[ubuntu-x] fglrx* Update [Re: Fwd: fglrx-installer/fglrx-installer-updates does not support xserver 1.13 Quantal metabug(s)?!]

Tue Nov 6 20:27:32 UTC 2012

Bryce, thank you for responding to my inquiry. Since my initial post,
much has revealed itself.

1) fglrx-installer not working with HD2000-4000 "legacy" cards in Quantal
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/fglrx-installer/+bug/1058040

The bottleneck issue does seem to be lack of support for
xserver-xorg-core 1.13 with the upstream 12.6 fglrx-legacy driver, for
HD2000-4000 series cards. Tomasz Makarewicz
https://launchpad.net/~makson96 was the one who packaged the
WORKAROUND PPA. However, it seems invasive as it downgrades 1.12.3,
and it hacks around lack of support for kernels > 3.4, as per
http://support.amd.com/us/gpudownload/linux/legacy/Pages/legacy-radeon_linux.aspx
. However, if a Quantal backport will be provided that does this, I'm
not going to complain! :)

I'll shoot Tomasz Makarewicz a Launchpad "Contact this user" message
as he does not have an e-mail address registered with Launchpad in
order to CC him on this.

2) 1002:6740 Unity does not load after installing
fglrx-installer-updates Radeon HD 6700M Series w/ 8086:0116 Intel
Integrated Card
https://bugs.launchpad.net/fglrx/+bug/1068661

Please disregard my previous, distracting speculation on how fglrx*
from the Ubuntu repositories may not work with non-HD2000-4000 series
cards in Quantal due to lack of xserver-xorg-core 1.13 support, as the
following bug reports contradict this where folks use
fglrx-installer/fglrx-installer-updates in Quantal with
non-HD2000-4000 cards:
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/fglrx-installer/+bug/968265
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/fglrx-installer-updates/+bug/1068404

As well, AMD's documentation on fglrx 12.9 noted "Ubuntu 12.10 early
look support" which presumably includes support for xserver-xorg-core
1.13 and kernels > 3.4
http://support.amd.com/us/kbarticles/Pages/AMDCatalyst129betadriver.aspx
.

3) 1002:6760 Switchable graphics on Radeon HD 6400M not working again
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/fglrx-installer-updates/+bug/1068404

Not intending to add work to your already stacked TODO list, but Nick
Andrik's (CC'ed) PPA addressed a regression for
xserver-xorg-video-intel from 2.20.2 and 2.20.3, whose commit is
http://cgit.freedesktop.org/xorg/driver/xf86-video-intel/commit/?id=05dcc5f1699ba90fc14c50882e8d4be89bc4a4f9
, that prevented fglrx* from working for the original reporter. A
potential duplicate of this is
https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/fglrx-installer-updates/+bug/1069199
.

As I am somewhat out of my triaging comfort zone with fglrx*, I do not
feel comfortable marking any bugs for these packages Triaged at this
time. However, I've done what I felt comfortable with in terms of
documentation in the reports above, other fglrx* bugs I've touched,
and in the Ubuntu community support article for fglrx* ->
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/BinaryDriverHowto/ATI .

If I can help further, please do not hesitate to ask.

Thank you for your time and consideration in this matter.

Christopher M. Penalver
E-Mail: christopher.m.penalver at gmail.com
https://launchpad.net/~penalvch

