Chapter 5. Configuring X for the NVIDIA Driver

The X configuration file provides a means to configure the X server. This section describes the settings necessary to enable the NVIDIA driver. A comprehensive list of parameters is provided in Appendix B, X Config Options.

The NVIDIA Driver includes a utility called nvidia-xconfig, which is designed to make editing the X configuration file easy. You can also edit it by hand.

The Solaris distribution for x64/x86 comes with two X servers: Xsun and X.Org. Xsun is the proprietary X server developed by Sun Microsystems. The X.Org X server is released by the X.Org Foundation. The NVIDIA Accelerated Solaris Driver is enabled with the X.Org X server.

In order for any changes to be read into the X server, you must edit the configuration file used by the server. It is easy to determine the correct file by searching for the line

        (==) Using config file:

in the X log file. This line indicates the name of the X config file in use.

If you do not have a working X config file, there are a few different ways to obtain one:

If you have a working X config file for a different driver (such as the “nv” or “vesa” driver), then simply edit the file as follows.

Remove the line:

      Driver "nv"
  (or Driver "vesa")
  (or Driver "fbdev")

and replace it with the line:

    Driver "nvidia"

Remove the following lines:

    Load "dri"
    Load "GLCore"

In the Module section of the file, add the line (if it does not already exist):

    Load "glx"

If the X config file does not have a Module section, you can safely skip the last step if the X server installed on your system is an X.Org X server or an XFree86 X release version 4.4.0 or greater. If you are using an older XFree86 X server, add the following to your X config file:

Section "Module"
    Load "extmod"
    Load "dbe"
    Load "type1"
    Load "freetype"
    Load "glx"
EndSection

There are numerous options that may be added to the X config file to tune the NVIDIA X driver. See Appendix B, X Config Options for a complete list of these options.

Once you have completed these edits to the X config file, you may restart X and begin using the accelerated OpenGL libraries. After restarting X, any OpenGL application should automatically use the new NVIDIA libraries. (NOTE: If you encounter any problems, see Chapter 7, Common Problems for common problem diagnoses.)