What I can expect with kernel upgrades and the Nvidia driver

English Install/Boot/Login
#1

I like the idea of a rolling release like Tumbleweed, but understand that it may not always play well with my Nvidia driver. I’m interested in feedback from experienced Tumbleweed users on what I can expect in this regard.

It took some doing, but I successfully installed the Nvidia driver with the instructions at:

https://en.opensuse.org/SDB:NVIDIA_the_hard_way

and saved the appropriate driver install program afterward. I also blacklisted nouveau in the process.

My impression is that any kind of kernel upgrade may kill the driver. (And may not!) If it does kill it, I:

  • Ctrl-Alt-F1 to get to the console
  • Log in as root
  • Run top
    to look for PIDs for lightdm and X - Kill these PIDs
  • Run the Nvidia install program. (e.g., sh
    /dir/dir/dir/****.run) It will handle the chores of un-installing and re-installing. - Run mkinitrd
  • Reboot

I ask because I now have time to troubleshoot, and don’t want to try to figure out what to do when I desperately need to use a suddenly disabled computer.

(A quick BTW: changing from nouveau to the Nvidia driver dropped my CPU temps by 15 C.)

Thanks once again to all willing to offer tips to a new Tumbleweed user.

#2

The easiest way IMO, is to reboot to a console (press e at grub menu), add a 3 at the end of the linux line (vmlinuz-…) and f10 to boot. Login as root, run your NVIDIAxxx.run file and reboot. All this after a kernel update (also after some X updates).
It takes me about 2 mins + the reboot time.
If you forget and reboot to a blank screen just start again.

#3

Might be worth a read through this thread on the factory mailing list:

NVIDIA gfx driver RPMs available for Tumbleweed …

https://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-factory/2017-08/msg00281.html

It’s early days yet, I’ve not tried it myself so can’t comment on the success or otherwise, but it looks quite promising.

#4

Thanks, peteh100 and tannington! I’d never thought to use those options in grub. Getting into the console from the start beats killing PIDs after the desktop starts.

#5

Reboot, press ‘e’ to edit, and add a 3 to the end of the linux line, F10 to boot. Boots direct to console. Log in as root, build/insatll driver, and mkinitrd. Sync and reboot.

Instead of killing pids to get out of window manager, run “init 3” as root.

#6

NVIDIA gfx driver RPMs available for Tumbleweed …

https://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-…/msg00281.html

One item of note it maybe my hardware setup but when one upgrades TW this way KDE doesn’t work. Since I also use XFCE it works there.

#7

I just updated the kernel, so I uninstalled and reinstalled Nvidia.run drivers.
A few minutes and it is done.
I log in to the console Ctrl + Alt + F2> I login and become a superuser> uninstall with the command> nvidia-installer --uninstall> when it has finished rebooting> return to console> install drivers> sh / home / user / etc …
At the end Reboot and is done

#8

Just to clarify, V-idocq: is the command you refer to:? **sh NVIDIA-xxx-xxxx.run --uninstall ** ?

#9

You can do it with

sudo nvidia-uninstall

Also for V-idocq’s process you have to load the new kernel first - which means a reboot anyway.

#10

Number 1 rename the .run file in NVIDIA.run to simplify and place it in / home / bin
Ctrl+Alt+F2 > login > Become root >
2) Install>

sh /home/that user/bin/NVIDIA.run

follow the instructions
reboot or modprobe nvidia > service sddm start

Uninstall>

nvidia-installer --uninstall
#11

Thank you, peteh100 and V_idocq!

#12

Don’t forget to make the file excutable.

And also do not forget to install make, gcc and kernel-default-devel, last one in Version of your running Kernel.

#13

Thank you, Sauerland! I ran zypper dup and sucessfully re-installed the driver afterward.

#14

Meanwhile, the semi-official (openSUSE) nvidia rpm packages are available for Tumbleweed too though (like previously only for released versions, i.e. Leap or openSUSE 13.2 and earlier):
https://lists.opensuse.org/opensuse-factory/2017-08/msg00281.html

All start-up problems should be fixed by now, but please uninstall the manually installed driver before you try that…
And also note that you may have to remove /usr/lib64/libGL*.so.*, because the wrong (old/outdated) ones may be “reinstalled” by nvidia’s uninstaller in that case.

#15

It is now synchronized with the kernel, but a few days ago it was not.
The problem with TW is that it also updates the Kernel twice a week

#16

That is irrelevant.
The kernel module is compiled during installation anyway (since years), and on every kernel update now too.

Those new packages are explicitly designed to work on Tumbleweed, that was actually my main point.

#17

Whatever the way to install Nvidia drivers, it is important to get a working Desktop.
Certainly the Repo is more comfortable

#18

It is not mandatory that you should update each time when a new the kernel is available. Just utilize the zypper lock feature on the kernel, and update manually once or mostly twice per month. You will be surprised how convenient this way is.

#19

Brilliant, I never thought of doing this. I am certainly going to give it a try. Let a few kernel updates pile up and then release them. :slight_smile:

#20

I always do this
Update the Kernel when I have time to upgrade even Nvidia’s drivers