The smxi / sgfxi Command Syntax sets

To use the sidux community contributed multi-function administration tool, smxi, which is short for sidux-maintenance, you need to install the script:

To install smxi:

cd /usr/local/bin; wget techpatterns.com/smxi.zip; unzip smxi.zip && smxi
follow the prompts

or to just install the 3d driver script

cd /usr/local/bin && wget -Nc http://techpatterns.com/downloads/distro/sgfxi && chmod +x sgfxi && sgfxi
To see options:
sgfxi -h

Basic smxi script features and functions

The script has many features, many of which will only appear once to users, others of which are always there. After doing the initial system check, and asking a few questions for configurations, these are the main options you will see:

How to use the smxi script options

Options: together: 

-deghiIklmrstuwx

or separated: 

-giktw -f -x

You can run this script with any combination of these options.

You can put them together, like this: -ik, or separate, like this: -w -x

Each option, or group of options, must begin with a:

 -

Example:

 smxi -ikw

skips the system info, kernel install, and warning.

smxi script options: skipping parts of script

The following allow you skip parts of the du script:

For example:

smxi -kwid

would go directly to the misc options section after the dist-upgrade. smxi -ki would skip the kernel install question and the information section.

smxi advanced options

The following are advanced script options, and are for doing things that aren't common, but can be useful to you:

User set smxi script options

You can also have the script do some other things by editing its configuration file /etc/smxi.conf

Please note that file does not exist until the first time the script runs, so if you want to add any of these and don't have the file, just create it.

sgfxi

To install closed source 3d drivers:

cd /usr/local/bin && wget -Nc http://techpatterns.com/downloads/distro/sgfxi && chmod +x sgfxi && sgfxi
To see options:
sgfxi -h

sgfxi currently supports ATI fglrx and Nvidia drivers. It also supports converting from or to Xorg free drivers like ati, intel, or nv. smxi uses sgfxi as its graphics driver installer engine, but simply adds some option support for users.

The default driver is the driver that is installed if no arguments are used to override it. Unless your card is too old, and requires a legacy driver, in which case the script will it determine for you.

When you run the script, it will stop, and tell you what driver it is going to install. You can accept that, or exit and redo it with an override option if you want something different.

You can also run the sgfxi installer using smxi, which uses sgfxi to install your graphics drivers. First, read the smxi homepage for more information, then run this command:

smxi -kiwdt

sgfxi-h: When you use the -h option you will also see a list of all currently supported drivers, as well as a brief printout of your current system specifications, kernel, Xorg version. Here are some useful sgfxi options:

-c Use composite mode (nVidia cards only).
-d Remove IgnoreDisplayDevices, allow TV for example (nVidia cards only).
-h View this help menu.
-n Automatically installs correct native Xorg nv, intel, or ati driver for your system.
   Cleans up old binary driver stuff, updates Xorg.conf with new driver information,
   and cleans nvidia and fgrlx stuff out of xorg.conf
-N Force install of specific Xorg driver. 
Syntax: sgfxi -N <one of the drivers from the list, like -N radeon>
   Supported Xorg drivers: ati i128 i740 i810 i810-modesetting intel mga neomagic nv radeon sis tdfx vesa vga voodoo
   Also configures xorg.conf as required. Full radeon Xorg 3d configuration automatically.
-o Override default: install a specific driver, this is an absolute override - syntax:
   -o 9746 (for nVidia, do not use the 1.0- part) or: -o 8.32.5 (for fglrx)
-r Remove mode lines from xorg.conf
-t Enables dynamic twinview (nVidia only)

Rolling back to open source drivers

Open Source Xorg drivers for nVidia, ATI, Radeon, Intel are pre-installed with sidux. If you have overwitten them with closed source drivers you can revert or roll back to them with sgfxi, first:

cd /usr/local/bin && wget -Nc http://techpatterns.com/downloads/distro/sgfxi && chmod +x sgfxi && sgfxi
To see options:
sgfxi -h

Then to install or rollback to a native driver

sgfxi -n
OR
sgfxi -N <Xorg driver>

Key commands are:

-n Automatically installs correct native Xorg nv, intel, or ati driver for your system.
   Cleans up old binary driver stuff, updates Xorg.conf with new driver information,
   and cleans nvidia and fgrlx stuff out of xorg.conf
-N Force install of specific Xorg driver. 
Syntax: sgfxi -N <one of the drivers from the list, like -N radeon>
 Supported Xorg drivers: ati i128 i740 i810 i810-modesetting intel mga neomagic nv radeon sis tdfx vesa vga voodoo
 Also configures xorg.conf as required. Full radeon Xorg 3d configuration automatically.
Other useful things to know in console

Remember: to scroll up or down in terminal window, use: shift+pageup/pagedown to go up to see something that has scrolled by. This is usually limited to about 6 screens or so back.

Page last revised 03/08/2008 1230hrs UTC