Ok I have written a blog post for the blog page. I'll put it up soon (TM). Find it below and feel free to edit it if you want:
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Nz0fhczdFHBWnSv1Wr3BWOflU-1AvIwNvjVYfeHfT94/edit Albert. On Wed, Apr 4, 2012 at 3:51 AM, Andreas Heider <andr...@meetr.de> wrote: > Hi, > > at the moment I have pretty much no free time at all to spend on it and the > post from two weeks ago is already pretty outdated. On the other hand, I've > been running an updated version since then and it's running pretty well on > my laptop. > > The biggest change is probably that I'm now using EFI boot, because the > intel card doesn't work with suspend in BIOS mode. This means that the > README and kernel patches should be updated. I'll try to do that on the > weekend. > > I've also talked to mjg59 and airlied on IRC about fixing the boot gpu > detection on Apple EFI and started to sort out the patches that should get > accepted easily. > > There's one major open issue, the intel LVDS detection, that I'd like to get > fixed before asking too many people to test the driver. According to airlied > the way to go is to do something like switch_ddc, which requires to change > all GPU drivers to call a function before reading the EDID data for the > internal display, which switches the EDID line to them. I already have a > rough implementation, but it's not done yet. > The other way I investigated was using reprobe and try to redetect and > recreate the framebuffer upon a GPU switch doesn't seem to work well with > the current DRM/fbcon infrastructure. I've been using a hackish version of > it the last two weeks, and it kind of works but not in a clean way. Also, > the switch takes a lot longer and has more visual artefacts. > > So all the hard stuff is done, what's left are a few hours to fix up > switch_ddc and then I'd say it's ready for a blog post. > > Cheers, > Andreas > > > On 04/03/2012 08:45 AM, Albert Vilella wrote: >> >> Hi all, >> >> Any new developments on this front? I am thinking about putting >> together all the current info and post it in our blog... >> >> On Tue, Mar 20, 2012 at 3:16 PM, Andreas Heider<andr...@meetr.de> wrote: >>> >>> Hi everyone, >>> >>> I fixed a lot of stuff and now have a first working version. >>> It's not yet perfect and I expect the internals to change quite a bit, >>> but >>> it already works pretty well for me. >>> >>> Since everybody loves videos I made two: >>> A full demo showing everything (switching between the GPUs, bumblebee >>> with >>> both the nvidia and nouveau): http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0FYP3nMyxcQ >>> And a screen recording showing bumblebee in >>> action: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qdY_qZWNM6E >>> >>> If you own a Macbook Pro 6,2 or 6,1 and are adventurous enough to try it >>> you >>> can find the source here: >>> https://github.com/ah-/gmux-scripts >>> https://github.com/ah-/ubuntu-kernel-mbp >>> https://github.com/ah-/gmux >>> >>> There's also some documentation >>> at https://github.com/ah-/gmux-scripts/blob/master/README >>> >>> The gmux switching driver itself should also work on other models, but >>> the >>> scripts and some of the kernel patches won't, because the newer models >>> use >>> AMD graphics instead of NVIDIA. I only have access to my Macbook Pro 6,2, >>> but if you're interested in getting graphics switching to work on other >>> models I'd be happy to help. >>> >>> Over the next time I plan to clean things up and hopefully get some of >>> this >>> merged. If someone who knows the linux graphics stack well reads this, >>> I'd >>> be happy to get in touch with you to get some help about how to solve the >>> whole reprobe/lock_ddc problem properly. There are also an issue with the >>> intel card not properly resuming after a suspend. >>> >>> Cheers, >>> Andreas >>> >>> >>> Am 10.03.2012 um 13:12 schrieb Albert Vilella: >>> >>> Really good stuff!! Keep up the good work! >>> >>> BTW, what version of the Macbook Pro is that you are testing here? Is >>> it "MacBookPro7,1"? Should "MacBookPro6,1" also work? >>> >>> sudo dmidecode -s system-product-name >>> >>> I am guessing the models in Apple's website that have hybrid graphics >>> now are the ones called "MacBookPro8,2" and "MacBookPro8,3" in these >>> ubuntu and wikipedia pages, but these are with Intel/AMD combo -- it >>> seems the 13'' model is Intel-only MacBookPro8,1 (13"): >>> https://help.ubuntu.com/community/MacBookPro >>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/MacBook_Pro >>> >>> A. >>> >>> On Sat, Mar 10, 2012 at 12:01 PM, Andreas Heider<andr...