On Tue, Nov 6, 2012 at 1:55 PM, Bryce Harrington <bryce at canonical.com> wrote:
> Christopher, I've added this to our TODO list, and we'll investigate
> once we have some time.
>
>   https://wiki.ubuntu.com/X/TODO
>
> Getting new packages added to precise takes a fair bit of paperwork, but
> at least it could be added to the x-updates PPA as a start.  If you (or
> others) want to take a shot at creating the package in your own ppa,
> that'd help accelerate getting it into x-updates.
>
> On Thu, Oct 25, 2012 at 07:23:11PM -0400, Christopher Penalver wrote:
>> Please be advised that this has already been sent to Ubuntu Bug Control:
>> https://lists.launchpad.net/ubuntu-bugcontrol/msg03780.html
>>
>> Dear Ubuntu X / Ubuntu Bug Control:
>>
>> Hello. After being unable to use fglrx-installer due to
>> https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/fglrx-installer/+bug/1058040
>> I tried the upstream drivers, which also did not work as per
>> http://ati.cchtml.com/show_bug.cgi?id=625 . So, after communicating
>> with AMD about my trying to get the upstream fglrx drivers working, it
>> was made known that it will not work on Quantal because the "legacy"
>> drivers http://support.amd.com/us/gpudownload/linux/legacy/Pages/legacy-radeon_linux.aspx
>> currently do not work with Xserver 1.13:
>> apt-cache policy xserver-xorg-core
>> xserver-xorg-core:
>>   Installed: 2:1.13.0-0ubuntu6
>>   Candidate: 2:1.13.0-0ubuntu6
>>   Version table:
>>  *** 2:1.13.0-0ubuntu6 0
>>         500 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu/ quantal/main i386 Packages
>>         100 /var/lib/dpkg/status
>>
>> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
>> From: <TECH.SUPPORT at amd.com>
>> Date: Thu, Oct 25, 2012 at 9:27 AM
>> Subject: AMD Service Notice:{ticketno:[CUT]}
>> To: Christopher M. Penalver
>> Dear Christopher,
>> -CUT-
>> The fact is that currently AMD has no plans to support Xserver 1.13.
>> In any case your feedback has been forwarded to our Linux Developer Team.
>> Best regards,
>> AMD Global Customer Care
>> _____________________________________________________________________________________________
>> This email is a direct result of your contact with AMD Global Customer
>> Care and not part of a campaign.  There is no need to unsubscribe to
>> this email as you will only be contacted again if you directly request
>> another service from AMD Global Customer Care.
>> The contents of this message are provided for informational purposes
>> only.  AMD makes no representation or warranties with respect to the
>> accuracy of the contents of the information provided, and reserves the
>> right to change such information at any time, with or without notice.
>> _____________________________________________________________________________________________
>> -CUT-
>>
>> As well, as per https://bugs.launchpad.net/fglrx/+bug/1068661 it
>> appears fglrx-installer in Quantal also does not support Xserver 1.13.
>> However, I did not ask AMD specifically about this as I only have an
>> HD 3100 series card, and was not trying to speak for the Ubuntu
>> community. Despite this, these are the following possibilities folks
>> who have filed bug reports against fglrx-installer find themselves in:
>> 1) Using a single <= 4xxx series AMD graphics card.
>> 2) Having two AMD graphics cards, one or both <= 4xxx series card.
>> 3) Using a >=5xxx series AMD graphics cards.
>> 4) Having two AMD graphics cards, both >= 5xxx series card.
>>
>> Hence, it seems prudent to have two Triaged metabug reports that
>> clearly discuss the facts:
>> 1) One for HD2xxx-HD4xxx whose cards fall under the "new driver
>> support model" as discussed at
>> http://support.amd.com/us/gpudownload/linux/legacy/Pages/legacy-radeon_linux.aspx
>> whose problem is that legacy drivers for their card does not currently
>> work with Xserver 1.13.
>>
>> 2) One for 5xxx and above whose still under the old driver support
>> model. This report in particular would seem to have a much better
>> chance of AMD working on a solution for, as per AMD:
>> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
>> From: <TECH.SUPPORT at amd.com>
>> Date: Wed, Oct 24, 2012 at 12:00 PM
>> Subject: AMD Service Notice:{ticketno:[CUT]}
>> To: Christopher M. Penalver
>> Dear Christopher,
>> -CUT-
>> Our resources are dedicated to support and development of current and
>> future products.
>> -CUT-
>> Best regards,
>> AMD Global Customer Care
>> _____________________________________________________________________________________________
>> This email is a direct result of your contact with AMD Global Customer
>> Care and not part of a campaign.  There is no need to unsubscribe to
>> this email as you will only be contacted again if you directly request
>> another service from AMD Global Customer Care.
>> The contents of this message are provided for informational purposes
>> only.  AMD makes no representation or warranties with respect to the
>> accuracy of the contents of the information provided, and reserves the
>> right to change such information at any time, with or without notice.
>> _____________________________________________________________________________________________
>> -CUT-
>>
>> What do you think?
>>
>> --
>> Christopher M. Penalver
>> E-Mail: christopher.m.penalver at gmail.com
>> https://launchpad.net/~penalvch
>>
>> --
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