I'm running a Dell XPS L502X, one of those hybrid graphics models that don't yet "just work" on Linux :( When I installed Ubuntu (Natty) I just went ahead and accepted whatever options I was given, including installing the current NVidia drivers.
Additional Drivers reports the driver as the current version, recommended, required for Unity, activated, but not currently in use. However, I can't actually run Unity, so I'm currently running with Unity 2D. Ubuntu has not detected the driver as being obsolete, but I get the following when running /usr/lib/nux/unity_support_test -p
:
Xlib: extension "GLX" missing on display ":0". Xlib: extension "GLX" missing on display ":0". Xlib: extension "GLX" missing on display ":0". Error: unable to create the OpenGL context
When I start the "NVIDIA X Server Settings" application, I get the following message: "You do not appear to be using the NVIDIA X driver. Please edit your X configuration file (just run nvidia-xconfig
as root, and restart the X server."
I've since been told that on these models specifically you shouldn't install or activate the NVidia driver. Is this true, and why?
If it is true, should I uninstall the driver, and what benefits will this give me? If I uninstall it, what should I switch to, if anything? How do I uninstall it?
Otherwise, is it safe to activate it? In which case do I just run sudo nvidia-xconfig
?
My goal here is to either:
- run Unity just like the other kids
- by enabling the NVidia driver if this is required
- or, by doing something else
- and, uninstall the NVidia driver, if this is advisable (whether or not it is required)
- continue running Unity 2D if Unity is impossible on my machine
- by doing nothing (leave the system as-is)
- and, uninstall the NVidia driver, if this is advisable
My goal is not (yet) to:
- get hybrid graphics working (for example, by install Bumblebee) - it seems to me that support for this is still in development on the Linux platform, so I'll let others experiment :)
- disable either the Intel or NVidia card (I want to get Unity working "the right way" first)