[Openchrome-users] EPIA-M720 (VX900) xorg.conf (EE) No devices detected

[John Brown]

-----Original Message-----
From: James Simmons [mailto:jsimmons at infradead.org] 
Sent: Friday, 2 March 2012 5:13 AM
To: Xavier Bachelot
Cc: John Brown; Openchrome
Subject: Re: [Openchrome-users] EPIA-M720 (VX900) xorg.conf (EE) No devices detected

All working now, but though solution didn't involve openchrome...

On the VIA product specification page, on the download tab, the only drivers listed are Windows:
http://www.viaembedded.com/en/products/boards/productDetail.jsp?productLine=1&id=1590

While being helped by people on this list, I also wrote to VIA for technical support, who told me to contact the retailer (YT Solutions). Sceptically I enquired to the retailer, who directed me towards a different part of the VIA website, where I could download Linux video driver for Ubuntu 10.10:
http://www.via.com.tw/en/support/drivers.jsp (Why are they not on the product page?? And not link to this page?!)

Downloading and opening that package director me to a different Linux specific VIA website, where there was later version for Ubuntu 11.04 (Why not on the above site?! And why no mention on the product page):
http://linux.via.com.tw/support/downloadFiles.action

It worked instantly.

It installs 'VIA Accelerated Linux Graphics Drivers' which includes installation of via_chrome9.

Previously way to get VIA boards working was to NOT use via drivers, rather to use openchrome. That situation seems to have reversed with my current motherboard (M720) and probably everything else based on the VX900 chipset.

I haven't tried HDMI output to my TV yet, but am assuming that will work at this stage as everything else has.

Thanks for your replies and assistance, but clearly VIA really are providing Linux compatibility for their latest boards, at last!

Thanks again,

John