LinuxMCE Forums

General => Installation issues => Topic started by: NJumlin on December 13, 2008, 07:45:45 pm

Title: ASUS M3N78-EM
Post by: NJumlin on December 13, 2008, 07:45:45 pm
I have bought a new computer for the purposes of using LinuxMCE. So dont tell me to switch over to Windows MCE bleh. :)

MB: Asus M3N78-EM AM2 GF8300 MATX

I started out by using the AMD64 rc2 DVD for installation. The screen went black after hitting "Start installation" - Lost video signal.
So I read some about geforce 8300 (http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/GeForce_8300) not being able to start installation cause the screen goes black. But they had success in installing with i386 rc2 DVD.
So I started to download the DVD i386 rc2. Installation did start this time.
New problems:
BIOS default settings SATA Mode select: SATA mode <- These settings doesn't work cause the installer couldn't find any hard drive.

Installation said:
Error: No hard drive found (Found this (http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/Asus_M3N78-EM))

So I thought I go look in bios and change some settings. I changed from SATA mode to AHCI mode. This DID work. I managed to select hard drive for installing to and the hard drive started to format. The installation went on and started to "Copy DVD to Hard drive." After a while the screen went black (It didn't lost video signal) with a writing cursor blinking. After 10-15 minutes I forced the computer to reboot by pressing CTRL+ALT+DEL.

Grub couldn't load my installation.
Error 18

So I went back to BIOS to change from AHCI Mode to SATA Mode. Grub managed to boot from these settings. However the screen lost video signal when everything was booted and stuff. I'm lost now... Any advice greatly appreciated.

Best Regards,
Niklas Jumlin
Sweden
Title: Re: ASUS M3N78-EM
Post by: NJumlin on December 14, 2008, 08:13:59 pm
Update: The screen doesn't loose video signal, instead it just goes black and hangs up. I'm unable to do anything... it doesn't respond to num lock, scroll lock, caps lock or ctrl+alt+del. Does anyone have a suggestion for me? I'm desperate.

Niklas Jumlni
Title: Re: ASUS M3N78-EM
Post by: skatingn330 on December 14, 2008, 10:08:14 pm
I'd try the 2 cd install, just to see if u can get kubuntu going first. I can't even run kubuntu 7.10 on my htpc because the core isn't supported, I got a no prossor scaling error every try. It runs 8.10 though.
Title: Re: ASUS M3N78-EM
Post by: NJumlin on December 15, 2008, 09:22:31 am
I'm sorry, the 2 CD installation? Do you mean downloading Kubuntu 8.10 and then download LinuxMCE 8.10?

Edit: I found the 2 CD installation you were refering to. This includes downloading 3 CDs. If you count with Kunbuntu 7.10 CD.

Anyways, does 8.10 run fine? Is it usable as a media center?
Title: Re: ASUS M3N78-EM
Post by: nite_man on December 15, 2008, 10:24:20 am
I have the same MB. I tried AMD64 but without luck. The situation is similar to yours. Using i386 solved that. Another problem with that MD was with SATA HDD. Installator didn't recognize it. Changing HDD mode (AH-something) sovled that it.

Finally I came to the point when AVWizard should start. But it didn't. So, tonight will install the latest nVidia drivers. Hope it'll be enough.
Title: Re: ASUS M3N78-EM
Post by: skatingn330 on December 15, 2008, 06:38:28 pm
I already deleted my 0810, i played a 1080p movie great with overlay, but it didn t recanize my usbuirt and all kinds of other problems. I'm just gona wait until the offical release.
Title: Re: ASUS M3N78-EM
Post by: Zaerc on December 15, 2008, 06:44:38 pm
I already deleted my 0810, i played a 1080p movie great with overlay, but it didn t recanize my usbuirt and all kinds of other problems. I'm just gona wait until the offical release.
Yeah, thanks for all your "help".
Title: Re: ASUS M3N78-EM
Post by: NJumlin on December 15, 2008, 06:48:11 pm
I managed to get Kubuntu 7.10 running. I downloaded the desktop version of kubuntu 7.10 i386. Edited xorg.conf and changed driver "nv" to driver "vesa" to get the monitor working. Then I wrote startx to get X up and running. From there I simply clicked the Install-icon on the desktop. Installation went flawless.
However, when I inserted the first CD for LinuxMCE 0710 rc2 i386 I couldn't complete the installation cause the NIC wasn't installed. So this is where I am stuck at the moment.

