How to install 3D-Desktop using Beryl
Wednesday, 27 December 2006
Windows Vista provides two entirely new features to manage windows using Windows Flip and Windows Flip 3D. Linux is already using this technology. 3D-Desktop is an OpenGL program for switching virtual desktops in a seamless 3-dimensional manner on Linux. The current desktop is mapped into a full screen 3D environment where you may choose other screens. Several different visualization modes are available. Mandriva 2007 has a the 3D desktop functionality implemented. You can set it up using the Mandriva Control Centre. Unfortunately it is not always working in the first place. Depending on the installed hardware, it works out of the box but also after downloading and installing new drivers and hacking the configuration files. This workshop describes the 3D Desktop installation on Mandriva 2007 using Beryl and Nvidia graphics cards.

 

3D Desktop

Step 1: Get the latest NVIDA drivers running

 

First off all I recommend downloading the latest Nvidia driver from the following website. Make sure to download the correct driver according to your hardware specification

 

http://www.nvidia.com/object/unix.html

 

Save the file in your download directory and get root permissions, make the nvidia driver package executable like this:

 

su

chmod 777 NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-1.0-9746-pkg2.run (use your downloaded file)

 

Before we go further, please check if you have the necessary software installed on your Mandriva box using the urpmi command. If you do not know how it works, please read here.

We need the following packages:

  • Mesa
  • mesa-demos
  • compiz
  • task-3ddesktop
  • kernel-source

 

urpmi mesa mesa-demos compiz task-3ddesktop kernel-source

 

Urpmi will take care for dependencies. I had to install 11 packages.

 

 

Remark: Make sure to install the correct kernel source. Double-check the installed kernel with command uname -a

 

It’s time to install the Nvidia driver. Shut any X window session down, otherwise the installer will later complain about it:

 

STRG+ALT+BACKSPACE

 

Switch to your Download directory, get root permissions and run the installer. Follow the instructions to configure your drivers. The script will change the xorg.conf settings also.

 

cd /home/user/Download

./ NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-1.0-9746-pkg2.run

 

You can later (if necessary) uninstall the drives like this:

./ NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-1.0-9746-pkg2.run --uninstall

 

Restart your Linux box and you will see the Nvidia logo while booting the machine. After the reboot make sure to configure the resolution and colour depth correctly.

 

3D Desktop

Step 2: Download and install Beryl

You’ll find the necessary software in the “backports” directories on several servers hosting the Mandriva packages. I recommend using “Easy URPMI” to configure your box. Unfortunately not all servers have the packages available. If you don’t want to search yourselves, you can easily cut and paste the following commands in your console. Please make sure to install the sources according to your hardware:

 

Use this for x86_64:

 

urpmi.addmedia main_backports ftp://fr2.rpmfind.net/linux/Mandrakelinux/official/2007.0/x86_64/media/main/backports with media_info/hdlist.cz
urpmi.addmedia contrib_backports ftp://fr2.rpmfind.net/linux/Mandrakelinux/official/2007.0/x86_64/media/contrib/backports with media_info/hdlist.cz

 

Use this for i586:

 

urpmi.addmedia main_backports ftp://fr2.rpmfind.net/linux/Mandrakelinux/official/2007.0/i586/media/main/backports with media_info/hdlist.cz
urpmi.addmedia contrib_backports ftp://fr2.rpmfind.net/linux/Mandrakelinux/official/2007.0/i586/media/contrib/backports with media_info/hdlist.cz

 

Please use the following command to install the beryl packages. Urpmi will take care of the dependencies.

 

urpmi beryl-core beryl-manager

 

 

Step 3: Hacking the configuration files

Unfortunately it is necessary to change and add some lines in configuration files. No worry, the next step will guide you through. I recommend backing all files up before changing it.

Here is what you should change or add:

/etc/sysconfig/xgl

  XGL=no

/etc/sysconfig/compositing-wm

 COMPOSITING_WM_START=no

/etc/X11/xorg.conf

 Section "device"
 Option "RenderAccel" "True"
 Option "DisableGLXRootClipping" "true"
 Option "BackStoring" "True"

 Section "screen"
 Option "AddARGBGLXVisuals" "True"

 Section "Extensions"
 Option "Composite" "Enable"
 Option "RENDER" "Enable"

 

Remark: The sections are already created; you just have to add the options!

 

 

Step 4: Start and configure Beryl

An easy way to run beryl automatically after starting KDE is to configure a symbolic link to the beryl binaries like this:

 

cd /home/user/.kde/Autostart

ln -s /usr/bin/beryl-manager beryl-start

 

You will find a new icon in your task bar and can choose different themes by using emerald.

 

If you have problems with the window decorations (no window frames etc.), go to “Advanced Beryl Options” in the Beryl Manager and change the Rendering Path to “Copy”. Alternatively you can configure the following file:

 

/home/user/.beryl-managerrc

 

Do not forget to reboot the machine after changing the settings.

 

Download article in pdf format here.

 

 3D Desktop