Differences

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--- misc:nvidia [2014-06-27 22:03] – jens
+++ misc:nvidia [2019-11-09 08:26] (current) – [Official Nvidia drivers] jens
@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
 Please follow these steps as root.
-<WRAP info>
+<WRAP info round>
 As of Debian 6.0 (Squeeze) the new driver/module 'nouveau' is used for the framebuffer as well as X. This conflicts with the 'nvidia' kernel module and thus 'nouveau' must be blacklisted (or uninstalled). If you follow [[#The_Debian_Way|The Debian Way]] this happens automatically. If you wish to use the [[#Official_Nvidia_drivers|official driver from Nvidia]] you must do that manually (see [[#Blacklisting_nouveau|below]] for more information).
 </WRAP>
@@ Line 12: / Line 12: @@
 If you don't need the latest driver versions for any specific reason, I recommend installing the Nvidia drivers the Debian way. This method is easier, faster and less vulnerable to kernel changes.
-An extensive description is given in the [[http://wiki.debian.org/NvidiaGraphicsDrivers|Debian Wiki]], especially the section about [[http://wiki.debian.org/NvidiaGraphicsDrivers#Use_DKMS|DKMS]] is important. Here I'll just summarize the steps for your (and my) convenience that are specific for Debian Squeeze (and the latest Nvidia cards).
+An extensive description is given in the [[http://wiki.debian.org/NvidiaGraphicsDrivers|Debian Wiki]], especially the section about [[http://wiki.debian.org/NvidiaGraphicsDrivers#Use_DKMS|DKMS]] is important. Here I'll just summarize the steps for your (and my) convenience that are specific for Debian (and the latest Nvidia cards).
-Just install some necessary tools: <code>apt-get install linux-headers-`uname -r` nvidia-kernel-dkms</code>
+Just install some necessary tools: <code>apt install linux-headers-`uname -r` nvidia-kernel-dkms</code>
 That's it already, you can now continue with the [[#X_configuration|configuration of X]]!
 ==== Official Nvidia drivers ====
-If you need the latest driver for any reason, please follow these steps for the installation of the official Nvidia driver.
+If you need the latest driver for any reason (e.g. you just got a brand-new card that is not yet supported), please follow these steps for the installation of the official Nvidia driver.
 === Blacklisting 'nouveau' ===
@@ Line 33: / Line 33: @@
 === Installing the driver ===
   - Download the latest driver [[http://www.nvidia.com/object/unix.html|from Nvidia]], afterwards make it executable.
-  - Install your Kernel headers and some build tools. On Debian (Etch or later) run this: <code>apt-get install linux-headers-`uname -r` build-essential</code>
+  - Install your Kernel headers and some build tools. On Debian (Etch or later) run this: <code>apt install linux-headers-`uname -r` build-essential dkms</code>
-  - Invoke the Nvidia Installer. I, personally, prefer a few options as well (see [[#Explanations_of_the_used_options|below]] for an explanation): <code>./NVIDIA-Linux-<version>.run -a -n -N -s</code>
+  - Invoke the Nvidia Installer. I, personally, prefer a few options as well (see [[#Explanations_of_the_used_options|below]] for an explanation): <code>./NVIDIA-Linux-<version>.run -a -n -s --dkms</code>
   - Edit your X-configuration file (usually ''/etc/X11/[[xorg.conf]]''), I don't trust the script to do that accurately. See [[#X_configuration|below]] for the steps.
@@ Line 43: / Line 43: @@
 == Explanations of the used options ==
-^ -a | Accept the license agreement                                 |
+^ -a                      | Accept the license agreement                                                      |
-^ -n | Don't use precompiled drivers                                |
+^ -n                      | Don't use precompiled drivers                                                     |
-^ -N | Don't check the Nvidia site for precompiled modules          |
+^ -s                      | Use the default answer on most questions (silent/quiet mode)                      |
-^ -s | Use the default answer on most questions (silent/quiet mode) |
+^ <nowiki>--dkms</nowiki> | Use DKMS to build the module, ensuring it will continue to work on kernel updates |
 ===== X configuration =====
-Nowadays, [[http://www.x.org/|xorg]] works mainly based on auto detection. Thus there is no more [[xorg.conf]] available, you'll have to create it manually. To get your NVidia card working with the ''nvidia'' driver though, a minimal xorg.conf is sufficient. You can check my fully assembled [[xorg.conf]] for you convenience.
+Nowadays, [[http://www.x.org/|xorg]] works mainly based on auto detection. Thus there is no more [[xorg.conf]] available, you'll have to create it manually. To get your NVidia card working with the ''nvidia'' driver though, a minimal xorg.conf is sufficient. You can check my fully assembled [[xorg.conf]] for your convenience.
 ==== Section "Module" ====
@@ Line 72: / Line 72: @@
 It often also helps to start X manually from a console. Just log in as user en run ''startx''. If you land back on the console the last messages often give a clue what went wrong.
+==== Optimus Hardware issues ====
+If you are running a notebook with [[http://www.nvidia.com/object/optimus_technology.html|Nvidia Optimus]] technology just installing the Nvidia driver (either the Debian way or the official driver), chances are that Xorg won't detect a display card at all. In that case, installing [[https://wiki.debian.org/Bumblebee|Bumblebee]] will most certainly help:
+  # apt-get install bumblebee-nvidia primus
+In this case even an xorg.conf is not necessary at all. For this to work in Debian Wheezy you need to activate the Backports repository in your [[sources.list]].
 ==== Is 3D Acceleration working? ====
@@ Line 88: / Line 95: @@
   - Install gcc-4.1: <code>apt-get install gcc-4.1</code>
   - Use at least version 177.76 of the driver. Beta-drivers can be found on [[http://www.nvnews.net/vbulletin/forumdisplay.php?s=&forumid=14|the Nvidia forums]]
-  - Run this to install: <code>export CC=gcc-4.1; ./NVIDIA-Linux-<version>.run -a -n -N -s</code>
+  - Run this to install: <code>export CC=gcc-4.1; ./NVIDIA-Linux-<version>.run -a -n -s --dkms</code>
 To check which compiler version was used to compile your kernel you can use the command ''cat /proc/version'' (look for the part named "gcc version").