I'm gonna try the steps explained on the link below, these are instructions for M3A78-EM and not for M3N78-EM to get the NIC working.
http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/Realtek_8168#Asus_M3A78-EM (http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/Realtek_8168#Asus_M3A78-EM)

Can someone confirm they are the same chipset? - i.e Realtek 8168?! I'm unsure how I can find that out.
Title: Re: ASUS M3N78-EM
Post by: nite_man on December 16, 2008, 08:32:21 am
I installed LMCE 0710 from i386 DVD on the core/hybrid with that motherboard. Have a look here (http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/ASUS_M3N78-EM#Results). There you can find a few tips which might help you with installation.
Title: Re: ASUS M3N78-EM
Post by: NJumlin on December 16, 2008, 10:18:18 am
Thank you very much for keeping me update on your progress. I'm gonna try those steps instead of using the CD version installation. Did you get the integrated NIC to work as well?
Title: Re: ASUS M3N78-EM
Post by: nite_man on December 16, 2008, 10:22:19 am
Thank you very much for keeping me update on your progress. I'm gonna try those steps instead of using the CD version installation. Did you get the integrated NIC to work as well?
I don't have internet connection at that moment in my flat. So, I didn't finish installation yet (I mean configuration part). Because during configuration some packages, like VDR, LIRC etc are downloaded from the repo as I understand. But I'll check if integrated NIC is up tonight when I'll be at home.
Title: Re: ASUS M3N78-EM
Post by: totallymaxed on December 16, 2008, 12:23:56 pm
Thank you very much for keeping me update on your progress. I'm gonna try those steps instead of using the CD version installation. Did you get the integrated NIC to work as well?
I don't have internet connection at that moment in my flat. So, I didn't finish installation yet (I mean configuration part). Because during configuration some packages, like VDR, LIRC etc are downloaded from the repo as I understand. But I'll check if integrated NIC is up tonight when I'll be at home.

If your installing from DVD everything is retrieved from the Cache... tere is no need for an internet connection at all for the basic install.

All the best

Andrew
Title: Re: ASUS M3N78-EM
Post by: nite_man on December 16, 2008, 01:16:26 pm
Thanks, Andrew, for clarification. Will finish installation tonight :)
Title: Re: ASUS M3N78-EM
Post by: NJumlin on December 16, 2008, 05:57:50 pm
Some updates on this case. I didn't manage to get the NIC working. So I couldn't go on with the LMCE installation. I found out the chipset was RTL8211CL. And there were no drivers to be found anywhere where I searched. Someone might have better luck with this though.

I figured I'd give 8.10 intrepid a try. Started of with CD version of Kubuntu 8.10. GFX & NIC worked out of the box. Sound didn't work until I updated the system. (205 updates)

FYI, I'm writing from the kubuntu-desktop now... waiting for mce-install.sh to complete.

Off-topic: The TV-card I have for the box is a hybrid analog/digital dvb-t card, Terratec Cinergy HT PCI which isn't found to be working either.

Let me know how you get along with your installation Nite_Man and good luck!
Title: Re: ASUS M3N78-EM
Post by: nite_man on December 17, 2008, 09:24:13 am
Yes, the NIC is not recognized by system and there is no Linux driver on the ASUS site. Will see what can be done to fix that.
Title: Re: ASUS M3N78-EM
Post by: seth on December 17, 2008, 02:47:17 pm
 :)
nite_man,

Try the driver I have posted in this wiki entry:

http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/R8168#Asus_M3A78-EM (http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/R8168#Asus_M3A78-EM)

It may fix you right up. It was downloaded from Asus' web site, and I built it for i386 7.10rc2.

Maybe it will get you going.

Best Regards,

Seth
Title: Re: ASUS M3N78-EM
Post by: nite_man on December 17, 2008, 03:50:21 pm
Thanks, Seth, for your suggestion :) Not sure that it'll work but at least I'll try. The M3A78-EM mobo has Realtek 8168 NIC but M3N78-EM - 8211.
Title: Re: ASUS M3N78-EM
Post by: nite_man on December 18, 2008, 09:14:13 am
As I expected the driver for Realtek 8168 didn't help to recognize NIC (the the kernel module r8169 was already there). I can confirm that under Kubuntu 8.10 the integrated NIC Realtek 8211 works from the box. I couldn't find the driver for the 7.10
Title: Re: ASUS M3N78-EM
Post by: NJumlin on December 18, 2008, 09:45:15 am
I had zero success in getting the drivers to work with Kubuntu 7.10. There isn't any drivers available from asus website for the MB M3N78-EM. There isn't any drivers whatsoever available for the chipset RTL8211 for what I could find. Some forums for ubuntu and debian states that the driver to use should be forcedeth - but that didn't work for me. Isn't forcedeth mainly used for nforce chipsets?