@meetr.de> >>> wrote: >>> >>> >>> Hi, >>> >>> >>> Am 09.03.2012 um 10:10 schrieb Albert Vilella: >>> >>> Do you folks think this is ready for a blog post? >>> >>> >>> There's still a bunch of stuff missing. At the moment switching works, >>> but >>> only if you know exactly what you're doing. The next step is to make it >>> work >>> without requiring too much manual intervention, so it's possible to >>> simply >>> boot the system and switch between nouveau/i915 (and potentially turn the >>> dedicated card on/off). >>> >>> >>> This is not only related to the gmux driver itself but also to >>> nouveau/i915 >>> and how they handle not having a monitor attached at boot. I don't think >>> it >>> will be too long until this works but I'd prefer to wait a bit until it >>> does, since the many of the readers of the hybrid-graphics-linux blog are >>> normal users. >>> >>> >>> In other news, I found a first solution to the vbios problem. There is a >>> register on the card (0x619f04, if i'm not mistaken >>> PDISPLAY.VGA.ROM_WINDOW) >>> which points to where the vbios should be. Initially this register is set >>> to >>> 0x000ffe09 on my card but after a powercycle it's set to 0x1. >>> >>> >>> If I manually restore it to 0xffe09 using nvapoke and copy the vbios back >>> with nvafakebios (otherwise it points to a location with just 0xff) both >>> nouveau and the nvidia-blob load successfully! >>> >>> >>> For more information see the excellent documentation >>> at https://github.com/pathscale/envytools/blob/master/hwdocs (especially >>> nvbars.txt) and the source of the envytools. >>> >>> >>> This is really amazing, because that means that the standard bumblebee >>> switching will work without major modifications, especially with the >>> nvidia >>> blob. >>> >>> >>> Cheers, >>> >>> Andreas >>> >>> >>> >>> Now that Linus has Linux running on a Macbook Air, it may be good to >>> >>> show Macbook Pros with hybrid graphics have half-decent Linux support >>> >>> as well... :-p >>> >>> >>> On Thu, Mar 8, 2012 at 9:34 PM, Andreas Heider<andr...@meetr.de> wrote: >>> >>> Hi Peter, >>> >>> >>> I blacklisted both nvidia and nouveau during boot and did exactly these >>> >>> eight steps. I used dd to save the config space, if that is of any >>> >>> importance (e.g. "dd if=/sys/bus/pci/devices/0000:01:00.0/config >>> >>> of=7-restored"). >>> >>> >>> Because I'm not sure wether the pci_save/restore_state functions work I >>> did >>> >>> the test twice. You can find the results for the run with >>> >>> pci_save/restore_state at http://andreas.meetr.de/nouveau/pcs/ and the >>> one >>> >>> without at http://andreas.meetr.de/nouveau/pcs-2. >>> >>> >>> Both lead to the same result, the vbios is not >>> >>> accessible. http://andreas.meetr.de/nouveau/nouveau.dmesg shows how a >>> normal >>> >>> boot with nouveau looks like. >>> >>> >>> Cheers, >>> >>> Andreas >>> >>> >>> Am 08.03.2012 um 21:31 schrieb Lekensteyn: >>> >>> >>> Hi Andreas, >>> >>> >>> What about nouveau? The blob sometimes do not get completely unloaded >>> >>> (/dev/nvidia* devices then still >>> >>> exist). >>> >>> >>> What if the following steps are followed: >>> >>> >>> 1. ensure that the blob has not been loaded (reboot if necessary) >>> >>> 2. unload nouveau if necessary >>> >>> 3. save pci configuration space >>> >>> 4. disable card >>> >>> 5. save pci configuration space, it should be all 1's (ff in xxd) >>> >>> 6. enable card >>> >>> 7. save pci configuration space, it should be similar to (3) >>> >>> 8. load the nouveau driver, does it work? >>> >>> >>> Regards, >>> >>> Peter >>> >>> >>> On Thu, Mar 8, 2012 at 7:17 PM, Andreas Heider<andr...