linux-image-2.6.18-6-amd64 kernel installed, but am I running a 64-bit system?
I'm running debian etch on an amd64 machine. I've got the right kernel
installed and running:
# uname -r
2.6.18-6-amd64
I'm trying to install the nvidia-kernel-2.6-amd64 package. I can't find the
package in aptitude. Aptitude only lists other versions:
# aptitude search nvidia-kernel
v nvidia-kernel-1.0.8776 -
p nvidia-kernel-2.6-486 - NVIDIA binary kernel module for 2.6 series compiled for 486
p nvidia-kernel-2.6-686 - NVIDIA binary kernel module for 2.6 series compiled for 686
p nvidia-kernel-2.6-k7 - NVIDIA binary kernel module for 2.6 series compiled for k7
p nvidia-kernel-2.6.18-6-486 - NVIDIA binary kernel module for Linux 2.6.18-6-486
p nvidia-kernel-2.6.18-6-686 - NVIDIA binary kernel module for Linux 2.6.18-6-686
p nvidia-kernel-2.6.18-6-k7 - NVIDIA binary kernel module for Linux 2.6.18-6-k7
i nvidia-kernel-common - NVIDIA binary kernel module common files
... and legacy versions ...
p nvidia-kernel-source - NVIDIA binary kernel module source
I'm pretty sure I've got my /etc/apt/sources.list contents correct:
deb http://ftp.uk.debian.org/debian/ etch main contrib non-free
deb http://security.debian.org/ etch/updates main contrib non-free
I also know that the .deb exists here
(http://ftp.uk.debian.org/debian/pool/non-free/n/nvidia-graphics-modules-amd64/).
When I download these and install them dpkg complains that I'm trying to
install an amd64 package on a i386 system.
# dpkg -i nvidia-kernel-2.6-amd64_1.0.8776+6etch2_amd64.deb nvidia-kernel-2.6.18-6-amd64_1.0.8776+6etch2_amd64.deb
dpkg: error processing nvidia-kernel-2.6-amd64_1.0.8776+6etch2_amd64.deb
(--install):
package architecture (amd64) does not match system (i386)
dpkg: error processing
nvidia-kernel-2.6.18-6-amd64_1.0.8776+6etch2_amd64.deb (--install):
package architecture (amd64) does not match system (i386)
Errors were encountered while processing:
nvidia-kernel-2.6-amd64_1.0.8776+6etch2_amd64.deb
nvidia-kernel-2.6.18-6-amd64_1.0.8776+6etch2_amd64.deb
Presumably this is why aptitude didn't list the package in the first place.
Discussion here
(http://forums.debian.net/viewtopic.php?t=12966&postdays=0&postorder=asc&start=15)
seems to indicate that I need to be running an amd64 system.
So, here are my questions:
1. I'm running a 64-bit kernel, but am I running a 64-bit system? If not,
how does one install a 64-bit system using the debian installer? Presumably
then I could install the nvidia drivers?
2. Should I instead leave things as they are to use the official debian
distribution and do something different to get the nvidia driver?
3. Given I can't compile the source code debian version or the version from
the nvidia pages, is there a way forward?
Finally, I've got another amd64 system with the same kernel, but this one
does have the nvidia-kernel-2.6.18-6-amd64 package installed. But I am at a
complete loss as to how the systems are different: /etc/apt/sources.list is
exactly the same and the kernel is exactly the same!
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