I figured, as I dont have a lighting system, security system, external receiver and/or dvd/vhs-player I might as well go with Kubuntu 8.10 and run XBMC or something alike. Feel free to advice.

Cheers,
Niklas
Title: Re: ASUS M3N78-EM
Post by: nite_man on December 18, 2008, 09:59:12 am
As I know XBMC and Boxee are not ready for 8.10 yet :) I'm going to install 0810-alpha1 when my Internet connection will be done. Think this is the best way to make integrated NIC working.
Title: Re: ASUS M3N78-EM
Post by: NJumlin on December 18, 2008, 05:28:33 pm
Isn't 8.10:s codename Intrepid? if so, then it is supported by XBMC.

deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/team-xbmc-intrepid/ubuntu intrepid main
deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/team-xbmc-intrepid/ubuntu intrepid main

Cheers,
Niklas
Title: Re: ASUS M3N78-EM
Post by: tschak909 on December 18, 2008, 05:54:46 pm
who cares? this isn't an XBMC forum.

-Thom
Title: Re: ASUS M3N78-EM
Post by: nite_man on December 19, 2008, 08:26:29 am
Checked again yesterday NIC under 0710 and 8.10. Under 8.10 it's used driver forcedeth (I saw it in the lspci output). But in the 0710 the forcedeth wasn't even loaded. I loaded it manually but nothing happened. NIC was still unrecognized. As I understand the only one way to have that NIC working under 0710 is upgrade the kernel.
Title: Re: ASUS M3N78-EM
Post by: NJumlin on December 19, 2008, 05:45:33 pm
Yeah it seems like the forcedeth driver in 0710 isn't as updated as in 0810. I'm currently running windows vista with xbmc :( I'm gonna wait for 0810 to come out stable.. Can't wait!
Title: Re: ASUS M3N78-EM
Post by: Marper on December 23, 2008, 12:53:08 am
nite_man

How did you get LinuxMCE with this MOBO.  I've done everything you've listed however still not able to get past busy box message.

Same board =

1 SATA HDD 320gb
1 SATA Optical
4 gb MB Memory
2 PCI 1gv NICs

Disabled on-board video, NIC, sound and just about everything.

Hope you can provide some more help.

Thank
Title: RESOLVED: Re: ASUS M3N78-EM
Post by: Marper on December 23, 2008, 02:16:46 am
Thanks to all you folk for your posts and guidance.  The very last steps I took got the system up and running.  I must have had a bad AMD64 disk as it would not install, however, I did get the same errors with 0710 i386.  When I hit F6 and input the commands listed, BABOOM - it installed and is running.

Now I can really play

Thanks
Title: Re: ASUS M3N78-EM
Post by: nite_man on December 23, 2008, 08:39:23 am
Marper, I use integrated graphic, SATA HDD in AHCI mode and IDE optical drive. First of all I changed the SATA HDD mode. Then I used i386 0710 DVD. After installation is passed I boot in rescue mode and installed the latest nVidia drivers. After that the AVWizard run successfully even in UI2 with resolution 1080p.

Currently there are two problems which I didn't solve yet. The first one is the integrated NIC. It works from the box under 8.10 but is not recognized by system under 7.10. Possible solution is upgrade kernel.

The second problem is digital audio. Currently in aplay -L output I can see the analog only. The possible solution is again upgrade kernel and ALSA. Moreover, I'd like to pass audio via HDMI. The people talk that it's possible with the latest nVidia drivers and the latest version of ALSA. Will try it as well.
Title: Re: ASUS M3N78-EM
Post by: nite_man on January 05, 2009, 10:13:24 am
After upgrading kernel to 2.6.26.5 the integrated NIC is working fine (don't forget to activate Realtek PSY option in the kernel configuration). Also after upgrade ALSA to 1.0.18 HDMI card appears in the aplay -L output. But AVwizard doesn't play sound with any options via HDMI. Need more time to dig it.
Title: Re: ASUS M3N78-EM
Post by: Marper on January 07, 2009, 05:48:10 am
Great job niteman - I've finally got this running as a core and I really like the mobo.  Thinking of getting one for my MD - looking forward to your HDMI experiment.  Please keep us posted on your progress.
Title: Re: ASUS M3N78-EM
Post by: donnsuil on February 16, 2009, 10:42:54 pm
Great job niteman - I've finally got this running as a core and I really like the mobo.  Thinking of getting one for my MD - looking forward to your HDMI experiment.  Please keep us posted on your progress.

