically on boot
>
> Is bumblebee a service so that I edit its upstart definition so that it
> does not start?
>
> * Any tip for building bumblebee on Debian Unstable?
>
> * Finally... I'm not so quite interested in the switching functionality
> but in using Intel card. I mean... Might it possible without any patched
> kernel to just pass some boot parametres so that nvidia card is disabled
> and intel card enabled and used? Maybe with patched kernel

Thats possible, and as the switching driver isn't 100% finished and I 
don't have the time to do it at the moment it's probably the best 
solution for your use case.

See https://help.ubuntu.com/community/UEFIBooting#Selecting_the_graphic_card

> Well, these are my doubts so far. Thank you for any clue you might give me.
>
>
> adrian15