How to turn off the X Server?

English Applications
1

I’m trying to install some NVIDIA Driver. It’s asking me to turn off the X server. How to turn this off and then on again afterwards? Does it require a reboot?

2

I have a feeling you’re doing it HORRIBLY wrong because there is no need to shutdown Xorg so just read this: NVIDIA - openSUSE

and use one 1-click installer.

3

That won’t work. Or rather it did, but didn’t solve my problem with Sax2 always showing a 1024x768 resolution when testing it.

From the NVIDIA Website…

To download and install the drivers, follow the steps below:

STEP 1: Review the NVIDIA Software License.

You will need to accept this license prior to downloading any files.

STEP 2: Download the Driver File
Download - NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-180.51-pkg2.run

SuSE users: please read the SuSE NVIDIA Installer HOWTO before downloading the driver.

STEP 3: Install
Type “sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-180.51-pkg2.run” to install the driver.

It was after runnind Step three that I was told the NVIDIA Install didn’t complete because X Server was loaded and to unload it before completing the install.

4

Oops. Sorry. I didn’t click on the 1-click button. I’m downloading it now and will update afterwards

5

If you install it from the RUN file then you indeed need to turn of X. If you install it from the Yast NVIDIA repo then you don’t.

To turn off X you need to go to the first terminal (CTRL-ALT-F1), login as root and execute the command init 3.

This will bring you to runlevel 3, which is the runlevel with multi user and network support but without an X server running.

Hope this helps.

6

Ok. The Driver downloaded and installed successfully. But it’s given me another problem.

Now when using YAST/Sax2 Card & Monitor Properties and testing the configuration, it says…

Testing Configuration Failed

SaX: Library Success
Xconfiguration: No Information

So now it doesn’t even go to the 1024x768 Test Screen. What I need to know now, what’s going to happen if I switch off and reboot?

7

Well, first of all I’m going to need a little more information as to what you’re trying to do, what you’ve done so far and what exactly is going on.

First of all, open a terminal window and run the follow commands, then copy paste the results of those commands here:

uname -r
rpm -qa | grep -i kernel
rpm -qa | grep -i nvidia

and post your /etc/X11/xorg.conf fully in here, use the code ] tags to encase the results.

Second of all, have you chosen a monitor in the sax2 that actually allows resolutions that you’re trying to test? If in doubt, use a VESA or LCD monitor that corresponds to your physical device.

And you of course rebooted (or at least logged out) after installing the driver, right?

8

stubble adjusted his/her AFDB on Tuesday 19 May 2009 12:46 to write:

>
> Ok. The Driver downloaded and installed successfully. But it’s given me
> another problem.
>
> Now when using YAST/Sax2 Card & Monitor Properties and testing the
> configuration, it says…
>
> Testing Configuration Failed
>
> SaX: Library Success
> Xconfiguration: No Information
>
> So now it doesn’t even go to the 1024x768 Test Screen. What I need to
> know now, what’s going to happen if I switch off and reboot?
>
>

Are you at init 3 while doing this or do you still have X running?

If you are still in a desktop you will need to drop to init 3 and then run

sax2 -r -m 0=nvidia

then configure you system

The reason is that if you still have x running it will have the old module
loaded which needs to be rmmod1ed and then the new one modprobed, this is
done automatically by stoppint x and runningthe sax command.

If sax throws a wobbly ™ with the0=nvidia param then change to 0=nv or
vesa to get back to a default driver and lets us know if any errors are
shown.

HTH

–
Mark

Nullus in verba
Nil illigitimi carborundum

9

Note that you do not need to run sax2 merely to switch the drivers, there’s a special command you can use as root: switch2nvidia or switch2nv depending on whether you want to use the binary driver (nvidia) or the open source driver (nv - nouveau)

10

uname -r

2.6.25.20-0.1-default

rpm -qa | grep -i kernel

kernel-default-2.6.25.20-0.1

rpm -qa | grep -i nvidia

x11-video-nvidiaG01-173.14.18-0.1
nvidia-gfxG02-kmp-default-180.51_2.6.25.20_0.1-1.1
nvidia-gfxG01-kmp-default-173.14.18_2.6.25.20_0.1-0.1
x11-video-nvidiaG02-180.51-1.1

/etc/X11/xorg.conf (1)

nvidia-xconfig: X configuration file generated by nvidia-xconfig

nvidia-xconfig: version 1.0 (buildmeister@builder62) Mon Mar 2 15:57:24 PST 2009

/…/

SaX generated X11 config file

Created on: 2009-05-19T19:33:19+0800.

