Installing fglrx (ATI) drivers in Debian Etch

Posted on November 20, 2006 by Michael Schurter

The instructions in /usr/share/doc/fglrx-kernel-src/README.Debian.gz left something to be desired, so here’s how I installed the official ATI display drivers (fglrx) in Debian Etch (without rebooting!):

Here are the relevant packages I have installed. This list may not be exactly what you need but should work. Install using Synaptic or apt-get or what-ever-you-want.

  • fglrx-control, fglrx-driver, fglrx-kernel-src – 8.28.8-3
  • module-assistant – 0.10.7
  • mesa-utils – 6.3.2-2.1 (for the glxinfo command)

Just for reference, here’s some of my system information:

  • Dell Optiplex GX620
  • ATI RV380 [Radeon X600 (PCI-E)]
  • Debian 4.0 aka Etch (“testing” release as of this post)
  • Kernel package: linux-image-2.6.17.2-686 – 2.6.17-9
  • Gnome 2.14 (important because I use gdm while KDE users probably use kdm)

As root run the following:

  1. cd /usr/src
  2. module-assistant prepare
  3. module-assistant a-i fglrx
  4. Edit your /etc/X11/xorg.conf file, and set your display driver to fglrx (it is probably currently set to radeon, if not, step #7 will probably be different for you)
  5. Exit Gnome (or KDE, just get out of X Windows), press ctrl-alt-F1 to get a console, login as root.
  6. /etc/init.d/gdm stop
  7. modprobe -r radeon
  8. modprobe fglrx
  9. /etc/init.d/gdm start
  10. Done!

To verify that it is installed correctly go to Desktop > Administration > ATI Control Panel and make sure the Renderer is something like RADEON X600 Pro Generic. Also run the excellent glxinfo tool and make sure it contains the line “direct rendering: Yes”.

Many thanks to dcarvil at forums.debian.net whose post helped me figure out step #7.

Update: This configuration does not seem to work with the Composite X.org extension needed to use AIGLX/Compiz.  AIGLX/Compiz is so new, and there are so many conflicting web sites on how to get it working, that I probably won’t try to fix this error for a while.

This entry was posted in GNU/Linux, Open Source, Technology. Bookmark the permalink.
  • http://digitalfiefdom.org AC

    Interestingly enough we had a problem with a dell server incorrectly detecting a vid card as radeon recently (with Sarge though). Lacking the patience to find a way to fix it though, I just reinstalled and picked another that seemed more reasonable (I don’t remember why I picked it or what it was). It works now so I haven’t given it a second thought until now.

  • http://digitalfiefdom.org AC

    Oh and… First comment! ac 4 t3h win!

  • b

    Thanks for this guide. I would like to add that the fglrx packages are found in the “non-free” section of debian’s repositories, which are disabled by default.

  • jsaak

    pasted your steps to debian wiki
    http://wiki.debian.org/Manual-Howto

    hope you will like it

  • don harville

    Been using openSuse for awhile, and while everything works I didn’t feel I was learning much about Linux; everything was GUI driven and most everything was loaded during install.

    So to scratch my ‘learn more about Linux’ itch I decided to delve into Debian. Since I do have an ATI 9800 Pro video card I wanted to get 3D acceleration working. I have tried numerous how-to’s to load the ATI driver with no success, that is until I used your info. Worked like a charm. Much appreciated.

  • Wallace Galloway

    Thanks…like Don Harville said “it worked like a charm”!

  • Pingback: How To Driver Oficial de ATI en Debian Etch « [ h2non ]

  • Christophe

    HI,

    I have a X1650 pro. Does it work with fglrx ? thanks

    Christophe

  • Benji

    Thank you very much, very good tutorial! You saved me a lot of time!

  • HectorRicardo

    Necesito ayuda para instalar los drivers de una ati radeon xpres 200 en una portatil TOSHIBA A100
    Quiero instalar Beryl so debian
    Si alguien puede ayudarme se lo agradecere como no tienen idea.
    Hasta pronto

  • Dimetra

    Works Well thank you :)

  • http://www.emarket.pl gry

    Been using openSuse for awhile, and while everything works I didn’t feel I was learning much about Linux; everything was GUI driven and most everything was loaded during install.

    So to scratch my ‘learn more about Linux’ itch I decided to delve into Debian. Since I do have an ATI 9800 Pro video card I wanted to get 3D acceleration working. I have tried numerous how-to’s to load the ATI driver with no success, that is until I used your info. Worked like a charm. Much appreciated.

  • http://www.teomandogan.com Estetik

    Thanks for this guide. I would like to add that the fglrx packages are found in the “non-free” section of debian’s repositories, which are disabled by default.