I'm glad you and nite have been through this already or I would be stuffed. I just bought the same motherboard, and spent the last few days trying to setup Linux MCE on it.

I get the same issues as you did, however I am not at all fluent with the Linux command line navigation. How the heck did you update the drivers in recovery mode??!! I am assuming that this is using the 2nd option down after you press esc at the boot screen, as the bottom option comes up with "file not found".

The wiki suggests the wget command to download the drivers, however I am pretty sure that the NIC is not working, and as such, wget wont work.

I put drivers on a CD, but have failed to access the drive from within the recovery console. Could one of you please enlighten me?

Regards
Martin
Title: Re: ASUS M3N78-EM
Post by: nite_man on February 17, 2009, 08:54:09 am
You're on the right way :) Just put the driver on the memory stick, connect it to your PC, run command
Code: [Select]
dmesgand see what device it uses. It should be something like sdb1. Then create a directory:
Code: [Select]
mkdir /mnt/myusband mount your memory stick:
Code: [Select]
mount -t vfat /dev/sdb1 /mnt/myusbAfter that find the dirver in the /mnt/myusb and run it:
Code: [Select]
sh /mnt/myusb/NVIDIA-Linux-x86-180.29.pkg1.runBut note that you need some NIC. Because integrated one won't work till you upgrade the kernel. And it's difficult a bit to do without Internet connection :)
Title: Re: ASUS M3N78-EM
Post by: donnsuil on February 17, 2009, 10:33:22 pm
Thanks for the info, that works.

I have a DLink wireless USB NIC, but I suspect that wont work. NICs aren't expensive, so I'll go out and get another.

Cheers,
Martin
Title: Re: ASUS M3N78-EM
Post by: slow_learner on February 23, 2009, 08:01:43 pm
nite,
could you possible go through how you went about updating your kernel to get the nic to work? I've never done it so a little guidance would go a real long way.

thanks,

shane
Title: Re: ASUS M3N78-EM
Post by: nite_man on February 24, 2009, 09:28:06 am
nite,
could you possible go through how you went about updating your kernel to get the nic to work? I've never done it so a little guidance would go a real long way.

thanks,

shane

The simple guide exists in the wiki - http://wiki.linuxmce.com/index.php/Upgrading_the_Kernel (http://wiki.linuxmce.com/index.php/Upgrading_the_Kernel)
Title: SOLVED - ASUS M3N78-EM - upgrade kernel - Mythtv - THE ANSWER
Post by: Lexje on March 06, 2009, 11:33:26 pm
Hi,

I'm jumping in here as I'm trying to get this mobo up and running as my core/hybrid.
I'm at the point where I've got pretty much everything running except mythtv.
I'v tried to modify the /etc/init.d/mythtv-backend script according to http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/Upgrading_the_Kernel#Mythtv (http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/Upgrading_the_Kernel#Mythtv)
However I must have something wrong as I get following:
Code: [Select]
Stopping MythTV server: mythbackend No /usr/bin/mythbackend found running; none killed.
.
linuxmce@dcerouter:/var/log$ sudo /etc/init.d/[color=blue]mythtv-backend start[/color]
/etc/init.d/mythtv-backend: line 52: /proc/sys/dev/rtc/max-user-freq: No such file or directory
linuxmce@dcerouter:/var/log$

apart from that, I have:
Code: [Select]
linuxmce@dcerouter://proc/sys/dev/hpet$ ls
max-user-freq

My /etc/init.d/mythtv-backend looks like this:
Code: [Select]
#! /bin/sh
### BEGIN INIT INFO
# Provides:          mythtv-backend
# Required-Start:    $local_fs
# Required-Stop:     $local_fs
# Default-Start:     24
# Default-Stop:      S
# Short-Description: Start/Stop the MythTV server.
### END INIT INFO

PATH=/usr/local/sbin:/usr/local/bin:/sbin:/bin:/usr/sbin:/usr/bin
DAEMON=/usr/bin/mythbackend
NAME="mythbackend"
DESC="MythTV server"

test -x $DAEMON || exit 0

set -e

USER=mythtv
RUNDIR=/var/run/mythtv
ARGS="--daemon --logfile /var/log/mythtv/mythbackend.log --pidfile $RUNDIR/$NAME.pid"
EXTRA_ARGS=""
NICE=0

if [ -f /etc/default/mythtv-backend ]; then
  . /etc/default/mythtv-backend
fi

ARGS="$ARGS $EXTRA_ARGS"

