d9200 and matrox g400 [RESOLVED!!]

[desmatic]

Andrea releases a bunch of patches for this that and the other, but especially for video device drivers.  His kernel fb patches are in the contrib directory of AdvanceCD.  HIs svgalib patches are in the contrib directory of the AdvanceMAME source.

To apply the patch, change to the source directory that needs to be patched, like say

svgalib-1.9.19

and then issue the command

patch -p1 < $ADVANCEMAMEDIR/contrib/patch-version.diff

where ADVANCEMAMEDIR= the directory of your advancemame source and patch is the patch you want to install.

To compile svgalib you need to install the linux sources that came with your distribution.  svgalib looks for the linux headers in /usr/src/linux
if they aren't there it won't compile

If you compile with gcc-2.95.3 (follow LFS website for install of 2.95.3), then you would compile svgalib using the following commands

rpm ivh your-linux-src
tar xvzf advancemame-version*.gz -C /usr/src
tar xvzf  svgalib-version*.gz -C /usr/src
cd /usr/src/svgalib-version
patch -p1 < ../advancemame-version/contrib/patch-version.diff
make CC=/opt/gcc-2.95.3/bin/gcc install
insmod kernel/svgalib_helper/svgalib_helper.o
lsmod

if everthing went well you should see the svgalib_helper module there.
Then you need to edit /etc/vga/libvga.conf and change the horizsync and vertrefresh to something like
 
HorizSync 15 32.5
VertRefresh 50 85

then compile advancemame

cd /usr/src/advancemame-version
./configure
make && make install
PATH=$PATH:/usr/local/bin

then use my advmame.rc config and you should be up and running.  unfortunately i couldn't get the advcfg.exe utlity to work, so you'll have to edit the advmame.rc file manually, which is no big deal.  Just use my values.

YOU HAVE TO COMPILE SVGALIB (and alsa for that matter) USING THE SAME COMPILER THAT YOU COMPILED YOUR KERNEL WITH.  Since I used 2.95.3, that's what I needed to use for svgalib.  I normally don't bother with 2.95.3, but it did make a difference in the fb driver I tested earlier, so it might be worth the extra trouble.

Beaware that I haven't tested this mess completely.  I got it running and then stopped to eat.  I'll give it some more time tonight, after a beer or two

I forgot to mention, you need to use the advancemame source, not a precompiled binary.

[desmatic]

ok, here goes

On the matrox g400 I occasionally ran into modes below 8mHz that were unstable.

My PNY Geforce 4 TI 4600 worked perfectly.  I really put this card through the meat grinder and it never let me down.  It doesn't support interlace, but for D9200 setups, it seems like the card to get.  It works perfectly in DOS or Linux as long as you're using svgalib.

I put a PNY Riva TNT32 card through the meat grinder and got simlar results.  Just like in DOS, this card supports interlace, making it the Linux counterpart to the DOS champion, Trident's Blade T64.

While the matrox G400 will allow you to boot a 15kHz console in Linux using the kernel's fb, and it works perfectly on PC monitors, it falls short of the TNT32 card for 15kHz support, as it doesn't support low pclocks reliably.  Both cards support interlace.

ATI's rage 128 pro worked beautifully as well (though, as in DOS no interlace support).  No problems were ever encountered

All of this testing was done on svgalib-1.9.19, kernel 2.4.26, gcc 2.95.3, advancemame .82 (gcc 3.3.3)

[whammoed]

Awsome!  I will try out my radeon 7000 and see how it fares.  If no good I will get one of the pny cards.  
What is this gcc ###### you refer to?  Does it have anything to do with linux from scratch?  Never heard of it till now.  Do i need it?

[desmatic]

Awsome!  I will try out my radeon 7000 and see how it fares.  If no good I will get one of the pny cards.  
What is this gcc ###### you refer to?  Does it have anything to do with linux from scratch?  Never heard of it till now.  Do i need it?

gcc = GNU Compiler Collection

2.95.3 is the version number that's recommended by Linus for compiling the Linux kernel.  3.3.3 is probably the most popular version right now of gcc.  On the LFS website, they have instructions for installing gcc-2.95.3.  You probably only have gcc 3.3.3 or something similar

just type

gcc --version

at the your command prompt to find out what version you're running.

The LFS website also details how to correctly compile and install a linux kernel.  There are a lot of docs on on the matter, but from my knowledge of it, the LFS website is the most accurate.  The tldp kernel howto isn't, which is probably why it got pulled for review.

[whammoed]

I installed svgalib but I am not able to run anything
I get:
No video driver is able to program you video board
Do I need something else installed?

[whammoed]

when i specify svgalib for device_video it says
invalid argument
and lists all the other ones as options but not svgalib.

[desmatic]

run the following command and tell me the output

su
lsmod | grep svga

you should see something like svgalib_helper

[whammoed]

Yes, I see that.
I am confused.  Even if I don't have svgalib installed correctly, why would it say that svgalib argument for device_video is invalid??  Shouldn't it still be an option at least.  I think i need to hire a tutor.

[desmatic]

If you see the module listed, then you are half way there.  Chances are you are using a precompiled version of advancemame.  You must compile advancemame from source inorder to use svgalib.  Just download the source and do a

./configure
make
make install

AdvanceMAME will detect you've installed svgalib and will configure itself accordingly.  If you've compiled AdvanceMAME and you are still having problems, you need to run the demo programs in the threeDKit folder of svgalib, plane and wrapdemo.

I've added an svgalib page to my site under Linux, detailing some of the specifics behind an svgalib install.  Let me know what you think.