@meetr.de> wrote: >>> >>> >>> Hi Peter, >>> >>> >>> I'm already saving the pci configuration space with >>> pci_save/restore_state >>> >>> and I've also tried manually changing it through /sys/bus/pci/..., but I >>> >>> still have the problem that the blob can't load the vbios. >>> >>> >>> I've uploaded dumps of it, maybe you can spot something thats obviously >>> >>> wrong with it: >>> >>> 1. After boot: http://andreas.meetr.de/gmux/nv.config >>> >>> 2. After one powercycle: http://andreas.meetr.de/gmux/nv.bad.config >>> >>> 3. After one powercycle and copying the first config space >>> >>> back: http://andreas.meetr.de/gmux/nv.bad.config_restored >>> >>> >>> Unfortunately this still gives me the NVRM: RmInitAdapter failed! >>> >>> (0x30:0xffffffff:858) error. >>> >>> >>> Thanks, >>> >>> Andreas >>> >>> >>> >>> Am 08.03.2012 um 12:38 schrieb Lekensteyn: >>> >>> >>> Hi Andreas, >>> >>> >>> I've documented about the PCI configuration space issue on >>> >>> http://wiki.bumblebee-project.org/ACPI-for-Developers. Bumblebee also >>> >>> saves >>> >>> and restores the PCI configuration space before enabling/after disabling. >>> >>> >>> Regards, >>> >>> Peter >>> >>> >>> On Thu, Mar 8, 2012 at 2:47 AM, Andreas Heider<andr...@meetr.de> wrote: >>> >>> >>> Hi everyone, >>> >>> >>> I'll just continue using this mailing list as a blog. After a lot of >>> >>> wild guesses in all directions I now have a setup that could be a base >>> >>> for useful graphics switching on Macbook Pros. It's not completely >>> >>> reliable yet but hopefully that will improve in the future. >>> >>> >>> Switching between two running GPUs works pretty well and just needs a >>> >>> bit more work. But that shouldn't be a big issue. >>> >>> >>> The main problem I fought with is that after powering down the external >>> >>> GPU the vbios vanishes and it's impossible to load the proprietary >>> >>> nvidia driver: >>> >>> >>> [ 214.505208] NVRM: failed to copy vbios to system memory. >>> >>> [ 214.507347] NVRM: RmInitAdapter failed! (0x30:0xffffffff:858) >>> >>> [ 214.507357] NVRM: rm_init_adapter(0) failed >>> >>> >>> The same problem exists with nouveau, after the first power cycle >>> >>> nouveau doesn't load again if I unload it. I guess this is actually a >>> >>> BIOS/EFI/firmware bug, since Apple's switching driver just keeps the >>> >>> driver loaded. >>> >>> >>> So it's necessary to load the driver once and keep it loaded. This works >>> >>> well with nouveau+vga_switcheroo but is a bit problematic with the >>> >>> blob. >>> >>> >>> At the moment I have the blob running with the patch from my first mail >>> >>> and noticed that it survives a powercycle if X _is_ loaded while the GPU >>> >>> is powered down. If I shutdown X I get this error when I try to start it >>> >>> again afterwards: >>> >>> >>> [ 144.390920] NVRM: RmInitAdapter failed! (0x26:0xffffffff:1170) >>> >>> [ 144.390930] NVRM: rm_init_adapter(0) failed >>> >>> >>> I'm not 100% certain that this really works but at the moment it's the >>> >>> only possibility for getting full switching support with the blob. >>> >>> >>> Speaking of nvidia bugs, I also had problems with the blob not reliably >>> >>> loading when I boot with EFI. >>> >>> Luckily it's possible to also enable the integrated card in BIOS >>> >>> emulation mode. After staring a lot at the output of lspci -xxx from >>> >>> both EFI and BIOS boot I noticed that this just requires flipping one >>> >>> bit in the pci configuration space. This can be done by adding "setpci >>> >>> -d 8086:0044 54.b=0b" in grub. This value will most likely only work for >>> >>> this exact model, a MBP 6,2. For more information see >>> >>> http://download.intel.com/design/processor/datashts/322813.pdf page 62. >>> >>> >>> If anyone has some hints how to better deal with the blob that would be >>> >>> greatly appreciated. >>> >>> >>> On Wed, 2012-02-29 at 10:33 +0100, Lekensteyn wrote: >>> >>> Hi Andreas, >>> >>> >>> I'm using nouveau + bbswitch (switcheroo also works, but not after >>> >>> resume), not on >>> >>> a mac, but a Clevo B7130 (branded as "BTO P-BOOK 17CL34"). >>> >>> >>> The restoration of the PCI configuration space is a hack to allow the >>> >>> driver to load >>> >>> in case it was accidentally loaded while the card was off. This is >>> >>> especially necessary >>> >>> for the nvidia blob driver which loads itself if you try to >>> >>> access /dev/nvidia* devices. >>> >>> >>> In the case of switcheroo, no driver is attempted to be unloaded (see >>> >>> the second field >>> >>> of the switching_method struct and line 30 of src/switch/switching.c. >>> >>> >>> Sorry, that was my fault. I changed that for testing purposes and then >>> >>> forgot about it. >>> >>> >>> >>> gmux can be integrated into BB. Writing a new switcher module >>> >>> (src/switch/gmux.c) >>> >>> which also takes care of loading the switcheroo module (only if that >>> >>> is a safe operation!) >>> >>> should do the trick. Just be careful not to conflict with switcheroo. >>> >>> The other way is leave >>> >>> BB as it and require users to load gmux before BB. >>> >>> >>> Because of vbios situation and nouveau already working pretty well with >>> >>> switcheroo I'd prefer to keep using that. >>> >>> >>> Regards, >>> >>> Peter >>> >>> >>> Cheers, >>> >>> Andreas >>> >>> >>> >>> On Wed, Feb 29, 2012 at 12:25 AM, Andreas Heider<andr...@meetr.de> >>> >>> wrote: >>> >>> Hi Peter, >>> >>> >>> I took another look at bumblebee today and got it running with >>> >>> nouveau! >>> >>> Bumblebee automatically powers the nvidia card down when it's >>> >>> not in >>> >>> use and starting programs with optirun works well. >>> >>> >>> This required a dirty hack to bumblebee which you can find >>> >>> here: >>> >>> >>> >>> https://github.com/ah-/Bumblebee/commit/c5ab6f0e7f841045cee6905bb367c79091b0eb6b >>> >>> >>> The problem is that bumblebee wants to save/restore the pci >>> >>> configuration >>> >>> space, which is already done by nouveau. (See >>> >>> https://gist.github.com/1935992) >>> >>> >>> It also shouldn't try to unload the driver. >>> >>> >>> Do you think this could somehow be integrated into bumblebee? >>> >>> >>> Cheers, >>> >>> Andreas >>> >>> >>> On Tue, 2012-02-28 at 16:14 +0100, Lekensteyn wrote: >>> >>> > Hi Andreas, >>> >>> > >>> >>> > vga_switcheroo is a supported method since Bumblebee 3.0, >>> >>> but I >>> >>> > assumed that >>> >>> > it would not be used for the nvidia driver. If you wish to >>> >>> use the >>> >>> > nvidia blob with >>> >>> > switcheroo, you have to recompile Bumblebee and apply commit >>> >>> > 85636d1f21b0644e7dd47e3931479860c55b7a05 (or use the develop >>> >>> branch). >>> >>> > The >>> >>> > next version will have this change too. >>> >>> > >>> >>> > One shortcoming of vga_switcheroo now is that the state is >>> >>> messed up >>> >>> > after >>> >>> > suspend: switcheroo remembered that the card was off, but in >>> >>> reality >>> >>> > the card >>> >>> > is on. The module bbswitch worked around this by enabling >>> >>> the card >>> >>> > before >>> >>> > suspend and disabling the card on resume. >>> >>> > >>> >>> > In some cases, while the card was turned off with switcheroo >>> >>> caused >>> >>> > the machine >>> >>> > to lock when the card is tried to be accessed. If switcheroo >>> >>> is not an >>> >>> > option for >>> >>> > Bumblebee, you can write your own switching code. See the >>> >>> src/switch/ >>> >>> > directory >>> >>> > for examples. >>> >>> > >>> >>> > Regards, >>> >>> > Peter >>> >>> > (Bumblebee and bbswitch developer) >>> >>> > >>> >>> > On Tue, Feb 28, 2012 at 3:16 PM, Andreas Heider >>> >>> <andr...@meetr.de> >>> >>> > wrote: >>> >>> > Hello everybody, >>> >>> > >>> >>> > I'm developing a vga_switcheroo driver for the Apple >>> >>> Macbook >>> >>> > Pro models >>> >>> > with switchable graphics and have a few questions >>> >>> about how to >>> >>> > integrate >>> >>> > it with the current linux hybrid graphics >>> >>> infrastructure. >>> >>> > >>> >>> > >>> >>> > Apple implemented the switching using a "chip" >>> >>> dubbed the >>> >>> > "gmux" (probably short for graphics multiplexer or >>> >>> something >>> >>> > similar). >>> >>> > The gmux can power down the external graphics card, >>> >>> switch the >>> >>> > DDC, >>> >>> > internal and external display connections >>> >>> (individually) >>> >>> > between both >>> >>> > cards and set the backlight brightness. Unlike most >>> >>> newer >>> >>> > laptops with >>> >>> > hybrid graphics, Apple's Macbook Pros use a physical >>> >>> mux. >>> >>> > >>> >>> > Luckily the gmux has remained mostly the same >>> >>> between all >>> >>> > models with >>> >>> > switchable graphics, so it should be possible to >>> >>> develop one >>> >>> > driver that >>> >>> > supports all of them. >>> >>> > >>> >>> > >>> >>> > This