mkdir -p $RUNDIR
chown -R $USER $RUNDIR

unset DISPLAY
unset SESSION_MANAGER

# this is needed for LMCE, esp on MD's
adduser --quiet mythtv public || :

case "$1" in
  start)
if test -e $RUNDIR/$NAME.pid ; then
echo "mythbackend already running, use restart instead."
else
        # set the timeslice to 1/1024 of a sec for smoother mythtv and xine and mplayer playback
           if [ -w /proc/sys/dev/rtc/max-user-freq ] # check if RTC (older kernels) exists and I can write to it
               # failure is not an option!
           then echo 1024 > /proc/sys/dev/rtc/max-user-freq
elif [ -w /proc/sys/dev/hpet/max-user-freq ] # or newer kernels with the High Precision Timer (HPET)
           # may or may not emulate the older RTC fully
then echo 1024 > /proc/sys/dev/rtc/max-user-freq
   fi # start starting the startup of mythtv
echo -n "Starting $DESC: $NAME " start-stop-daemon --start --pidfile $RUNDIR/$NAME.pid \
--chuid $USER --nicelevel $NICE --exec $DAEMON -- $ARGS
echo "."
fi
;;
  stop)
echo -n "Stopping $DESC: $NAME "
start-stop-daemon --stop --oknodo --pidfile $RUNDIR/$NAME.pid \
--chuid $USER --exec $DAEMON -- $ARGS
test -e $RUNDIR/$NAME.pid && rm $RUNDIR/$NAME.pid
echo "."
;;
  restart|force-reload)
echo -n "Restarting $DESC: $NAME "
start-stop-daemon --stop --oknodo --pidfile $RUNDIR/$NAME.pid \
                --chuid $USER --exec $DAEMON -- $ARGS
echo "."
sleep 3
echo 1024 > /proc/sys/dev/rtc/max-user-freq
start-stop-daemon --start --pidfile $RUNDIR/$NAME.pid \
                --chuid $USER --nicelevel $NICE --exec $DAEMON -- $ARGS
echo "."
;;
  *)
N=/etc/init.d/$NAME
echo "Usage: $N {start|stop|restart|force-reload}" >&2
exit 1
;;
esac

exit 0

Can anybody point me in the right direction?

Thanks for your suggestions!

Erwin

Answer found here: http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=6867532#post6867532 (http://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?p=6867532#post6867532)
Code: [Select]
Looks like you set your pvr-150 card up as a software encoder instead of a hardware encoder. Fix this in mythtv-setup and you should be golden.
Thanks for your advice,
Just to know for the future: How exactly do you distinguish this card is setup as a software encoder?

Code: [Select]
2009-03-09 22:34:35.490 NVR(/dev/video0): Unknown video codec.  Please go into the TV Settings, Recording Profiles and [color=red[u]]setup the four 'Software Encoders' profiles.[/u][/color]  Assuming RTjpeg for now.
2009-03-09 22:34:35.491 NVR(/dev/video0) Error: Unknown audio codec
That pointed to being the card setup incorrectly. Also, with a pvr-150, you should have .mpg's, not .nuv's
Title: Re: ASUS M3N78-EM
Post by: Craptastic on March 14, 2009, 04:16:54 am
Anyone who has the video working with latest driver 180.29?

I upgraded based on that version and can't get past the screen cycling.

If not 180.29 what version of driver are you running?

Thx
Title: Re: ASUS M3N78-EM
Post by: Lexje on March 14, 2009, 10:13:54 am
Craptastic, yes I have 180.29 running, and so have quite some others here on the forum.
After booting when your screen is like 'pumping' to get X running
- go to another terminal window by pressing Alt-F2 or Alt-F3
- issue
Code: [Select]
sudo killall gdm (this will stop X from trying to continuously restart)
- proceed with the install of 180.29

Mind you have to remove some nvidia related stuff before 180.29 will properly install or else you may find yourself with thinking 180.29 is installed, but Kubuntu loading the 'stock' nvidia module....

Success!
Title: Re: ASUS M3N78-EM
Post by: Craptastic on March 15, 2009, 04:44:13 am
Thank you Lexje

Tried doing the sudo killall gdm and it came back reporting nothing to kill.

Rebooted and ran the install again for 180.29 the same way I have a number of times previously and everything works. Strange....

Anyway, thanks for confirming 180.29 was working, I was starting to blame the software.

Craptastic
Title: Re: ASUS M3N78-EM
Post by: rocketlynx on April 18, 2009, 07:42:07 pm
I need Help!

