openSUSE-11.1 beta2 experience/bugs

I installed openSUSE-11.1 beta2 on my test PC, and I’m checking it out. I want to install 11.1 on my mother’s PC in Jan-2009, so its important to me that any major bugs (or features that she uses) are working.

Hot plug automounting of an external NTFS formated USB drive with KDE-3.5.10 did not work. I did not even get a dialog box (typically with 10.3 and 11.0 on this same PC I obtained a dialog box). I raised a bug report here:
https://bugzilla.novell.com/show_bug.cgi?id=432340

I also want to check out:

  • network printing (did not work for me on 11.1 alpha5)
  • vnc
  • virtual box (did not work for me on 11.1 beta1)
  • digikam autmount of Canon camera

Hot plug mounting of my digital camera did not work on openSUSE-11.1 beta2 (kde-4.1.2). So I raised a bug report here:
https://bugzilla.novell.com/show_bug.cgi?id=432352

The camera eventually showed up on an “lsusb” and running digikam I was able to mount the camera and download the pictures. But hotplug mounting (as there was not auto dialog box) still did not work.

Hotplug mounting of this digital camera DOES work under openSUSE-11.1 beta2 with kde-3.5.10.

So this appears to be a KDE-4.1.2 problem.

I’m in the process of stuffing S/W; found that the kernel has additional parts now:

From the changelog of kernel-source:

  • Split the binary kernel packages into three parts:
  • kernel-$flavor-base: very reduced hardware support, intended
    to be used in virtual machine images
  • kernel-$flavor: extends the base package; contains all kernel
    modules we can support
  • kernel-$flavor-extra: all other kernel modules which may be
    useful, but which we cannot support.

from Re: [opensuse-factory] Has the kernel split into three packages?

I saw kernel-extra & it did not add kernel-syms although I ticked Kernel Development Patterns. I manually added all that seemed intutitive;)

There’s Vbox & Vbox-tools rpms; I’ll know later if they work – I’m adding abort 3Gb just now.

Another thing, non-oss, I need acroread;)

I could not find a factory/11.1 non-oss, so, I used the 11.0 non-oss & it’s working – got flash & real player too. Packman & vlc 11.0 next:)

Network printing (IPP) from an 11.1 beta2 PC to an openSUSE-10.3 PC (acting as an IPP “server”) worked fine.

I had forgot I got this working under openSUSE-11.1 beta1, and since I simply did a “zypper refresh; zypper dup” update from 11.1 beta1, the previous configuration was retained in my update to beta2, and openSUSE beta2 worked fine.

Hence no problem network printing. …

OK, vnc works. I’m currently typing this from my openSUSE-10.3 PC, taking over my openSUSE-11.1 beta2 PC’s KDE-3.5.10 desktop, where it is the 11.1 beta2 PC logged on to the forum.

This is over internal home LAN. It (this vnc connection) is a bit slow … I do not recall it being this slow before, but maybe I need to check with an older openSUSE version to confirm that assessment. (ie is the older version faster ? ).

But glad to see this works, as its an essential tool for me when providing remote PC support.

“Smart” is not on the Beta2 DVD or server.

For those of you that want a 2nd package manager available, add Index of /repositories/smart/openSUSE_Factory as a yast source; install the 3 rpms; just worked for me.

Then, the repos that are with Smart have to be deleted and add back “as a yast-source” Index of /factory/repo/oss, save & refresh.

Then, you will have a backup to Yast.

I like Smart; I use the View > hide non updates and very quickly it tells me the new stuff available on the server.

Lee,

I used the Vbox-ose rpm on the DVD/server and it’s working fine although I haven’t installed winxp.

However, I see no usb in the machine devices – which is part & parcel with the OSE version. I’ll delete those rpms and install the “all distribution AMD64” which I have had no problem getting all my usb devices working before (Linux_Downloads - VirtualBox) of course I have an x86-64 AMD. It’s a little more work, but worth it to me.

I tried the upgrade method (from b1 to b2) and had a truckload of issues with KDE 4.1.2; largely dependency Hades. However, the issues were entirely limited to KDE 4.1.2.

