new xserver failed to start with nvidia 256.44

[Joel Soete]

Binary package hint: xorg

hello all,

After my install of ubuntu 10.04 and gnome desktop, I install successfully ppa nvidia driver 256.35-0ubuntu2.
Then I play to upgrade this installation to Ubuntu maverick (development branch) and yesterday after several upgrade (I am of the cmdl school and still prefer apt-get dist-upgrade) X server failed to restart:
[snip]
[ 125.178] (II) Module nvidia: vendor="NVIDIA Corporation"
[ 125.178] compiled for 4.0.2, module version = 1.0.0
[ 125.178] Module class: X.Org Video Driver
[ 125.178] ================ WARNING WARNING WARNING WARNING ================
[ 125.178] This server has a video driver ABI version of 8.0 that this
driver does not officially support. Please check
http://www.nvidia.com/ for driver updates or downgrade to an X
server with a supported driver ABI.
[ 125.178] =================================================================
[ 125.178] (EE) NVIDIA: Use the -ignoreABI option to override this check.
[ 125.178] (II) UnloadModule: "nvidia"
[ 125.178] (II) Unloading /usr/lib/xorg/extra-modules/nvidia_drv.so
[ 125.178] (EE) Failed to load module "nvidia" (module requirement mismatch, 0)
[ 125.178] (EE) No drivers available.
[ 125.178]
Fatal server error:
[ 125.178] no screens found
[ 125.178]
[snip]

After adding following section in xorg.conf:
Section "ServerFlags"
    Option "ignoreABI" "True"
EndSection

Xserver start again ;<)

As the 2 upgrades xorg and nvidia 256.44 are installed in the same time, I can't say exactely what is the root cause of this issue.

Hth,
J.

ProblemType: Bug
DistroRelease: Ubuntu 10.10
Package: xserver-xorg 1:7.5+6ubuntu3
Uname: Linux 2.6.34.2-amd64-t0 x86_64
NonfreeKernelModules: nvidia
Architecture: amd64
Date: Mon Aug 16 14:16:31 2010
InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 10.04 LTS "Lucid Lynx" - Release amd64 (20100427.1)
ProcEnviron:
 LANG=en_US.utf8
 SHELL=/bin/bash
SourcePackage: xorg
system:
 distro: Ubuntu
 codename: maverick
 architecture: x86_64
 kernel: 2.6.34.2-amd64-t0

[Jack L. (jacklambert3)]

I think that this is the same bug as the one here:

https://bugs.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+source/nvidia-graphics-drivers/+bug/616023

I had to reinstall 10.10 Alpha 3 and choose not to update any of the xorg packages. If you can downgrade to the older version of xorf without a reinstall, that'll work too. I think.

[Jack L. (jacklambert3)]

ignore typo, I meant xorg, not xorf obviously.

[Joel Soete (rubisher)]

Yes it looks like the same issue excepted that here I just have to put this section at the top of my xorg.conf:
Section "ServerFlags"
    Option "ignoreABI" "True"
EndSection

(guessing that's the actual meaning of "Use the -ignoreABI option", not clear to me what and where to put as option, though)

to make xserver working again.

Tx a lot for help,
J.