I am trying to set up the ASUS M3N78-EM as a diskless MD.  I have created it manually and doubled checked that the IP and MAC are correct.  I have done the r8169.ko hack and installed the driver r8168.ko where it needs to be.  I have modified the initramfs-tools/modules file to include r8168.  I also have regenerated the correct MD (#111).  Insured that the r8169.ko does not have the r8168 info in it.  I still get this as the last few lines when it attempts to boot:

***********************************************
[   11.196000] NET: Registered protocol family 17
ipconfig: eth0: SIOCGIFINDEX: No such device
ipconfig: no devices to configure
/init: .: 1: Can't open /tmp/net-eth0.conf
[   11.204000] Kernel panic - not syncing: Attempted to kill init!

************************************************

I'm clueless at this point because I've read all of the wiki and forum information on the r8168/r8169 overlap problems and understand a number of people have successfully set this MB up as a diskless MD.  I understand that this has been done without upgrading the entire kernel.  If anyone can give me a clue I would greatly appreciate it.  Also, could I have the bios possibly set wrong?  I assume it's ok because it begins to boot from the core and then dies at the same exact point every time. 

Thanks in advance,
RocketLynx (Charles)

Title: Re: ASUS M3N78-EM
Post by: Zaerc on April 19, 2009, 02:34:16 pm
Well I'm missing the part where you regenerate the (default) initramfs from your story, merely modifying initramfs-tools/modules is not enough.
Title: Re: ASUS M3N78-EM
Post by: rocketlynx on April 19, 2009, 08:59:22 pm
Thanks for the reply.  First, I'm only going to use the Fusion V2 and M3N78-EM for a diskless Media Director.  I'm done for now with the r8168/r8169 problem, I installed a Linksys ethernet board and I am up running except I've got the famous X-Server problem.  I know it's the nvidia driver problem.  I'm going to get that working and then go back to the r8168 and remove the extra pci network board later.

I know it's a 8300 video chip and am looking into the forum and wikis for help.  I've read about the strip header and install scrip for all MDs but am stumped because it seems to want to effect the core not the MD I'm updating.  Am I missing something?  I'm slowed because this is Linux and as I've stated in my original post I've been Windowing for too many years so this is also a learning curve for me.  I know this seems to be annoying to some helping others because I've read many of the replies and it comes easier to those who are fluent in Linux.  Like I said I've already had a Core/Hybrid working with another Media Director OK.  I also have several Oribiters including a Blackberry Curve (thanks to sambuca) and I know I can get this new MB working with a little guidance.  I guess I've just chose a though board for my second one but the price was great at FRYs last week.  It was $109.99 for the M3N78-EM combo including an AMD 7750 CPU.  I couldn't pass it up.  I also bought the Antec Fusion V2 with VFD and ir for $129.99.

I'm trying to find the proper way to get the nvidia driver set up on the diskless MD and don't want to screw up my working core and existing MD.  One post says to create the stripheader.sh file and then, if I understand it correctly, do each of the next set of commands one at a time with one of them invoking the stripheader.sh script on the newly downloaded nvidia driver before it's applied to the MD's area.  Is that correct and the best way?

Thanks
Title: Re: ASUS M3N78-EM
Post by: rocketlynx on April 19, 2009, 10:44:10 pm
Ok after invoking Konsole as root on the core, I created stripheader.sh with the contents from here: (http://wiki.linuxmce.com/index.php/Upgrading_the_Kernel). 
Then I did this:
wget http://us.download.nvidia.com/XFree86/Linux-x86_64/177.80/NVIDIA-Linux-x86-177.80-pkg1.run
And it seemed to execute  successfully.
I then did this:
sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86-177.80-pkg1.run --keep --add-this-kernel
And got this directory:
NVIDIA-Linux-x86-177.80-pkg1
Now the next line:
stripheader.sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86-177.80-pkg1/usr/src/nv/precompiled/precompiled-nv-linux.o* NVIDIA-Linux-x86-177.80-pkg1/usr/src/nv/nv-linux.o
Gives me this:
bash: stripheader.sh: command not found
root@dcerouter:~/NVIDIA-Linux-x86-177.80-pkg1#

It can find stripheader.sh because it's in the same directory as the Nvidia files.  It seems to be unhappy with a line or command in the stripheader.sh script.

