Archives For November 30, 1999

How to Install Mesa 19.3 in Ubuntu 18.04, 19.10

Last updated: December 15, 2019

Mesa 3D graphics library 19.3 was released a few days ago. Here’s how to install it in Ubuntu 18.04, Ubuntu 19.04, and Ubuntu 19.10.

Mesa 19.3 is a big release that features:

  • Intel OpenGL 4.6 support
  • New Vulkan extensions both for Radeon RADV and Intel ANV
  • Initial Intel Tiger Lake support
  • AMD Navi 14 support (Radeon RX 5500 XT!)
  • Zink is added for experimental OpenGL over Vulkan

1. Open terminal either from application launcher or by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard. When it opens, run command:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:kisak/kisak-mesa

Type user password (no asterisk feedback) when it prompts and read the PPA description before pressing Enter to continue.

2. After adding the PPA, do system update via command:

sudo apt-get dist-upgrade

apt-get update is not required any more in Ubuntu 18.04 since adding PPA automatically refreshes system package cache.

3. Finally check your driver version via command:

glxinfo | grep "OpenGL version"

Uninstall:

To restore changes and downgrade to the default drivers shipped in your Ubuntu, run command:

sudo apt-get install ppa-purge && sudo ppa-purge ppa:kisak/kisak-mesa

Mesa 3D graphics library 19.2.1 now is finally made into PPA available to install in Ubuntu 18.04 LTS.

Mesa 19.2.x is the latest development series that features:

  • Mesa 19.2 now pretty much at parity or beyond the i965 OpenGL driver.
  • OpenGL 4.6 support for the Intel OpenGL driver
  • Radeon RX 5700 series (Navi 10) support in RADV and RadeonSI Vulkan/OpenGL drivers.
  • Initial Navi 12/14 support.
  • A big RADV performance boost for AMD GPUs.
  • EGL platform device support.

Canonical’s Timo Aaltonen has made Mesa 19.2.1 package into “Ubuntu-X” team PPA, available to install in Ubuntu 18.04.

1. Open terminal either via Ctrl+Alt+T keyboard shortcut or by searching for ‘terminal’ from application menu. When it opens, run command:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntu-x-swat/updates

Type user password (no asterisk feedback) when it prompts and hit Enter to continue.

2. After adding the PPA, do system update via command:

sudo apt-get dist-upgrade

apt-get update is not required any more in Ubuntu 18.04 since adding PPA automatically refreshes system package cache.

3. Finally check your driver version via command:

glxinfo | grep "OpenGL version"

Uninstall:

To restore changes and downgrade to the default drives shipped in Ubuntu 18.04, run command:

sudo apt-get install ppa-purge && sudo ppa-purge ppa:ubuntu-x-swat/updates

For open-source graphic driver users, the latest Mesa 18.1.5 now is available in Ubuntu-X team PPA for Ubuntu 18.04.

Mesa 18.1.5 was released a few days ago with RADV Radeon Vulkan driver fixes, a number of Intel ANV Vulkan driver fixes, and some fixes to i965, RadeonSI, and even R600g driver.

You can now install Mesa 18.1.5 in Ubuntu 18.04 via following steps:

1. Open terminal by either pressing Ctrl+Alt+T on keyboard or searching for ‘Terminal’ from software launcher. When it opens, run command:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntu-x-swat/updates

Type your password (no asterisks feedback) when it prompts and hit Enter to continue.

2. After adding the PPA, do system update via command:

sudo apt-get dist-upgrade

apt-get update is not required any more in Ubuntu 18.04 since adding PPA automatically refreshes system repositories.

3. Finally check your driver version via command:

glxinfo | grep "OpenGL version"

Uninstall:

To restore changes and downgrade to the default drives shipped in Ubuntu 18.04, run command:

sudo apt-get install ppa-purge && sudo ppa-purge ppa:ubuntu-x-swat/updates

MESA 17.2.2 Is Now Available for Ubuntu 16.04 LTS

Last updated: October 17, 2017

The latest release of Mesa graphics library 17.2.2 is now available for users of Ubuntu 16.04 to install via PPA.

Mesa 17.2.2 is a bug-fix release for the 17.2 series. It was released two weeks ago and finally available in the “Ubuntu-X” team PPA for Ubuntu 16.04.

Mesa 17.2 contains many RADV/ANV Vulkan driver improvements, Vulkan and OpenGL performance improvements, more work towards OpenGL 4.6 compliance, and a wealth of other open-source driver improvements.

How to Install Mesa 17.2.2 in Ubuntu 16.04 via PPA:

1. Open terminal either via Ctrl+Alt+T keyboard shortcuts or by searching for “terminal” from application launcher. When it opens, run command to add the PPA:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntu-x-swat/updates

Input your password (no visual feedback while typing) when it prompts and hit Enter.

2. Then refresh your system and install upgrades via commands:

sudo apt-get update

sudo apt-get install dist-upgrade

3. To check result, run command:

glxinfo | grep "OpenGL version"

How to Restore:

To revert back to the original Mesa 3D graphics library in Ubuntu, get into command console and run command:

sudo apt install ppa-purge && sudo ppa-purge ppa:ubuntu-x-swat/updates

The latest Mesa 3D graphics library 17.1.0, which was released a week ago, now is backported for Ubuntu 16.04 and Ubuntu 17.04 via “Ubuntu-X” team PPA.

Mesa 17.1.0 implements the OpenGL 4.5 API, but the version reported by glGetString(GL_VERSION) or glGetIntegerv(GL_MAJOR_VERSION) / glGetIntegerv(GL_MINOR_VERSION) depends on the particular driver being used. Some drivers don’t support all the features required in OpenGL 4.5. OpenGL 4.5 is only available if requested at context creation because compatibility contexts are not supported.

Mesa 17.1.0 features:

  • OpenGL 4.2 on i965/ivb
  • GL_ARB_gpu_shader_fp64 on i965/ivybridge
  • GL_ARB_gpu_shader_int64 on i965/gen8+, nvc0, radeonsi, softpipe, llvmpipe
  • GL_ARB_shader_ballot on nvc0, radeonsi
  • GL_ARB_shader_clock on nv50, nvc0, radeonsi
  • GL_ARB_shader_group_vote on radeonsi
  • GL_ARB_shader_precision on i965/ivb
  • GL_ARB_shader_viewport_layer_array on radeonsi
  • GL_ARB_sparse_buffer on radeonsi/CIK+
  • GL_ARB_transform_feedback2 on i965/gen6
  • GL_ARB_transform_feedback_overflow_query on i965/gen6+
  • GL_ARB_vertex_attrib_64bit on i965/ivb
  • GL_NV_fill_rectangle on nvc0
  • Geometry shaders enabled on swr

Install Mesa 17.1.0 in Ubuntu 16.04 / 17.04:

Open terminal by pressing Ctrl+Alt+T or searching for “Terminal” from start menu. When it opens, run following commands one by one:

1. Add the PPA repository via command:

sudo add-apt-repository ppa:ubuntu-x-swat/updates

Type in your password (no visual feedback due to security reason) and hit Enter.

2. Then check updates and upgrade your system to get the latest Mesa library:

sudo apt update

sudo apt dist-upgrade

To check result, run command:

glxinfo | grep "OpenGL version"

How to Restore:

To revert back to the original Mesa 3D graphics library in your main Ubuntu repository, get into command console and run:

sudo apt install ppa-purge && sudo ppa-purge ppa:ubuntu-x-swat/updates