How To Install nVidia Graphics Driver on Fedora Core 6 / Linux in 5 Simple Steps
nVidia provides linux drivers from its website. Unfortunately it doesn't work with recent kernels. The installation script fails in multiple ways. After much googling and with tons of diverse advices I found the simple solution.
BTW: By default nv driver is installed for nVidia cards which provides very poor graphics performance even for non-gaming usage. Also you cannot use dual monitors with it using TwinView or Xinerama.
You need to install the rpm distribution from livna. However before that you need to ensure that you have the proper kernel for your cpu. Please follow the guide here:
How (& Why) To Install i686 Kernel In Fedora Core 6 in 7 Steps
1. First install the livna repository:
rpm -Uhv http://rpm.livna.org/livna-release-6.rpm
Alternatively you can directly add the following entries to /etc/yum.conf:
[livna-stable]
name=Livna.org Fedora Compatible Packages (stable)
baseurl= http://rpm.livna.org/fedora/$releasever/$basearch/yum/stable
gpgcheck=1
2. Then import the livna GPG key for verification of rpm:
rpm –import http://rpm.livna.org/RPM-LIVNA-GPG-KEY
3. Now you are ready to install the rpm:
yum install kmod-nvidia
This should automatically do everthing required to install the driver.
4. Reboot the machine. You should see nVidia logo flash by.
5. Execute:
glxinfo | grep direct
If you see: direct rendering: Yes, you are good to go. You can also display further details about the installed driver as follows:
yum info kmod-nvidia
You will see something like this:
Loading "installonlyn" plugin
Setting up repositories
Reading repository metadata in from local files
Installed Packages
Name : kmod-nvidia
Arch : i686
Version: 1.0.9755
Release: 2.2.6.20_1.2933.fc6
Size : 7.1 M
Repo : installed
Summary: nvidia kernel module(s)
Use nVidia Display Settings to further configure your driver. Next I will talk about setting twin monitors on Fedora Core 6.
Filed under Fedora Core 6, Gnome Desktop, Headline News, How To, Linux, Linux Migration, Open Source Software, Tech Note | 
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April 12th, 2007 at 9:21 am
The official Nvidia installer work just fine. I’ve installed three FC6 systems (two x86 one x86_64) with the official installer, on top of the latest kernel (2.6.20-1.2933.fc6), with no problems whatsoever.
Have you read the installation documentation? Before you install the Nvidia driver, you need to:
yum -y update
yum -y install kernel-devel xorg-x11-server-sdk pkgconfig
After that, it works perfectly.
April 13th, 2007 at 3:13 pm
Your blog on dual monitors is *exactly* the right timing for me. I am in the process of building a Fedora 6 system and a primary requirement is that is support dual monitors. I got spoiled at work with dual monitors and now I am insisting on them at home as well.
I would appreciate you thought on an appropriate mother-board and graphics cars(s) for a dual monitor setup. These are the only two components missing from my new system.
Keep up the good thoughts!
May 18th, 2007 at 8:01 pm
Thank you for a useful blog … already bookmarked it and trying out the steps in another window. It would be useful to have a link to the “next I talk about …” I found your triple display, but not dual display.
June 9th, 2007 at 8:15 am
Thank you (!!). This really helped. nvidia’s direct solution was certainly difficult to mess around with (I’m a Linux newbie), and obtaining rpms from livna did not help so well at all
June 11th, 2007 at 10:09 pm
Dude! Thank You! You do a great service when you share information like this to help newbies like me solve rudimentary problems so we can go forth on our quests. Keep it up, I now have my nvidia GPU working with FC6 and am now going to read your dual monitors tutorial; You Freakin Rock Man!
July 15th, 2007 at 4:12 am
Thank You for precise instructions. I install in couple minutes nvidia drivers for Fedora 7.
Excellent help!!!
