Debian: Installing ATI Graphics Drivers and Compiz Fusion in Lenny (XGL)

Installing the ATI graphics drivers:

Use APT to install fglrx-amdcccle, fglrx-control, fglrx-driver and fglrx-kernel-src

# apt-get install fglrx-amdcccle fglrx-control fglrx-driver fglrx-kernel-src

Reconfigure xserver-xorg to use fglrx (NOT vesa) aswell as the correct resolution:

NOTE: If you only wanted a good resolution and Compiz Fusion is not important to you, you can stop here.

# dpkg-reconfigure xserver-xorg

Getting 3D rendering working:

Edit (or Add) any of the following lines in '/etc/X11/xorg.conf':

Section "Module"
        Load "i2c"
        Load "bitmap"
        Load "ddc"
        Load "dri"
        Load "extmod"
        Load "freetype"
        Load "glx"
        Load "int10"
        Load "vbe"
        Load "GLcore"
EndSection

Section "Extensions"
        Option "Composite" "0"
        Option "RENDER" "Enable"
EndSection

Section "DRI"
        Mode 0666
EndSection

To test if you have 3D Rendering working properly type in the following commands (you might need to install mesa-utils using APT first):

$ fglrxinfo

Correct Output (or similar, your graphics card should be identified):
display: :0.0 screen: 0
OpenGL vendor string: ATI Technologies Inc.
OpenGL renderer string: ATI Mobility Radeon X1700
OpenGL version string: 2.1.7276 Release

$ glxinfo | grep direct

Correct Output:
direct rendering: Yes

Installing XGL:

Unfortunately while ATI drivers support AIGLX, they don't work well yet with Compiz Fusion, so ATI users are still stuck with the XGL option (it at least works).

While there are XGL repositories out there for Debian GNU/Linux, Ubuntu has done most of the hard work for us so why not use their package? It's quick and easy. Install the following packages using APT:

# apt-get install libglitz-glx1 libglitz1

Install using dpkg the following package: xserver-xgl_1.1.99.1~git20080115-0ubuntu1_i386.deb

# dpkg -i ~/Desktop/xserver-xgl_1.1.99.1~git20070727-0ubuntu3_i386.deb

NOTE: Change the location of the file above to wherever you saved it (I saved mine temporarily on the Desktop).

Now edit the file '/etc/gdm/gdm.conf' and append the following line under [servers]:

0=Xgl

Next, append the following to the end of '/etc/gdm/gdm.conf':

[server-Xgl]
name=Xgl
command=/usr/X11R6/bin/Xgl -fullscreen -ac -accel glx:pbuffer -accel xv:fbo -fp /usr/share/fonts/X11/misc/
flexible=true

Installing Compiz Fusion for GNOME:

Edit '/etc/apt/sources.list' and add the following source to the end of the list:

deb http://download.tuxfamily.org/shames/debian-lenny/desktopfx/unstable/ ./

Save the file then apply the following commands:

# apt-get update
# apt-get install apt-get install compiz-fusion-gnome

Optional: Installing Avant Window Navigator (AWN):

Append the following line to '/etc/apt/sources.list':

deb http://download.tuxfamily.org/deb4gilir/avant-window-navigator/ unstable main

Update APT:

# apt-get update

And finally install Avant Window Navigator:

# apt-get install avant-window-navigator awn-core-applets

Optional: Starting Compiz Fusion/Avant Window Navigator at the start of a Session:

Go to System->Sessions, then select Add.

The command to start Compiz Fusion is: compiz --replace
The command to start Avant Window Navigator is: avant-window-navigator