Science[In]Direct

Well, you have installed OpenSUSE 11 from a Live CD on your hardware and compiz doesn’t work…is my case. First, make sure your graphics card (gc) has support for OpenGL and acceleration. Go to your gc’s manufacturer and check the features. Second, make sure the driver enable all the gc features. The nvidia driver that is preloaded with SUSE don’t enable acceleration and other features, this driver is a generic nvidia driver, that’s all.

Go to nvidia.com and download the graphics driver to your home directory. Which driver? if your card is recent, then use the last driver for linux, if your card is very old, you are on your own search.

Run the YAST app. and download the kernel source code (YAST –> Software Management), the one that matches your kernel. To make sure you are right, run a Terminal app. and type the following:
x-system>uname -a
Go to non-visual mode, typing:
x-system>sudo /sbin/telinit 3

Re-login if necessary

run the nvidia package, typing:
x-system>sudo sh nvidia-package-xyz.xyz

Let nvidia write a configuration file for you, that’s all. You have the correct driver but compiz still don’t work.
Go to visual-mode, typing:
x-system>sudo /sbin/telinit 5

Re-login if necessary

Now you must test the nvidia graphics, type;
x-system>glxgears

You must see the gears app. interrupt with ctrl+c

Now type the following lines to enable compositing support.
x-system>sudo nvidia-xconfig –add-argb-glx-visuals -d 24

x-system>sudo vi /etc/X11/xorg.conf

locate at the file’s end a line like this one (and enable)

Section “Extensions”

Option      ”Composite” “on”

EndSection

***** Using vi, type:x-system>info vi

Logout and re-login, press ctrl+alt+backspace or restart the machine.

Test everything, typing;

x-system>glxinfo |more ; you must see a line indicating direct rendering: Yes

Go to YAST and in the search box type compiz and install the packages, then type emerald and install the packages.

Go to YAST –> Hardware –> Graphics Card and Monitor  … and Activate 3D Acceleration

Go to Main menu –> Desktop Settings … and “enable desktop effects”, or install the CCSM.

Another blog about compiz on SUSE