Sgfxi Manual :: Configuration and Operation Information
Page Version: 1.0.3 Page Last Updated: January 21 2010
- Basic sgfxi script features and functions
- Script Installation
- How to use the sgfxi script options
- For live-cd binary, non-free driver install
- User set sgfxi script options
- Installing Xorg drivers for nVidia, ATI, Radeon, Intel (and more)
- Smxi Manual
Script Features
Sgfxi currently supports ATI fglrx and Nvidia drivers. It also supports converting from or to xorg free drivers like ati, intel, or nv. Smxi uses sgfxi as its graphics driver installer engine, but simply adds some option support for users.
Sgfxi supports the following distros: Debian Stable, Debian Testing, Debian Sid. Current Ubuntu is supported. Arch Linux should also now be working. Not all features or options work for every distro, and Fglrx support tends to vary distro to distro and time to time.
The default driver is the driver that is installed if no arguments are used to override it. Unless your card is too old, and requires a legacy driver, in which case the script will it determine for you.
When you run the script, it will stop, and tell you what driver it is going to install. You can accept that, or exit and redo it with an override option if you want something different.
Running sgfxi through smxi
You can also run sgfxi through smxi (which uses sgfxi to install your graphics drivers). First, read the smxi homepage for more information, then run this command:
smxi -kiwdt
Smxi is an easy way to run sgfxi, and a lot of people seem to prefer it, since it selects the most common and useful options for installing the graphics driver, without any excessive user action required beyond selecting the number of the driver you want and hitting enter.
sgfxi home page
The script home page can be found at the script forums.
Script installation
For all the possible different ways to install sgfxi, please read the complete installation options. For most people, however, the following is probably all you need to know:
Arch Linux users: please install to /usr/bin because /usr/local/bin is not in your system $PATH variable.
cd /usr/local/bin && wget -Nc smxi.org/sgfxi && chmod +x sgfxi && sgfxi
Or you can use the smxi.zip installation method if you prefer, which will give you smxi, sgfxi, and svmi, all ready to go.
How to use the sgfxi script options
Sgfxi has a lot of options, some of which only work for nVidia or AMD/ATI, or Xorg drivers. Also see the sgfxi options page for more information. The best way to get familiar with them is to simply look at the help menu.
The help menu is found by running this command:
sgfxi-h
When you use the -h option you will also see a list of all currently supported drivers, as well as a brief printout of your current system specifications, kernel, xorg version. Here are some useful sgfxi options:
-B Use latest Beta Driver for your card type. Autodetects card type/beta driver (nVidia cards only). If no beta driver is available, the current stable driver for your card type is used. -c Use composite mode (nVidia cards only). -d Remove IgnoreDisplayDevices, allow TV for example (nVidia cards only). -F Build Debian/Ubuntu debs for fglrx with FGLRX binary run package, then install them (ATI Only). Because of constant deb builder failures in Debian Sid/Testing, the direct install method is recommended and default for sgfxi. Ubuntu, on the other hand, works fine with -F, but not with sgfxi default. (No Arch support for -F) -h View this help menu. -n Automatically installs correct native xorg nv, intel, or ati driver for your system. Cleans up old binary driver stuff, updates xorg.conf with new driver information, and cleans nvidia and fgrlx stuff out of xorg.conf -N Force install of specific xorg driver. Syntax: sgfxi -N <one of the drivers from the list, like -N radeon> See sgfxi -h, the -N option, for the current list of supported Xorg drivers. Also configures xorg.conf as required. Full radeon xorg 3d configuration automatically. -o Override default: install a specific driver, this is an absolute override. Syntax: -o 173.12.15 (nVidia) or: -o 8-12 (for fglrx) -r Remove mode lines from xorg.conf -s Install distro packaged drivers. Works variably for Debian/Ubuntu. (No Arch support for -s) -z Create a new xorg.conf file to replace your old one (uses X -configure command)
Note that sgfxi will automatically run the create new xorg.conf routine if it detects that there is no xorg.conf file, which is default now on many systems that use the latest Xorg versions.
Sgfxi also has a few commands you can run to get general information, and these do not require being out of X. In other words, you can run them as regular user, in console, in X. These will simply show the requested information, and then exit the script.
-h View this help menu. -L List current live driver or status data then exit. Requires extra argument: d to show current drivers; n to show current nvidia support status; f to show current fglrx support status; v to show current latest local + remote sgfxi svn/server version information. Like this: sgfxi -L n OR sgfxi -L v -v Prints sgfxi current version information. Exits after.
User set sgfxi script options
See sticky options for more powerful methods of setting sgfxi user options permanently.
For live-cd binary, non-free video driver install
Some livecds, such as the one from sidux, support installing the non-free video driver (nVidia or AMD/ATI Fglrx) before installation. This driver install will be retained should you decide to install to hard disk, but it's also a useful way to make sure the drivers are working in the first place.
To get started, first install the script using whatever method you want, then when you have it installed, leave X like this:
ctrl+alt+f1
and run this command
sudo sgfxi
To see options, use:
sgfxi -h
X is restarted after the driver installs
Installing Xorg drivers for nVidia, ATI, Radeon, Intel (and more)
Installing Xorg drivers with sgfxi directly
You can also use sgfxi to move between free and non-free drivers or roll back to native free drivers: Key commands are:
-n Automatically installs correct native xorg nv, intel, or ati driver for your system. Cleans up old binary driver stuff, updates xorg.conf with new driver information, and cleans nvidia and fgrlx stuff out of xorg.conf -N Force install of specific xorg driver. Syntax: sgfxi -N <one of the drivers from the list, like -N radeon> Supported Xorg drivers: ati i128 i740 i810 i810-modesetting intel mga neomagic nv radeon radeonhd sis tdfx vesa vga voodoo Also configures xorg.conf as required. Full radeon xorg 3d configuration automatically.
First install the script using whatever method you want, then to install or rollback to a native driver:
sgfxi -n ## OR sgfxi -N <xorg driver> ## for example, for newer > hd2000 radeon / ati card. sgfxi -N radeonhd ## or for older ATI, R300/R400 or older: sgfxi -N radeon
Installing Xorg drivers using sgfxi through smxi
Use sgfxi via smxi. Simply start the script using the following options and it will take you straight to the graphics installer section. If you using smxi you don't need to install sgfxi, as smxi installs it automatically.
See smxi homepage for more information, then run this command:
smxi -kiwdt
The drivers for the X.Org X server (see xserver-xorg for a further description) provides support in 2d for NVIDIA Riva, TNT, GeForce, and Quadro cards and the ATI Mach, Rage, Radeon, and FireGLcards along with atimisc', 'r128' and 'radeon' sub-drivers. Also provides for the Intel free series in 3d.