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Voodoo Rush Reference Drivers for Linux

Version : 2.46
Download updated: 9/15/99
Page Updated 9/15/99

NOTE: These drivers will NOT work on Voodoo Banshee, Voodoo 3, Voodoo 2 or Voodoo Graphics based cards.

System Requirements:
  • A Working Install of Linux based on the 2.x kernel
  • Voodoo Rush Accelerator
Download and installation instructions:
These RPMS should be considered Beta quality as they are still being tested. The device driver is relatively simple and is less likely to have problems. Installation of a newer Glide package will automatically remove the older Glide package if it is encountered.

3Dfx Device Driver
There is now a device driver for /dev/3dfx that allows Glide applications to run without root privledges. This package is distributed as a source RPM, as device drivers need to be compiled for each version of the kernel. Your kernel must support modules to use this device driver. You must have development tools installed on your system to create the module. No changes to existing applications are required to use this driver. It is strongly suggested that you use this package to access the 3Dfx device.

All efforts were made to make this device driver stable and safe, but there is no guarantee that problems will not arrise. Also note that malicious use of this device driver can be used to crash a Linux system. Access to the device should be limited to those users who need it.

X Server
The Voodoo Rush X server replaces your current SVGA X server with a version modified to support the Voodoo Rush chip. This server is only useful for cards based on the Alliance AT25 or AT3D chipsets. Commercial X servers (such as X-Inside or MetroX) will not allow the Rush to be used. Source to the X server with my modifications is also available, but is not required. (It is very large and not recommended) This X server only works with the AT3D chipset.

When an application uses Glide in full screen mode, it requests a certain resolution. This might be 320x240, 640x480, or 800x600 for example. Glide will then request that the X server switch to that resolution. Therefore, your X server must have a modeline defined for each resolution you want to use in fullscreen mode. Otherwise the application will fail. Also, you might want to move your X terminal window to the upper left hand corner of the screen before running the demos. Otherwise, when the screen resizes you'll have a hard time typing in the correct window.

Finally, when you are rendering in a window, you are sharing resources with the X server. The more memory on the graphics board the X server uses up, the less that is available for 3D applications. For a card with a 4MB framebuffer, I recommend leaving your maximum screen resolution (real or virtual) at 1024x768, if you intend to have large 3D windows available. Using an X mode of 1280x1024 limits you to 3D windows of only 256x256 resolution.

Keep in Mind
There are a few things you need to keep in mind when using the Rush X server :
  • You need to run as root or use the /dev/3dfx.
  • You need to run your X server at a depth of 16bpp.
  • To keep memory available for 3D, you probably want to limit your highest window/virtual resolution to 1024x768.
  • You must run the custom verion of the X server.
  • For each full screen resolution you want to use you must define an X resolution of the same size.


  • Installation with RPM
    These install instructions are for users who are using RPM to do the install.
    1. Login as root and download the necessary RPMS.
    2. Install Glide_VR-2.46-3.i386.rpm with the command rpm -Uvh Glide_VR-2.46-3.i386.rpm
    3. If you would like to install the 3Dfx device driver (recommended) it can be installed executing ALL of the following commands:
      (WARNING: If you have already installed Device3Dfx version 1.x please do 'rpm -e --noscripts Device3Dfx' before installing this package, otherwise you may corrupt your /etc/conf.modules.)
      1. rpm --rebuild Device3Dfx-2.2-3.src.rpm
      2. rpm -Uvh /usr/src/redhat/RPMS/i386/Device3Dfx-2.2-3.i386.rpm
    4. Now we need to install the X server and libraries with the following two commands.
      1. rpm -Uvh XFree86_Rush-SVGA-3.3.2-1.i386.rpm
      2. rpm -Uvh XFree86_Rush-libs-3.3.2-1.i386.rpm
    5. If source to the X server desired, You should download XFree86_Rush-3.3.2-3.src.rpm.
    Glibc Version 2.0
    To Install the Glibc 2.0 version of the library, substitute the Glide_VR-2.46-3.i386.glibc.rpm for the one listed in the instructions above. This file is only for use on RH 5.x systems

    Glibc Version 2.1.1
    To Install the Glibc 2.1.1 version of the library, substitute the Glide_VR-2.46-4.i386.glibc2.1.1.rpm for the one listed in the instructions above. This file is only for use on RH 6.0 systems

    Installation Difficulties
    Should you experience difficulties with installation of the drivers, it is recommended that you direct your questions to the 3dfx linux news groups.
    Device3Dfx-2.2-3.src.rpm (26KB)
    Download from 3dfx Gamers

    Glide_VR-2.46-3.i386.glibc.rpm (475KB)
    Download from 3dfx Gamers

    Glide_VR-2.46-3.i386.rpm (238KB)
    Download from 3dfx Gamers

    Glide_VR-2.46-4.i386.glibc2.1.1.rpm (261KB)
    Download from 3dfx Gamers

    XFree86-Rush-SVGA-3.3.2-1.i386.rpm (1717KB)
    Download from 3dfx Gamers

    XFree86_Rush-libs-3.3.2-1.i386.rpm (781KB)
    Download from 3dfx Gamers



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