Howto Turn On KMS at Ubuntu Jaunty and Karmic

KMS (Kernel Mode Setting) shifts responsibility for selecting and setting up the graphics mode from X.org to the kernel.When X.org is started, it then detects and uses the mode without any further mode changes. This promises to make booting faster, more graphical, and less flickery.

To Turn On the KMS you should have 2.6.30-2 or newer kernel AND intel driver 2.7.99.1 or later.(I suggest using latest intel drivers from xorg-edgers PPA ).If requirements part is done, you are ready to begin.

For Ubuntu Karmic Koala :

to enable KMS permanently on Ubuntu Karmic, create a /etc/modprobe.d/i915-kms.conf file and add options i915 modeset=1 to that file :

$sudo gedit /etc/modprobe.d/i915-kms.conf
And paste
options i915 modeset=1

Now reboot your box.If you have problems, you can always turn it off by nomodeset parameter

For Ubuntu Jaunty Jackalope :

This is a little harder than Karmic because we also have to install a newer kernel :) This is a lot harder to revert back then Karmic, be warned!

Go here and download a kernel (2.6.30-2 or NEWER).

You also have to install intel driver 2.7.99.1 or later.So use this xorg-edgers PPA (This has 2.7.99) or X-Updates PPA (this has 2.7.1) but do not use all 2 repositories same time! :

xorg-edgers PPA :

deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/ubuntu-x-swat/x-updates/ubuntu jaunty main
deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/ubuntu-x-swat/x-updates/ubuntu jaunty main

X-Updates PPA :

deb http://ppa.launchpad.net/xorg-edgers/ppa/ubuntu jaunty main
deb-src http://ppa.launchpad.net/xorg-edgers/ppa/ubuntu jaunty main

After adding the repository, let's update and upgrade our packages :

$sudo apt-get update && sudo apt-get upgrade

Now create a /etc/modprobe.d/i915-kms.conf file and add options i915 modeset=1 to that file :

$sudo gedit /etc/modprobe.d/i915-kms.conf
And paste
options i915 modeset=1

You can now reboot and test KMS.To revert back at Jaunty :

-Uninstall the kernel
-Remove options i915 modeset=1 part
-Uncomment the PPA (xorg-edgers or X-updates)
-Update the repository
-"sudo apt-get install PACKAGE/jaunty" for all the affected packages(you can use the apt-show-versions command to figure out which ones current have non-jaunty versions)

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