Version: 8.1

Contact: Marcus Schaefer <sax@suse.de>, 2005

Contact: SaX-User list <https://lists.berlios.de/mailman/listinfo/sax-users&gt;

Automatically generated by [ISaX] (8.1)

PLEASE DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE!

Section “ServerLayout”
Identifier “Layout[all]”
Screen “Screen[0]” 0 0
InputDevice “Keyboard[0]” “CoreKeyboard”
InputDevice “Mouse[1]” “CorePointer”
Option “Clone” “off”
Option “Xinerama” “off”
EndSection

Section “Files”
InputDevices “/dev/gpmdata”
InputDevices “/dev/input/mice”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/misc:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/local”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/75dpi:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/100dpi:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/Type1”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/URW”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/Speedo”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/PEX”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/cyrillic”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/latin2/misc:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/latin2/75dpi:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/latin2/100dpi:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/latin2/Type1”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/latin7/75dpi:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/baekmuk:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/japanese:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/kwintv”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/truetype”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/uni:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/CID”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/ucs/misc:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/ucs/75dpi:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/ucs/100dpi:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/hellas/misc:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/hellas/75dpi:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/hellas/100dpi:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/hellas/Type1”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/misc/sgi:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/xtest”
FontPath “/opt/kde3/share/fonts”
EndSection

Section “Module”
Load “freetype”
Load “type1”
Load “dbe”
Load “glx”
Load “extmod”
EndSection

Section “ServerFlags”
Option “AllowMouseOpenFail” “on”
Option “ZapWarning” “on”
EndSection

Section “InputDevice”
Identifier “Keyboard[0]”
Driver “kbd”
Option “Protocol” “Standard”
Option “XkbLayout” “us”
Option “XkbModel” “microsoftpro”
Option “XkbRules” “xfree86”
EndSection

Section “InputDevice”
Identifier “Mouse[1]”
Driver “mouse”
Option “Buttons” “5”
Option “Device” “/dev/input/mice”
Option “Name” “ImPS/2 Generic Wheel Mouse”
Option “Protocol” “explorerps/2”
Option “Vendor” “Sysp”
Option “ZAxisMapping” “4 5”
EndSection

Section “Modes”
Identifier “Modes[0]”
ModeLine “1360x768” 85 1360 1424 1536 1792 768 771 777 795 +hsync +vsync
EndSection

Section “Monitor”
Identifier “Monitor[0]”
VendorName “–> LCD”
ModelName “1280X1024@75HZ”
UseModes “Modes[0]”
DisplaySize 410 230
HorizSync 31.0 - 81.0
VertRefresh 58.0 - 76.0
Option “CalcAlgorithm” “XServerPool”
Option “PreferredMode” “1280x1024”
EndSection

Section “Device”
Identifier “Device[0]”
Driver “nvidia”
VendorName “NVidia”
BoardName “GeForce 6100 nForce 430”
Screen 0
EndSection

Section “Screen”
Identifier “Screen[0]”
Device “Device[0]”
Monitor “Monitor[0]”
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection “Display”
Depth 15
Modes “1280x1024” “1280x960” “1280x800” “1152x864” “1280x768” “1280x720” “1024x768” “1280x600” “1024x600” “800x600” “768x576” “640x480”
EndSubSection
SubSection “Display”
Depth 16
Modes “1280x1024” “1280x960” “1280x800” “1152x864” “1280x768” “1280x720” “1024x768” “1280x600” “1024x600” “800x600” “768x576” “640x480”
EndSubSection
SubSection “Display”
Depth 24
Modes “1280x1024” “1280x960” “1280x800” “1152x864” “1280x768” “1280x720” “1024x768” “1280x600” “1024x600” “800x600” “768x576” “640x480”
EndSubSection
SubSection “Display”
Depth 8
Modes “1280x1024” “1280x960” “1280x800” “1152x864” “1280x768” “1280x720” “1024x768” “1280x600” “1024x600” “800x600” “768x576” “640x480”
EndSubSection
EndSection

Section “Extensions”
Option “Composite” “on”
EndSection

(1) this is the file which failed the test but I did notice /etc/X11/xorg.conf.nvidia-post file and so I copied that back over to xorg.conf file and I seem to have restored to where I always get 1024x768 problem. Here is the existing xorg.conf

/…/

SaX generated X11 config file

Created on: 2009-05-16T12:54:25+0800.