A clean install of 11.1 b2, however, really changed things for the better (not only compared to 11.1 b1, but 11.0 GM or any of the betas), starting right from the get-go with the installation! While the splash screens changed very little seemingly from 11.0’s betas, (except for 11.1 b2 actually being less tab-happy than 11.1 b1 or 11.0 GM or the betas), an important change was actually better handling of my monitor by 11.1 b2 during both phases of setup/install. I have one of the more finicky CRTs (19" Micron Electronics OEM’d from Panasonic’s Automation Systems Group) that is notorious for throwing up blank screens (even during Windows installation) because it throws out faulty EDID information. For the only time during a Linux installation (in fact, for the first time during the installation of any OS other than Windows) I went from start to finish in the minimum number of passes (two, which is the same number that Windows XP requires). The only change I needed to make was when the desktop finally settled in (my default, as is usual with openSuSE, is KDE 4.x). For once, the only change I needed to make was to the monitor (which is listed under the Panasonic brand in SaX2); Sax2 actually did get the resolution correct (only the refresh rate was wrong, but I blame Micron, not Novell or Panasonic, because the default refresh rate listed for the monitor is less than the maximum/preferred refresh rate at that resolution; the default is 60 Hz NI, as opposed to the best/maximum refresh of 75 Hz NI). Also, the 3D settings is actually detected correctly compared to 11.1 b1 (while 3D/DRI was working in 11.1 b1 as well, it could only be detected via the terminal window). If I can get OSS (which my Sound Blaster X-Fi requires, and which did work in 11.1 b1) working, then so much the better. I’m not expecting any success with my webcam (Logitech Communicate STX, which flopped badly with 11.1 b1), as 11.0 GM failed to support it, either. (I do have a TV tuner card, specifically ATI’s HDTV Wonder; but because my sound card requires OSS support, which has conflicts with ALSA, which the HDTV Wonder is supported by and uses, I refuse to wrestle with the two together at this point.)

Onward to OSS (and the next stage of testing).

That worked fine once again; usb devices are there; I may still have to edit fstab to have full functionality though we’ll see after I install winxp.

I have some dependency problems using the 11.0 Packman repo in 11.1; can’t install Mplayer, etc. It all leads back to DirectFB versions being different. Yeah, I have tried some work arounds. I guess we will have to wait until the rpm builders turn on 11.1 repo or start building all those myself on 11.1 (although one could get functionality building just xine and find out if checkinstall is working:); I may just do that when I have time).

I have not tried to build any multimedia packages for 11.1 beta2 (yet). I may not have time to do so (typically I like to custom build something simple like xmms to play audio while I test various features). I’m currently in the midst of packing (we move to a new apartment on 26-Oct), and between now and the upcoming apartment move, I have a business trip out of country to France, and another trip out of continent (to the USA). There were also some hiccups at work, requiring technical support (taking up some of my time).

But thus far, based on my early glimpse of this beta version of 11.1, and assuming “nomachine” package a version of nx for 11.1, then I am reasonably hopeful I will be able to upgrade my mother’s PC to 11.1 kde-3.5.10 in Jan-2009, and she will be “set” until 2011 before I need to upgrade her PC again.

Well, I did it & it’s working (previously I was getting the xine is depreciated output)

Go to SourceForge.net: xine - a free video player & get the latest xine

I had previously installed all the Packman libxine rpms, so, I thought all my dependencies would be met.

untar the file; cd to that new folder; read “install.txt” and see it’s a simple
./configure
make
make install

OK, I
cd /pathto/xine_folder
“./configure”
then
“make”
and make runs for a number of minutes & throws a dependency error; need libfaad something. So, I “make clean”

Now I go to Yast & sure enough there is a libfaad0; I install it.

Now, back in the xine folder
“./configure”
then
“make”
Number of warnings; no errors:)

Now wanting to produce an rpm, I do:
“checkinstall”
it fails (I had previously read that it was broken & sure enough!!!)

OK, I:
su to root
“make install”
again, no errors; xine is installed.

I try to compile Kaffeine and run into dependency errors although I previously had the Kaffeine rpm installed (blows my mind).
so, I go to Packman’s site and get the latest Kaffeine; try to install it from the CLI and find that it too has dependencies.

Go to Yast and install libxine1 and libxine1-codecs
Now, I can install the downloaded Kaffeine (from Packman)

Slip in my old beatup test DVD & it works
(Heck of a strange work-around though)
Good to get back to compiling; I was getting rusty;)

Have fun…

I downloaded the latest Nvidia beta driver NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-177.67-pkg2.run and installed it manually from runlevel 3. Working like a champ with my old 7600GT.

I think I have decided that when the LiveCDs come out tomorrow, I’m gonna make a new clean install KDE4.1 only and keep this current install oriented toward KDE3.5.10 – that way, I can play twice as much & have twice as much fun:P

This morning I installed winxp in the downloaded AMD64 (all) Vbox 2.0.2. With the addition of the Vbox tools addon, it’s super (& really full screen).

BTW, usb howto is here: 11.0, VirtualBox-1.6.2 non-OSE and USB Success - openSUSE Forums. Did that & have all my usb devices up:)

Have fun…

As an iterim, I set up xmms to play mp3 in 11.1 beta2, but I did not go as far as setting up xine.

today I did a fresh install . No problem found in installation . I manage to install my nvidia driver ,vbox , mplayer without any problem .

some strange issue I found .

