Compiz is an OpenGL compositing windows manager for the X Window system. It use 3D graphics hardware to create desktop effects such as a rotating desktop cubes, a minimization animation and many other effects are created using plugins. In this post I will explain how to install compiz on Debian Linux 6 with NVIDIA GPU. However, instructions should also work on Debian lenny and Intel 3000 or latest Intel 4000 video cards.
Step #1: Install Compiz
Open a shell prompt and type the following command as root user:
# apt-get install compiz compizconfig-settings-manager compiz-fusion-plugins-main compiz-gnome compiz-gtk
OR
# aptitude install compiz compizconfig-settings-manager compiz-fusion-plugins-main compiz-gnome compiz-gtk
Step #2: Configure Xorg
You need to update your /etc/X11/xorg.conf file, enter:
# vi /etc/X11/xorg.conf
Update Extensions section as follows:
Section "Extensions" #For compiz Option "Composite" "enable" EndSection |
Update Device section as follows:
#For compiz Option "XAANoOffscreenPixmaps" "true" Option "AllowGLXWithComposite" "true" |
Here is a sample Device section from my NVIDIA xorg.conf file:
Section "Device" Identifier "Device0" Driver "nvidia" VendorName "NVIDIA Corporation" BoardName "Quadro FX 3800M" Option "XAANoOffscreenPixmaps" "true" Option "AllowGLXWithComposite" "true" EndSection |
Finally, update Screen section as follows:
Option "AddARGBGLXVisuals" "true" |
Save and close the file. You can reboot the system or type the following command to restart the gdm3 i.e. restart your X.org server:
# /etc/init.d/gdm3 restart
How do I enable compiz?
Login to your desktop. Open a terminal and type the following command to test compiz
$ /usr/bin/compiz --replace
Now, you will be able to use all compiz resources. However, you need to configure compiz using CompizConfig Settings Manager. Type the following command to start CompizConfig Settings Manager:
$ ccsm
Or click on the:
System > Preferences > CompizConfig Settings Manager
Sample outputs:

First, you need to click on the “Effects” > Enable “Windows Decorations”. This will fix the windows unusable problem such as window borders, resizing windows and moving windows which are initially disabled by default:

Set compiz as the default Gnome window manager
Type the following command:
$ gconftool-2 --type string --set /desktop/gnome/session/required_components/windowmanager compiz
Logout and login again to test your new settings.
Now I am lost as to how I would get this to work with the Intel 4000?, as there is no xorg.conf file for Intel 4k … I tried for hours to get this to work on my (Nvidia Optimus) Geforce 630M, without any luck. Really wish I had compiz back, my old laptop finally died and everything was running pretty well on that machine!
is that ccsm or ccss ? please correct me ?
Yes, it was a typo on my part.
Appreciate your feedback.