August 31st, 2007 at 1:46 am
[root@localhost ~]# yum install kmod-nvidia
Loading “installonlyn” plugin
Setting up Install Process
Setting up repositories
Could not retrieve mirrorlist http://mirrors.fedoraproject.org/mirrorlist?repo=updates-released-fc6&arch=i386 error was
[Errno 4] IOError:
Error: Cannot find a valid baseurl for repo: updates
[root@localhost ~]#
“That much for working perfect”
Linux sucks, but I won’t give up
August 31st, 2007 at 1:48 am
Have you read the installation documentation?
No, where can I find this???
August 31st, 2007 at 1:51 am
yum install kmod-nvidia
installs what?? What is the difference to using Package Manager?
August 31st, 2007 at 3:29 am
Thomas,
Your updates repository is screwed up and had nothing to do with these instructions. Fix it first.
>yum install kmod-nvidia installs what??
It installs kmod-nvidia driver.
Read the fine manuals before jumping the gun.
August 31st, 2007 at 6:51 am
Your updates repository is screwed up and had nothing to do with these instructions. Fix it first.
How can I fix this? I would not have posted this if I knew this!
I Know it installs the Nvidia Driver, but which one? I have a whole list in the Package Manager!
What fine manuals?
I am not kidding, I am new to Linux, after two weeks of trying and error I am getting a little impatient, sorry.
Thanks,
Thomas
August 31st, 2007 at 6:59 am
So, let’s say we find help here:
http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=479138&page=2
I tried the first idea:
gksudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list
and get:
[root@localhost ~]# gksudo gedit /etc/apt/sources.list
bash: gksudo: command not found
so, what should I look for?
Thanks,
Thomas
August 31st, 2007 at 8:33 am
Which distribution have you installed? If you are using Fedora then you should look for help in Fedora forums and not Ubuntu.
Normally gksudo / sudo are required if you are not logged in as root.
As root you can remove that command and directly run the rest.
You can use locate to find any command. Normally commands like sudo are under /sbin. So you path would be /sbin/sudo
> I Know it installs the Nvidia Driver, but which one?
Use the one which corresponds to your version of kernel. If you cannot find it then always use the latest version.
August 31st, 2007 at 8:33 am
NeoNIG,
I am happy to be of help.
August 31st, 2007 at 9:49 am
ok, did all this:
[root@localhost ~]# yum check-update
Loading “installonlyn” plugin
Setting up repositories
Could not retrieve mirrorlist http://mirrors.fedoraproject.org/mirrorlist?repo=core-6&arch=i386 error was
[Errno 4] IOError:
Error: Cannot find a valid baseurl for repo: core
anywhere else I need to look? Your blog gets pested up with my problem, feel free to delete all his, sorry, I am getting obsessed with LINUX, lol
August 31st, 2007 at 11:03 am
Do you have a direct connection to internet?
If not look in yum manual for setting proxy.
August 31st, 2007 at 11:46 am
Hmm, I have a linksys card in my PC but I couldn’t get the ndiswrapper to work yet. So I connected a Powerbook and share it’s internet via Airport. Guess that works as a direct connection. uuhhh, where could I find this manual? I got a book, SamNash, Fedora 6 unleashed. So that is something. Isn’t there a program with a GUI that could make this easy?
I appreciate your help!!!!
August 31st, 2007 at 11:53 am
never mind, found it:
http://docs.fedoraproject.org/yum/en/sn-yum-proxy-server.html
Cheers,
Thomas
August 31st, 2007 at 12:06 pm
Sorry to be so retarted, I have a direct connection. I forgot what proxy really is, aarghgh.
I’ll guess I’ll find out sooner or later.
September 3rd, 2007 at 4:29 pm
So again, I started all over, Fedora 6 again, the other free distro’s don’t work. This is going to be a Recodring Workstation, after all I installed the CCRMA Low Latency Kernel and this one conflicts with Ndiswrapper and Nvidia, and maybe other stuff. So, no openGL. Cheers, and thanks again!!!
November 21st, 2007 at 7:32 pm
Linux overall still an ancient OS, for a dual wide screen displays, you need to go through lot’s of hassle. I wonder if anyone could help rresolve this problem make it easy productive and convenient to use?
February 16th, 2008 at 9:47 am
Hello,
Just wanted to let you know that your instructions worked great for Fedora Core 8 86_64 on an HP Dual Core.