[pkg-nvidia-devel] Bug#481485: #490751: linux-image-2.6.25-2-686: proprietary NVIDIA module will not install; #481485: nVidia driver fails to compile due to active Xen support

[Steve Lane]

It would be great if the XEN options:

CONFIG_XEN=y
CONFIG_XEN_BLKDEV_FRONTEND=m
CONFIG_XEN_NETDEV_FRONTEND=m
CONFIG_HVC_XEN=y

were turned off in the Debian stock kernel until there is adequate
support for installing the Debian NVIDIA packages (nvidia-kernel-source,
nvidia-kernel-common and nvidia-glx) under testing, given that this is
now the default testing kernel.

Note that instructions similar to the following (available at
http://blog.creonfx.com/linux/how-to-install-nvidia-driver-on-2625-2-debian-kernel-with-xen
and elsewhere):

1. cd /lib/modules/2.6.25-2-686 (or wherever are your modules)
2. grep CONFIG_XEN . -Rl | xargs -i sed -i -e 's/CONFIG_XEN/CONFIG_LUPO/g' {}
3. export IGNORE_XEN_PRESENCE=1
4. sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86-173.08-pkg1.run (or you can use patched 169.12 - http://www.nvnews.net/vbulletin/showthread.php?t=110088 )

do not always work (they didn't for me, nor for several other people
who have reported this problem in various places).

Also note:

The following advice (from bug report 481485):

|- If you use the nvidia installer you are on your own.  You also cause
|- package files to be overwritten and will likely have breakage on
|- upgrades in the future.  Have fun.
|- 
|- If you use the debian packages then we can help.  We already fixed the
|- xen problem in the debian packages by patching the driver build system.

is completely unhelpful (and unappreciated) since, as noted above (and in the 
Debian wiki: http://wiki.debian.org/NvidiaGraphicsDrivers#head-816174f32ba98061bdd68615838ee453646721f1),
the Debian packages won't install in testing.

Thanks for your efforts on our behalf,

--
Steve Lane
System, Network and Security Administrator
Doudna Lab
Biomolecular Structure and Mechanism Group
UC Berkeley