Version: 8.1

Contact: Marcus Schaefer <sax@suse.de>, 2005

Contact: SaX-User list <https://lists.berlios.de/mailman/listinfo/sax-users&gt;

Automatically generated by [ISaX] (8.1)

PLEASE DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE!

Section “Files”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/misc:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/local”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/75dpi:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/100dpi:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/Type1”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/URW”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/Speedo”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/PEX”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/cyrillic”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/latin2/misc:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/latin2/75dpi:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/latin2/100dpi:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/latin2/Type1”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/latin7/75dpi:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/baekmuk:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/japanese:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/kwintv”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/truetype”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/uni:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/CID”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/ucs/misc:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/ucs/75dpi:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/ucs/100dpi:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/hellas/misc:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/hellas/75dpi:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/hellas/100dpi:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/hellas/Type1”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/misc/sgi:unscaled”
FontPath “/usr/share/fonts/xtest”
FontPath “/opt/kde3/share/fonts”
InputDevices “/dev/gpmdata”
InputDevices “/dev/input/mice”
EndSection

Section “ServerFlags”
Option “AllowMouseOpenFail” “on”
Option “ZapWarning” “on”
EndSection

Section “Module”
Load “dbe”
Load “type1”
Load “freetype”
Load “extmod”
Load “glx”
EndSection

Section “InputDevice”
Driver “kbd”
Identifier “Keyboard[0]”
Option “Protocol” “Standard”
Option “XkbLayout” “us”
Option “XkbModel” “microsoftpro”
Option “XkbRules” “xfree86”
EndSection

Section “InputDevice”
Driver “mouse”
Identifier “Mouse[1]”
Option “Buttons” “5”
Option “Device” “/dev/input/mice”
Option “Name” “ImPS/2 Generic Wheel Mouse”
Option “Protocol” “explorerps/2”
Option “Vendor” “Sysp”
Option “ZAxisMapping” “4 5”
EndSection

Section “Monitor”
Option “CalcAlgorithm” “XServerPool”
DisplaySize 410 230
HorizSync 30-81
Identifier “Monitor[0]”
ModelName “SYNCMASTER 931C (ANALOG)”
Option “DPMS”
Option “PreferredMode” “2800x2100”
VendorName “SAMSUNG”
VertRefresh 56-75
UseModes “Modes[0]”
EndSection

Section “Modes”
Identifier “Modes[0]”
Modeline “1360x768” 85 1360 1424 1536 1792 768 771 777 795 +hsync +vsync
EndSection

Section “Screen”
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection “Display”
Depth 15
Modes “2800x2100” “2560x2048” “2560x1600” “2048x1536” “1920x1440” “1920x1200” “1900x1200” “1920x1080” “1600x1200” “1680x1050” “1600x1024” “1600x1000” “1400x1050” “1280x1024” “1440x900” “1280x960” “1366x768” “1280x800” “1152x864” “1280x768” “1280x720” “1024x768” “1280x600” “1024x600” “800x600” “768x576” “640x480”
EndSubSection
SubSection “Display”
Depth 16
Modes “2800x2100” “2560x2048” “2560x1600” “2048x1536” “1920x1440” “1920x1200” “1900x1200” “1920x1080” “1600x1200” “1680x1050” “1600x1024” “1600x1000” “1400x1050” “1280x1024” “1440x900” “1280x960” “1366x768” “1280x800” “1152x864” “1280x768” “1280x720” “1024x768” “1280x600” “1024x600” “800x600” “768x576” “640x480”
EndSubSection
SubSection “Display”
Depth 24
Modes “2800x2100” “2560x2048” “2560x1600” “2048x1536” “1920x1440” “1920x1200” “1900x1200” “1920x1080” “1600x1200” “1680x1050” “1600x1024” “1600x1000” “1400x1050” “1280x1024” “1440x900” “1280x960” “1366x768” “1280x800” “1152x864” “1280x768” “1280x720” “1024x768” “1280x600” “1024x600” “800x600” “768x576” “640x480”
EndSubSection
SubSection “Display”
Depth 8
Modes “2800x2100” “2560x2048” “2560x1600” “2048x1536” “1920x1440” “1920x1200” “1900x1200” “1920x1080” “1600x1200” “1680x1050” “1600x1024” “1600x1000” “1400x1050” “1280x1024” “1440x900” “1280x960” “1366x768” “1280x800” “1152x864” “1280x768” “1280x720” “1024x768” “1280x600” “1024x600” “800x600” “768x576” “640x480”
EndSubSection
Device “Device[0]”
Identifier “Screen[0]”
Monitor “Monitor[0]”
EndSection

