Difference between revisions of "Configure Graphics Cards"
imported>Verityproductions (Created page with "= Overview = {{note|The mhwd command is still ''under development'', and at present is only able to install drivers for graphics cards connected internally via pci.}} Where...") |
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sudo mhwd -a [pci or usb] [free or nonfree] 0300 | sudo mhwd -a [pci or usb] [free or nonfree] 0300 | ||
A breakdown of the command for the automated method is as follows: | |||
A breakdown of the command used for the automated method is as follows: | |||
* '''-a''': Automatically detect and install the appropriate driver | * '''-a''': Automatically detect and install the appropriate driver | ||
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sudo mhwd -a pci nonfree 0300 | sudo mhwd -a pci nonfree 0300 | ||
Otherwise, the following command would result in the automatic detection and installation of the best available '''free driver''' for a pci-connected graphics card: | Otherwise, the following command would result in the automatic detection and installation of the best available '''free driver''' for a pci-connected graphics card: | ||
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A breakdown of the command to manually install a driver is as follows: | A breakdown of the command used to manually install a driver is as follows: | ||
* '''-i''': Install a driver | * '''-i''': Install a driver | ||
Revision as of 21:27, 8 October 2012
Overview
Where installing the full version of Manjaro (i.e. complete with a pre-installed desktop environment, codecs, and software applications), the mhwd command will be automatically run by the CLI installer to automatically detect your graphics card and install the most appropriate driver for it. Whether free or proprietary drivers are installed will depend on your initial choice of using free or nonfree graphics drivers to boot up.
Otherwise, it will be necessary to run the mhwd command manually as part of the post-installation process for the minimalistic NET-Edition of Manjaro. Of course, it is also possible to use the mhwd command to install, re-install, and remove installed graphics drivers at any time, as illustrated below.
Automated Identification and Installation
This is the recommended method for the detection and installation of graphics drivers. The syntax for the automated installation method is:
sudo mhwd -a [pci or usb] [free or nonfree] 0300
A breakdown of the command used for the automated method is as follows:
- -a: Automatically detect and install the appropriate driver
- [pci or usb]: Install the appropriate driver for devices connected internally via pci, or externally via usb (again, mhwd currently only supports pci connections at this stage in its development)
- [free or nonfree]: Install either free drivers (e.g. provided by the Linux community), or nonfree drivers (e.g. provided by hardware manufacturers)
- 0300: Install drivers for graphics cards (0300 is the class ID for graphics cards. As the mhwd command develops, new ids will be used for other types/classes of device).
For example, the following command would result in the automatic detection and installation of the best available proprietary driver for a pci-connected graphics card:
sudo mhwd -a pci nonfree 0300
Otherwise, the following command would result in the automatic detection and installation of the best available free driver for a pci-connected graphics card:
sudo mhwd -a pci free 0300
Manual Identification and Installation
Taking a do-it-yourself approach is itself relatively easy and straightforward using the mhwd command. This should be undertaken in two stages:
1. Identify the appropriate driver to be installed, and then
2. Install the driver
Just ensure that you have identified and are indeed about to install the correct driver for your particular graphics card!
Identifying Available Drivers
Prior to manually installing a graphics driver, it will be necessary to identify what drivers are available for your system. To list the appropriate drivers available, the basic syntax is:
mhwd -l [optional: --pci or --usb]
Using this command without the --pci or --usb filters will list all the available drivers for devices connected to your system. All drivers for graphics cards will have the prefix (video-) in their name. Otherwise, the following example will list only the drivers available specifically for devices (e.g. graphics cards) using an internal PCI connection:
mhwd -l --pci
Irrespective of whether the optional filters is used or not, the following information will be displayed for all listed drivers:
- Name
- Version
- Free or proprietary, and
- PCI or USB connection
Installing a Driver
To install a driver for a graphics card, the syntax is:
sudo mhwd -i pci [name of driver]
A breakdown of the command used to manually install a driver is as follows:
- -i: Install a driver
- [pci]: Install a driver for a device connected internally via pci (e.g. graphics cards)
- [name of driver]: The name of the driver to be installed
For example, to install the proprietary nvidia graphics card driver, the following command would be used:
sudo mhwd -a pci video-nvidia
Forcing Re-installation of a Driver
To force the re-installation of an existing driver without removing it first, the syntax is:
sudo mhwd -f -i pci [name of driver]
For example, to force the re-installation of a previously installed nvidia graphics card driver, the following command would be used:
sudo mhwd -f -i pci video-nvidia
Removing an Installed Driver
On occasion it may be necessary to remove an installed graphics card driver. To remove an installed driver, the basic syntax is:
sudo mhwd -r [pci or usb] [name of driver]
For example, to remove the installed driver for a nvidia graphics card (connected internally via pci), the following command would be used:
sudo mhwd -r pci video-nvidia