driver has actually been lying around in >>> >>> unfinished state >>> >>> > for some >>> >>> > time now, until Seth Forshee from Canonical recently >>> >>> rewrote >>> >>> > it into a >>> >>> > clean, backlight-only driver that will hopefully >>> >>> find it's way >>> >>> > into >>> >>> > mainline soon. >>> >>> > >>> >>> > My goal is to use Seth's work as a base and add the >>> >>> other >>> >>> > features back >>> >>> > again and make it work well. A first version is >>> >>> already >>> >>> > working and up >>> >>> > at https://github.com/ah-/gmux >>> >>> > >>> >>> > This driver supports all vga_switcheroo operations >>> >>> (discrete >>> >>> > power >>> >>> > on/off, display switching) and they all work on my >>> >>> MBP 6,2 >>> >>> > using the >>> >>> > intel and nouveau drivers. >>> >>> > >>> >>> > But unfortunately, it doesn't work with bumbleebee >>> >>> and/or the >>> >>> > proprietary >>> >>> > nvidia driver yet. >>> >>> > >>> >>> > >>> >>> > Because I'm using CUDA in other projects, getting >>> >>> the >>> >>> > proprietary NVIDIA >>> >>> > driver running well is very interesting to me. The >>> >>> setup >>> >>> > bumblebee plus >>> >>> > intel + nvidia_current without power management >>> >>> works well on >>> >>> > my laptop >>> >>> > if I switch to the intel card in grub. (It's just >>> >>> three >>> >>> > outbs). But that >>> >>> > breaks suspend and uses 10W more power than >>> >>> necessary. >>> >>> > >>> >>> > Does/should bumblebee work with a vga_switcheroo >>> >>> driver just >>> >>> > for ON/OFF? >>> >>> > >>> >>> > One thing I stumbled upon is a patch for the >>> >>> proprietary >>> >>> > NVIDIA >>> >>> > driver originally written by "Kayo >>> >>> <k...@illumium.org>" which >>> >>> > adds >>> >>> > some kind of vga_switcheroo support to it. I >>> >>> modified it to >>> >>> > just register >>> >>> > with switcheroo (patch is attached), and that part >>> >>> works well. >>> >>> > Turning >>> >>> > off the card works, but turning it on afterwards >>> >>> doesn't. Any >>> >>> > Ideas? >>> >>> > >>> >>> > >>> >>> > Ultimately I'd like to get two scenarios/workflows >>> >>> to work >>> >>> > well: >>> >>> > >>> >>> > 1. Real switching, by disabling one card completely >>> >>> and only >>> >>> > using >>> >>> > the other one, requiring a logout/login. >>> >>> > Preferably using the NVIDIA driver. >>> >>> > >>> >>> > 2. Bumblebee switching with working power management >>> >>> when the >>> >>> > NVIDIA >>> >>> > GPU is not in usw. >>> >>> > >>> >>> > >>> >>> > I'd appreciate any comments and thoughts on how to >>> >>> implement >>> >>> > this and >>> >>> > how to integrate it with the current hybrid graphics >>> >>> > environment. >>> >>> > >>> >>> > Cheers, >>> >>> > Andreas >>> >>> > >>> >>> > _______________________________________________ >>> >>> > Mailing list: >>> >>> https://launchpad.net/~hybrid-graphics-linux >>> >>> > Post to : >>> >>> hybrid-graphics-linux@lists.launchpad.net >>> >>> > Unsubscribe : >>> >>> https://launchpad.net/~hybrid-graphics-linux >>> >>> > More help : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp >>> >>> > >>> >>> > >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> >>> Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~hybrid-graphics-linux >>> >>> Post to : hybrid-graphics-linux@lists.launchpad.net >>> >>> Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~hybrid-graphics-linux >>> >>> More help : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~hybrid-graphics-linux >>> Post to : hybrid-graphics-linux@lists.launchpad.net >>> Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~hybrid-graphics-linux >>> More help : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp >>> >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~hybrid-graphics-linux >>> Post to : hybrid-graphics-linux@lists.launchpad.net >>> Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~hybrid-graphics-linux >>> More help : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp >>> > _______________________________________________ Mailing list: https://launchpad.net/~hybrid-graphics-linux Post to : hybrid-graphics-linux@lists.launchpad.net Unsubscribe : https://launchpad.net/~hybrid-graphics-linux More help : https://help.launchpad.net/ListHelp
