Category Archives: Opinion

Kernel – 5.6-rc3 – OK with Patched VMware, not with Patched NVIDIA..

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Kernel 5.6-rc3 is out, and brief details are here:   http://lkml.iu.edu/hypermail/linux/kernel/2002.2/08977.html The changes include: Arnd Bergmann (4): ASoC: atmel: fix atmel_ssc_set_audio link failure y2038: remove ktime to/from timespec/timeval conversion y2038: remove unused time32 interfaces y2038: hide timeval/timespec/itimerval/itimerspec types – and the Y2038-related ..time.. changes break the latest 5.6-patched NVIDIA 440-59: ……………….. /home/rgadsdon/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-440.59-custom/kernel/common/inc/nv-time.h: In function ‘nv_gettimeofday’: /home/rgadsdon/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-440.59-custom/kernel/common/inc/nv-time.h:40:10: error: ‘struct … Continue reading →

GCC – Fun with GCC 10, and the Kernel, NVIDIA, VMware..

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I have updated some test systems (x86_64 and aarch64) to pre-beta Fedora 32, which now includes GCC 10: $ gcc –version gcc (GCC) 10.0.1 20200216 (Red Hat 10.0.1-0.8) There have been a couple of problems with kernel compilation, but in each case there was already a patch/workaround available.. https://www.spinics.net/linux/fedora/fedora-arm/msg13193.html and https://lkml.org/lkml/2020/1/29/494 The most serious problem was a … Continue reading →

Kernel – 5.6-rc1 Released – No Surprises?

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Kernel 5.6-rc1 is out, and brief details are here: http://lkml.iu.edu/hypermail/linux/kernel/2002.1/00576.html After the pre-release testing mentioned in my previous article, patched VMware 15.5.1 and patched/hacked NVIDIA 440.59 both compiled and ran, but with the same NVIDIA # startx tombstone, as previously mentioned.   I had already created a patched NVIDIA runtime, to make things easier: # ./NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-440.59-k56.run -s –install-libglvnd … Continue reading →

Kernel – Pre-Release Tests for 5.6-rc1 ..

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Kernel 5.6-rc1 should be out on Sunday, February 9th, but I noticed that early-version-test patches are already available for VMware 15.5.1, here:  https://github.com/mkubecek/vmware-host-modules/tree/tmp/workstation-15.5.1-k5.6 These patches gave clues to what might affect NVIDIA as well, and I managed to get a GIT version of 5.6-rc1-pre (dated February 5th) to compile OK, and was able to use this.   Of … Continue reading →

NVIDIA – New Driver 440.59 – OK with Kernel 5.5, and No Tombstone..

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NVIDIA have just released driver 440.59, and brief details – and download links – are here: https://devtalk.nvidia.com/default/topic/1070838/announcements-and-news/linux-solaris-and-freebsd-driver-440-59-long-lived-branch-release-/ I have tested this with Kernel 5.5.1, and it installs OK, and – for the first time – there is no ‘tombstone’ when # startx is executed. Robert Gadsdon.   February 3rd 2020.

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NVIDIA – Beta Driver 440.48.02 – Compiles OK with Kernel 5.5..

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NVIDIA have a Beta driver available, and this compiles OK with kernel 5.5.   Available from link here:  https://developer.nvidia.com/vulkan-driver I have installed this and – interestingly – it still gives a ‘tombstone’ at # startx, but appears to run OK despite that ?: [60044.039448] ————[ cut here ]———— [60044.043355] refcount_t: underflow; use-after-free. [60044.047445] WARNING: CPU: 1 PID: 45401 … Continue reading →

Kernel – 5.5 released, OK with Patched VMware, and e1000e issues fixed.

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Kernel 5.5 is out, and brief details of changes since -rc7 are here:  http://lkml.iu.edu/hypermail/linux/kernel/2001.3/02724.html This now works OK with Intel e1000e-supported Ethernet cards, and the patched version of VMware 15.5.1.   There is an interim patch for NVIDIA driver 440.44, and this gives a tombstone on # startx, on my systems, but seems to work OK, after that. … Continue reading →

Ethernet – If you Can’t Wait for 5.4.14, an Unofficial e1000e Patch for 5.4.13..

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As there is (so far) no sign of an update to the 5.4.x kernel series, I have uploaded a _very unofficial_ patch I had already created for 5.4.13, and I have tested this, and so far it seems to work OK..    It is based on an ‘earlier’ e1000e patch version found on linux/netdev.. https://www.spinics.net/lists/netdev/msg623693.html,  and thanks are … Continue reading →

Ethernet – e1000e – The Saga Continues..

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After more testing, it appears that there is still a problem with the Intel e1000e driver and some – but not all – supported NICs.. I have several ex-HP systems that have Intel NICs, and some have more than one.   The HP Z820 has two (different models..): $ lspci |grep Eth 00:19.0 Ethernet controller: Intel Corporation 82579LM … Continue reading →

Kernel – 5.5-rc1 is Out. Breaks NVIDIA, but e1000e Finally Fixed?

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Kernel 5.5-rc1 has been released, and brief details are here:  http://lkml.iu.edu/hypermail/linux/kernel/1912.1/00242.html From limited tests so far, the Intel e1000e driver now seems to be working for all Intel NICs that use it, on my various systems. Patched VMware W/S 15.5.1 compiles OK, but NVIDIA 440.36 fails: ………… In file included from /home/rgadsdon/kernel/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-440.36/kernel/nvidia-drm/nvidia-drm-drv.c:30: /home/rgadsdon/kernel/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-440.36/kernel/nvidia-drm/nvidia-drm-connector.h:30:10: fatal error: drm/drmP.h: No … Continue reading →