What am I doing wrong?
Title: Re: ASUS M3N78-EM On-board Video Problem
Post by: rocketlynx on April 24, 2009, 11:26:42 pm
Do I have to upgrade the kernel to get this on-board Nvidia 8300 working for a Diskless Media Director.  I'm running 710RC2, 2.6.22-14-generic. Can anyone set me straight on this?
Thanks
Title: Re: ASUS M3N78-EM
Post by: colinjones on April 24, 2009, 11:33:41 pm
No, you just upgrade your video driver - see the wiki article Display Drivers.
Title: Re: ASUS M3N78-EM
Post by: rocketlynx on April 25, 2009, 12:08:08 am
Colin, I've gone to the "Display Drivers" wiki which directed me to the "Upgrading the Kernel" wiki for the diskless Media Directors section.  I've created the stripheader.sh file from the contents on the wiki and did the following:
wget http://us.download.nvidia.com/XFree86/Linux-x86_64/173.14.12/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-173.14.12-pkg2.run

the next line failed:
sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-173.14.12-pkg2.run --keep --add-this-kernel
with this message:

ERROR: this .run file is intended for the
Linux-x86_64 platform, but you appear to be
running on Linux-x86.  Aborting installation.

root@dcerouter:/#
What I'm confused about is a couple of things.  I guess I need a different nvidia package from nvidia.com because I'm running i386.  If I do, do you know which on works with LinuxMCE 710?  When I did this previously, and went to run the next line which invoked stripheader.sh file, it ended with a command not found.

This is how I got off on a different tangent.

Please suggest something, I'm a Linux newbe!

Charles
Title: Re: ASUS M3N78-EM
Post by: colinjones on April 25, 2009, 01:15:10 am
Hmm, I've never seen that link and have no idea why that is thought necessary. Plus the article is none-to-specific about which libraries may need updating....

I would suggest just running the driver update normally, using the main process and see what happens.... my understanding is that it should work just fine. Yes, the info you have is for the 64 bit driver, and it really ought not be because the vast majority of people are using i386. You just need to replace the URL with the 32bit one.... go to the nVidia downloads site, choose the universal GPU driver for Linux 32 bit, and hit OK. It will then present you with a download link. You can right click that and copy it, then in the process type wget <paste> and you will get the right one.
Title: Re: ASUS M3N78-EM
Post by: rocketlynx on April 25, 2009, 04:56:30 am
Colin, at the bottom of the wiki page (http://wiki.linuxmce.org/index.php/Upgrading_the_Kernel), Upgrading the Kernel, it goes as follows:

wget http://us.download.nvidia.com/XFree86/Linux-x86_64/173.14.12/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-173.14.12-pkg2.run
sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-173.14.12-pkg2.run --keep --add-this-kernel
./stripheader.sh NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-173.14.12-pkg2/usr/src/nv/precompiled/precompiled-nv-linux.o* NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-173.14.12-pkg2/usr/src/nv/nv-linux.o
ld -d -r -o nvidia.ko NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-173.14.12-pkg2/usr/src/nv/nv-linux.o NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-173.14.12-pkg2/usr/src/nv/nv-kernel.o
for md in /usr/pluto/diskless/*; do
cp -r NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-173.14.12-pkg2/usr/* $md/usr/
cp nvidia.ko $md/lib/modules/2.6.26.5/kernel/drivers/video/
done

I'll go to the nvidia download and find a 32 bit sub.
Thanks
Title: Re: ASUS M3N78-EM
Post by: rednaxelan on June 02, 2009, 10:39:02 pm
rocketlynx / anyone did you ever get this working as a diskless MD? I just read through the entire thread hoping to find the solution to all my M3N78-EM woes but there isn't a solution that worked for me in here.

My onboard NIC is disabled and I have a PCI NIC in its place that works fine for net booting from the core.
The MD was set as an i386 MD and image rebuilt to overcome the initial boot issues.
I got to the point that the screen is cycling but AVWizard never shows, I updated the nvidia driver to the latest from their site (180.60) on the core and again rebuilt the MD image but it still just sits there with the screen cycling. I can't hit any combo of keys to escape from it and am totally stuck, would appreciate anyones suggestions.
Title: Re: ASUS M3N78-EM
Post by: Zaerc on June 03, 2009, 12:31:12 am
rocketlynx / anyone did you ever get this working as a diskless MD? I just read through the entire thread hoping to find the solution to all my M3N78-EM woes but there isn't a solution that worked for me in here.

My onboard NIC is disabled and I have a PCI NIC in its place that works fine for net booting from the core.
The MD was set as an i386 MD and image rebuilt to overcome the initial boot issues.
I got to the point that the screen is cycling but AVWizard never shows, I updated the nvidia driver to the latest from their site (180.60) on the core and again rebuilt the MD image but it still just sits there with the screen cycling. I can't hit any combo of keys to escape from it and am totally stuck, would appreciate anyones suggestions.