[whammoed]

ahhhh, from source.  sometimes i need to be told things a few times before it sinks in.  I will try that next.
desmatic, you have been very helpful.  Anything i can do for you?  I have some parts collecting dust if you need anything, i could send them to you:  buttons, illuminted buttons, panel clamps, carriage bolts, mini lamps and sockets, metal control panels, carriage bolts, super bright leds.  Whatever you need is yours, seems only fair.

thanks again

[whammoed]

desmatic,
to quote you from before:
holy $#@!
Wow, so thats how its supposed to look.  Almost brought a tear to my eye.  Beautiful.
I have renewed hope for my linux setup.

[desmatic]

ya, it's pretty damn cool.

I need to redo the device_video_format that's on my site, though.

I designed it with Windows 98se in mind.  You'll notice that after you center asteroids using your monitor controls, that your linux console isn't centered any more.  I'll try and fix this tonight.

[desmatic]

ahhhh, from source.  sometimes i need to be told things a few times before it sinks in.  I will try that next.
desmatic, you have been very helpful.  Anything i can do for you?  I have some parts collecting dust if you need anything, i could send them to you:  buttons, illuminted buttons, panel clamps, carriage bolts, mini lamps and sockets, metal control panels, carriage bolts, super bright leds.  Whatever you need is yours, seems only fair.

thanks again

Na, I don't need anything, but thanks.  Just show off your MAME box to everyone you know, that'd make me happy.

[whammoed]

I still need to figure out the mouse deal so my trackball and spinner will work.  Think you could see if you have mouse function on yours?

thanks again

[desmatic]

I'll right, I'll give it a look into tomorrow.  Maybe I'll play a few games of Lemmings for some inspiration.

Does your mouse work in AdvanceCD by any chance?

[whammoed]

tried to make an advancecd but it would never boot up...just stayed on the ....loading screen forever.

[desmatic]

tried to make an advancecd but it would never boot up...just stayed on the ....loading screen forever.

It's probably the kernel's fb.  I wouldn't worry about it.  Your video card's most likely not supported.

Alright, I managed to get my mouse going though svgalib.  I edited my /etc/vga/libvga.config

and made sure i had

mouse imps2

As I don't know what kind of mouse you have, I'm not exactly sure that this'll work for you, but imps2 mice are deffinitely the most popular.

As I'm on LFS, I also had to make the mouse link to /dev/psaux, as both advancemame and svgalib expect to find the mouse at /dev/mouse

cd /dev
ln -s mouse psaux

If you don't understand what I'm talking about let me know.

I couldn't seem to get my mouse to work without svgalib, so I'll have to do a little more probing.  I only mention this, in case you have more than one mouse.  Advancemame in Linux supports up to four mice, but svgalib only supports one.  Lemmings seemed to work fine on the svgalib one though

I almost forgot you need to change device_mouse auto to device_mouse svgalib in your advmame.rc file

[whammoed]

I will look at  that tonight.
I would like to get the raw mouse working so I can choose a mouse device specific to the game but I will take anything at this point.

thanks again

[whammoed]

RESOLVED mouse issue
To use raw mouse need permission on /dev for user you are logged in as.
Not good enough to have on /dev/input/ where you actually point to.  Don't know why, just happy I figured out something for myself!

thanks again desmatic, I was just about ready to give up when you saved the day.  you rock.  you went beyond the call of duty and i appreciate it.
I certainly appreciate everyone elses help as well.

thanks all

[desmatic]

RESOLVED mouse issue
To use raw mouse need permission on /dev for user you are logged in as.
Not good enough to have on /dev/input/ where you actually point to.  Don't know why, just happy I figured out something for myself!

thanks again desmatic, I was just about ready to give up when you saved the day.  you rock.  you went beyond the call of duty and i appreciate it.
I certainly appreciate everyone elses help as well.

thanks all

No prob, glad everything worked out.  I'll have to make a note of that permission trick.

BTW, i forgot to mention that you also need to have

display_resizeeffect none
display_resize integer

in your advmame.rc file for perfect emulation.

[whammoed]

Hey desmatic, look at something for me will you?  Play galaga and see if the volume decreases significantly after/when you lose your first man.  Very weird!  Doesn't do it on any other game.  Is this a bug in this version of advmame/mame?

[desmatic]

I've noticed similar sillyness on some games.  Like asteroids, for example, seems to go down in sound just a bit after you hit your first asteroid.  I don't pay it much attention.  Not sure what's causing it, or if there's a fix.  It's just a curiosity.

I still haven 't posted that new device_video_format, but i'll get to it soon enough.  I'm hacking on my blfs setup, and its going slower that I anticipated.

[whammoed]

Yeah, happens in windows too so its not just linux.  Doesn't happen in regular mame.  I reported it as a bug at the advance site.  We'll see if its fixed in the next version.

[whammoed]

Hey desmatic,
do you know how to go about getting the system to boot directly in advmenu and how to get it to shut down from advmenu?

[desmatic]

Hey desmatic,
do you know how to go about getting the system to boot directly in advmenu and how to get it to shut down from advmenu?

I've been asked this a couple of times, and although I've come across a couple of solutions, I was never really happy with any of them (not to mention I can't recall the specifics of each solution).  I'll see if I can't nail something down though.  I was hopping that there would be some sort of PAM module/configuration where by there would be a solution.

As far as reboot, you can do this with inittab.  Most distros configure inittab for a ctrl-alt-del reboot.  But I'm sure you could do something similar for a halt as well.  I need to do some more PAM reading.  I really need to master PAM anyway for my next LPI exam, so might as well do it now.

[MotorHedJr]

Hi desmatic, and all:

Excellent work.