ATI Radeon - 3D rendering

Finally, after lots and lots of failed attempts I managed to install the correct drivers for my ATI Mobility Radeon 9200, and to enable 3D rendering.

System: Slackware 10.1 running kernel 2.6.10, Xorg 6.8.1

Note: this ``tutorial'' is provided as is, it worked for me on the system described above; in any case I won't be responsible for any loss of data or system failure.

First, get your kernel sources and put them in /usr/src/linux (a symlink is also fine). Get the unofficial drivers from http://www.schneider-digital.de/html/download_ati.php. Exit X if it was running. Convert the downloaded rpm package to tgz with rpm2tgz and install the generated package with installpkg. Then log in as root and type the following commands

# cd /lib/modules/fglrx/build_mod
# chmod +x make.sh
# ./make.sh
# cd ..
# chmod +x make_install.sh
# ./make_install.sh
# modprobe fglrx

Now the drivers should be correctly installed and the module loaded. Test it (first run X with startx)

$ glxgears

Try also

$ fgl_glxgears

If you have problems running the last command then you have to add a line to your /etc/fstab

tmpfs     /dev/shm           tmpfs        defaults            0 0

and mount it

# mount /dev/shm

Now everything should work correctly.
Run

$ fglrxinfo

to check the installed drivers. The output for me is

OpenGL vendor string: ATI Technologies Inc.
OpenGL renderer string: MOBILITY RADEON 9000 DDR Generic
OpenGL version string: 1.3.5010 (X4.3.0-8.12.10)

Hope this will help as it helped me :)
Thanks a lot to the tutorial on www.slacky.it

My passion

Every day I'm getting more and more involved in Linux, I guess this is a non-return (to Windows) point. I simply love how it works, it doesn't treat me as an idiot like Microsoft software does, it makes me feel free, because I can build it exactly as I want it.
Windows closed my mind for too long time, luckily Linux is opening it again.
I think that if someone really likes computers he/she can't stop to what market imposes him/her (to be read as: Microsoft software). I know loads of people working in IT and using Windows; maybe they prefer it, maybe they never had a chance to try something else. I don't blame anyone, however I'll try to convert as many people as possible to the penguin side :)
Ina, you will be the first one, get ready!! :)

Note:

writing commands, a line starting with # indicates a command issued by root, while a line starting with $ idicates a command issued by a non-root user.
Example:
# ifconfig eth0 up
$ ls -l ~