A simple, step-by-step installation guide of Fedora 9

May 29, 2008 06:56 GMT  ·  By

Nvidia finally decided to release an updated version of its proprietary video driver for Linux systems, one that supports the controversial XServer 1.5, which is present in bleeding-edge distributions, such as Fedora 9.

Ok, so this tutorial is here to help actual and future Fedora 9 users to install the video drivers for their graphics cards and, as a bonus from Softpedia, a nice step-by-step AWN installation guide, assuming you have a fresh Fedora 9 installation with the GNOME desktop environment.

Step 1 - Install the Livna repository

First of all, make sure your system is up to date, then install the Livna repository like this:

Open a terminal (Applications -> System Tools -> Terminal)...

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...and switch to root (system administrator) with the following command:

su -

Type the root password (the one you have set up when you've installed Fedora). Then, as root, type:

rpm -ivhU http://rpm.livna.org/livna-release-9.rpm

Now that the Livna repository is installed, you can continue with the driver installation part.

Step 2 - Install the Nvidia drivers

I presume you did not close the Terminal window; if you did close it, fire it up again from Applications -> System Tools -> Terminal, log in as root and type:

yum -y install kmod-nvidia

To verify if the installation was successfully completed, reboot your computer, log back in, open up the terminal (Applications -> System Tools -> Terminal) and type:

glxinfo | grep direct

If the output of the above command is: direct rendering: Yes the Nvidia driver installation was successfully completed and you can now use OpenGL applications and desktop effects such as Compiz Fusion.

Step 3 - Install the Avant Windown Navigator (AWN)

First of all, let's make sure that the desktop effects are working. Go to System -> Preferences -> Look and Feel -> Desktop Effects and enable them.

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Now open again the terminal from Applications -> System Tools -> Terminal and type or paste the following command as root:

yum -y install avant-window-navigator awn-extras-applets

Step 4 - Start and configure AWN

Start AWN from Applications -> Accessories -> Avant Window Navigator.

WARNING: Be aware that AWN will appear over your bottom GNOME panel, therefore you should delete the panel before launching AWN!

Start AWN from Applications -> Accessories -> Avant Window Navigator.

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...and voila, AWN on Fedora 9!

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For the Avant Window Navigator to automatically appear every time you log-in, open the Sessions program from System -> Preferences -> Personal -> Sessions...

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On the "Startup Programs" tab, click the 'Add' button and fill the fields like in the image below.

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That's all folks! Have a nice and modern Fedora desktop!