You probably should not have rebuilt the MD image after installing the nvidia driver.
Title: Re: ASUS M3N78-EM
Post by: rednaxelan on June 03, 2009, 12:33:44 am
Thanks for the reply, but why should I not have rebuilt the image?
Title: Re: ASUS M3N78-EM
Post by: colinjones on June 03, 2009, 12:54:29 am
Because rebuilding dumps and completely recreates the diskless image, thus blowing away 1) your new driver and 2) any changes you made to xorg.conf...

If you need to rebuild the diskless image to change architecture from AMD64 to i386, or something like that, you should do that first. Only then upgrade the drivers, modify config files, etc...
Title: Re: ASUS M3N78-EM
Post by: rednaxelan on June 03, 2009, 04:24:03 pm
 ??? I am a complete newb here so please treat me as such, I am trying my best to be a Linux convert but years of windoze use has addled my brain.

I didn't update the drivers on the MD as I have never been able to get to a prompt of any kind on the MD, instead I updated the drivers on my core, with the thought (maybe the wrong thought) that when I rebuilt the MD image it would push those drivers out to the new image. Am I completely off track?
Title: Re: ASUS M3N78-EM
Post by: qball4 on June 03, 2009, 06:27:32 pm
Rebuilding the image basically wipes the old data from /usr/pluto/diskless/XX and replaces it with a clean version from the /usr/pluto/install/Pluto-MD-i386.tar.bz2 archive. In order to have the updated drivers automatically pushed you need to rebuild the archive per the wiki. Here's a syntax-corrected version:

(Notes - Replace XXX with your kernel version. If you are using amd64 for your MD's, replace i386 with amd64.)
Code: [Select]
cd /tmp
mkdir moonfs_x86
cd moonfs_x86
tar -jxvf /usr/pluto/install/PlutoMD-i386.tar.bz2
cp /boot/vmlinuz-XXX boot
cp /boot/initrd.img-XXX boot
cp -r /lib/modules/XXX/ lib/modules/
tar -jcvpf /usr/pluto/install/PlutoMD-i386.tar.bz2 *
cd ..
rm -rf moonfs_x86

:Matt
Title: Re: ASUS M3N78-EM
Post by: rednaxelan on June 03, 2009, 08:14:42 pm
Well we are definitely getting somewhere. I followed those steps and they worked perfectly (thanks Matt). I booted the MD and finally got into and completed the AVWizard. I fully expected it then to finish up and go into lmce but no instead I get the following:

*Reloading /etc/samba/smb.conf
kdeinit:Can't connect to the X server
kdeinit: Might not terminate at the end of the session
DCOP aborting call from 'anonymous-9258' to 'kded': ERROR communication problem with kded, it probably crashed

Then it repeats the following message continuously:
lmce_launch_manager: cannot connect to X server :0

I can shift between tty1, tty2 etc with no problem but it definitely will not connect or start X. Is this possibly something to do with the PCI NIC I am using?
Title: Re: ASUS M3N78-EM
Post by: colinjones on June 03, 2009, 11:14:17 pm
Not likely to be anything to do with your NIC, as the errors are about X Windows failing to start up.

Rather than attempting to update the diskless image archive on your core. Why not just directly install the nVidia driver on the MD ... ie just update the bit you are interested in, rather than wholesale refresh all the system modules.

Delete the MD device and start again.... It will completely delete the /usr/pluto/diskless/<dev#> folder. Now boot the MD again to start the process. Once you have gotten to the "cycling" part again (make sure it is definitely complete in the setup).

From the core, type

sudo -s
(and your linuxmce password, then)
ssh moon##
(where ## is the device number of the MD just created)

This will leave you at a root prompt for the MD, now you can install the nVidia driver. If it complains about X running or trying to run whilst you are installing the driver, you can always type at the MD -

telinit 1

To kill off all the higher level processes.

Once done, reboot. If there are still issues, then you need to review your /var/log/Xorg.0.log file for errors whilst X is starting up. You can also do this through the ssh shell, or directly on your core, here /usr/pluto/diskless/##/var/log/Xorg.0.log
Title: Re: ASUS M3N78-EM
Post by: rednaxelan on June 04, 2009, 04:04:03 pm
Thanks Colin, but unfortunately it gave the same results: got through the AVWizard with no problem but started cycling the same error message over and over: I did however notice a section of the error that I had not seem before because the screen scrolled through too fast. It said:

DCOPClient :: attachinternal. Attach Failed Could not open network socket.

The rest of the errors then came after that. Any help would be appreciated.