  1. why is network manager not auto load ?
  2. a prompt that come out (xmessage) when I do changes in yast .
  3. unsolved bug in partition manager during the installation . the resize still not working . the solution is click the rescan . hope someone fix this . been around since alpha .

beta2 is great rotfl!rotfl!rotfl!

Those using the legacy Nvidia driver (173.14.12) on Beta2 will find that it will fail to compile on install, this is down to changed methods in the 2.6.27 kernel. To workaround this you have to extract the source (sh ./NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-173.14.12-pkg2.run -x) and apply a patch first. The patch I used is based on one I found from a Gentoo user and it works fine for me.

diff -Naur NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-173.14.12-pkg2/usr/src/nv/nv-linux.h NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-173.14.12-pkg2_patched/usr/src/nv/nv-linux.h
--- NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-173.14.12-pkg2/usr/src/nv/nv-linux.h	2008-07-18 02:42:29.000000000 +0100
+++ NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-173.14.12-pkg2_patched/usr/src/nv/nv-linux.h	2008-10-06 00:37:49.000000000 +0100
@@ -104,7 +104,10 @@
 #endif
 
 #include <linux/spinlock.h>
+#if LINUX_VERSION_CODE >= KERNEL_VERSION(2, 6, 27)
+#else
 #include <asm/semaphore.h>
+#endif
 #include <linux/completion.h>
 #include <linux/highmem.h>
 
@@ -665,13 +668,21 @@
 #if defined(preempt_disable)
     preempt_disable();
 #endif
+    #if LINUX_VERSION_CODE >= KERNEL_VERSION(2, 6, 27)
+    ret = smp_call_function(func, info, 1);
+    #else
     ret = smp_call_function(func, info, 1, 1);
+    #endif
     func(info);
 #if defined(preempt_enable)
     preempt_enable();
 #endif
 #else
+    #if LINUX_VERSION_CODE >= KERNEL_VERSION(2, 6, 27)
+    ret = on_each_cpu(func, info, 1);
+    #else
     ret = on_each_cpu(func, info, 1, 1);
+    #endif
 #endif
     return ret;
 }
diff -Naur NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-173.14.12-pkg2/usr/src/nv/nv.c NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-173.14.12-pkg2_patched/usr/src/nv/nv.c
--- NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-173.14.12-pkg2/usr/src/nv/nv.c	2008-07-18 02:42:29.000000000 +0100
+++ NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-173.14.12-pkg2_patched/usr/src/nv/nv.c	2008-10-06 00:34:26.000000000 +0100
@@ -1296,14 +1296,22 @@
             if (get_cpu() == cpu)
                 __nv_setup_pat_entries(NULL);
             else
+                #if LINUX_VERSION_CODE >= KERNEL_VERSION(2, 6, 27)
+                smp_call_function(__nv_setup_pat_entries, hcpu, 1);
+                #else
                 smp_call_function(__nv_setup_pat_entries, hcpu, 1, 1);
+                #endif
             put_cpu();
             break;
         case CPU_DOWN_PREPARE:
             if (get_cpu() == cpu)
                 __nv_restore_pat_entries(NULL);
             else
+                #if LINUX_VERSION_CODE >= KERNEL_VERSION(2, 6, 27)
+                smp_call_function(__nv_restore_pat_entries, hcpu, 1);
+                #else
                 smp_call_function(__nv_restore_pat_entries, hcpu, 1, 1);
+                #endif
             put_cpu();
             break;
     }
diff -Naur NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-173.14.12-pkg2/usr/src/nv/os-interface.c NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-173.14.12-pkg2_patched/usr/src/nv/os-interface.c
--- NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-173.14.12-pkg2/usr/src/nv/os-interface.c	2008-07-18 02:42:29.000000000 +0100
+++ NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-173.14.12-pkg2_patched/usr/src/nv/os-interface.c	2008-10-06 00:40:16.000000000 +0100
@@ -48,7 +48,11 @@
 #endif
     local_bh_disable();
     atomic_set(&os_smp_barrier, 1);
+    #if LINUX_VERSION_CODE >= KERNEL_VERSION(2, 6, 27)
+    ret = smp_call_function(ipi_handler, NULL, 0);
+    #else
     ret = smp_call_function(ipi_handler, NULL, 1, 0);
+    #endif
 #endif
     return (ret == 0) ? RM_OK : RM_ERROR;
 }
@@ -704,7 +708,9 @@
     U032 sig
 )
 {
+    #if LINUX_VERSION_CODE <= KERNEL_VERSION(2, 6, 26)
     return kill_proc(pid, sig, 1) ? RM_ERR_OPERATING_SYSTEM : RM_OK;
+    #endif
 }
 
 /*******************************************************************************/

i download NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-177.78-pkg2.run and compile without any problem. it work fine without any crash