Section “Device”
BoardName “GeForce 6100 nForce 430”
BusID “0:13:0”
Driver “nv”
Identifier “Device[0]”
Screen 0
VendorName “NVidia”
EndSection

Section “ServerLayout”
Identifier “Layout[all]”
InputDevice “Keyboard[0]” “CoreKeyboard”
InputDevice “Mouse[1]” “CorePointer”
Option “Clone” “off”
Option “Xinerama” “off”
Screen “Screen[0]”
EndSection

Section “DRI”
Group “video”
Mode 0660
EndSection

Section “Extensions”
Option “Composite” “off”
EndSection

SaX2 doesn’t list my Samsung 933SN Monitor. So I tried –>LCD. but it’s the same problem. SaX2 will only test at 1024x768 or lower. Anything higher defaults to 1024x768.

No. I was afraid to logout at that point.

11

I have X running.

I tried that command it threw a wobbly. Something like it needed X Server running, it initialised that, then did something (too fast to see), cleared the screen, and then mumbled something about boot logging running, then nothing, so I rebooted.

I’m currently back at –> LCD 1024x768.

I’m using a GeForce6 6150SE nForce 430 Chipset. What is the max resolution of that chipset?

12

Maximum supported resolution is 1920 x 1440 pixels (@75 Hz) for RGB display and 1600 x 1200 pixels (@65 Hz) for DVI-D display

13

Ok. So does the Chipset need to be configured? And how to do it?

14

I still have the same problem guys? I’ve tried to answer everyone’s questions. Still no response?

15

I note your xorg.conf seems to have a few inconsistencies with respect to the monitor, mode and screen sections:

Section “Monitor”
Option “CalcAlgorithm” “XServerPool”
DisplaySize 410 230
HorizSync 30-81
Identifier “Monitor[0]”
ModelName “SYNCMASTER 931C (ANALOG)”
Option “DPMS”
Option “PreferredMode” “2800x2100”
VendorName “SAMSUNG”
VertRefresh 56-75
UseModes “Modes[0]”
EndSection

Section “Modes”
Identifier “Modes[0]”
Modeline “1360x768” 85 1360 1424 1536 1792 768 771 777 795 +hsync +vsync
EndSection

Section “Screen”
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection “Display”
Depth 15
Modes “2800x2100” “2560x2048” “2560x1600” “2048x1536” “1920x1440” “1920x1200” “1900x1200” “1920x1080” “1600x1200” “1680x1050” “1600x1024” “1600x1000” “1400x1050” “1280x1024” “1440x900” “1280x960” “1366x768” “1280x800” “1152x864” “1280x768” “1280x720” “1024x768” “1280x600” “1024x600” “800x600” “768x576” “640x480”
EndSubSection

Assuming from the monitor section, that you actually have a Samsung Syncmaster 931 monitor (19", 1280x1024 @75Hz native resolution) as reviewed here.

If so, you need to remove all the non-applicable modes from screen section. The preferred mode and modeline entries are incorrect. Your existing xorg.conf file monitor and screen section should look more like:

Section “Monitor”
Option “CalcAlgorithm” “XServerPool”
DisplaySize 410 230
HorizSync 30-81
Identifier “Monitor[0]”
ModelName “SYNCMASTER 931C (ANALOG)”
Option “DPMS”
Option “PreferredMode” “1280x1024”
VendorName “SAMSUNG”
VertRefresh 56-75
UseModes “Modes[0]”
EndSection

Section “Modes”
Identifier “Modes[0]”
EndSection

Section “Screen”
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection “Display”
Depth 24
Modes “1280x1024” “800x600” “768x576” “640x480”
EndSubSection

16

I think I got past this point. I have a Samsung SyncMaster 933SN monitor. My xorg.conf currently looks like this…

Section “Monitor”
Option “CalcAlgorithm” “XServerPool”
DisplaySize 410 230
HorizSync 31-61
Identifier “Monitor[0]”
ModelName “1024X768@75HZ”
Option “PreferredMode” “1024x768”
VendorName “–> LCD”
VertRefresh 50-76
UseModes “Modes[0]”
EndSection

Section “Modes”
Identifier “Modes[0]”
Modeline “1360x768” 85.00 1360 1424 1536 1792 768 771 777 795 +HSync +VSync
Modeline “1024x768” 78.80 1024 1040 1136 1312 768 769 772 800
EndSection

Section “Screen”
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection “Display”
Depth 15
Modes “1024x768” “1024x600” “800x600” “768x576” “640x480”
EndSubSection
SubSection “Display”
Depth 16
Modes “1024x768” “1024x600” “800x600” “768x576” “640x480”
EndSubSection
SubSection “Display”
Depth 24
Modes “1024x768” “1024x600” “800x600” “768x576” “640x480”
EndSubSection
SubSection “Display”
Depth 8
Modes “1024x768” “1024x600” “800x600” “768x576” “640x480”
EndSubSection
Device “Device[0]”
Identifier “Screen[0]”
Monitor “Monitor[0]”
EndSection

Section “Device”
BoardName “GeForce 6100 nForce 430”
BusID “0:13:0”
Driver “nv”
Identifier “Device[0]”
Screen 0
VendorName “NVidia”
EndSection

17

You wouldn’t have all the resolutions supported by any chance? RGB Display only. Or know where I can get them?

18

I have a Samsung SyncMaster 933SN monitor

Ok, well your chosen monitor (as per xorg.conf) was not correct then. The relevant specs for your monitor:

Maximum resolution: 1360 x 768
Maximum refresh rate: 75Hz

You still need to tidy up your xorg.conf manually. In particular the horizontal sync rate may need to be increased a little, preferred mode changed (to native resolution). I’ve included a modeline for 1360x768@75Hz and adjusted screen section to include the desired mode:

Section “Monitor”
Option “CalcAlgorithm” “XServerPool”
DisplaySize 410 230
HorizSync 31-70
Identifier “Monitor[0]”
Option “PreferredMode” “1360x768”
VendorName “–> LCD”
VertRefresh 50-76
UseModes “Modes[0]”
EndSection

Section “Modes”
Identifier “Modes[0]”
Modeline “1360x768” 108.75 1360 1440 1584 1808 768 769 772 802 -HSync +Vsync
EndSection

Section “Screen”
DefaultDepth 24
SubSection “Display”
Depth 24
Modes “1360x768”
EndSubSection
Device “Device[0]”
Identifier “Screen[0]”
Monitor “Monitor[0]”
EndSection

Sometimes, Xorg has problems with EDID not being reported correctly, leading to incorrect modes (and overiding manual values). If this is a problem for you then you can disable with one or more of the following (include in your device section):

Option “UseEDIDFreqs” “FALSE”
Option “UseEDIDDpi” “FALSE”
Option “ModeValidation” “NoEdidModes”

19

Ok. This is what I did.

I cut 'n pasted your xorg.conf into mine and rebooted. Everything came up scrunched up enough that it was difficult to read. I then posted the three Devices lines and rebooted. same problem.

I then added the Modeline “1024x768” from my old xorg.conf and changed the “PreferredMode” and Modes to 1024x768, and took out the Devices Options, and rebooted. This put me back to where I was.

Now for an observation. At 1024x768 the Desktop Icons are mildly elipical horizontally. At 1360x768 The Desktop Icons are moderately eliptical vertically. So. What I think I need is a Modeline between 1024x768 and 1360x768. Or preferably all the common Modelines between these 2, so I can try which one works best.

20

If you want a sharp image with LCD/TFT monitors, you need to use the native resolution. Using a lower resolution usually results in a fuzzy image (due to aliasing).

I’m also surprised that 1368x768 resulted in vertically stretched icons on your desktop. Ideally, as long as the DPI (dots per inch) values are correct (normally 98 x 98 for LCD) you should get the correct aspect ratio. The display sizes in your xorg.conf and the 1360x768 resolution equate to 84x84 DPI (that may be ok, I don’t know).

However, if you’d like to try an intermediate resolution, you can generate the modeline with gtf. For example, 1280x768 @ 60Hz:

dean@linux:~> gtf 1280 768 60

1280x768 @ 60.00 Hz (GTF) hsync: 47.70 kHz; pclk: 80.14 MHz

Modeline “1280x768_60.00” 80.14 1280 1344 1480 1680 768 769 772 795 -HSync +Vsync

Make sure you add the resolution mode to your screen section as described before. If you have more than one, the first is used as default. I think you now have a good understanding about doing this.

Other useful commands:

xrandr -q (reports display modes based on EDID)
xdpyinfo |grep dimension (display dimension)
xdpyinfo |grep resolution (will give you DPI values)