Ubuntu
ubuntu-drivers-common package

Why ubuntu-drivers devices command recommend a OSS version of NVIDIA GPU driver?

Asked by Yuhki Yano

When we install a video card made by NVIDIA, we use ubuntu-drivers devices command. However this command reccomend a oss version driver which does not work correctly. If we would like to use it, we need to set a additional option for Linux Kernel. The way of setting is as follows.
1. Create a conf file in /etc/modprobe.d
2. Write a option NVreg_OpenRmEnableUnsupportedGpus=1 in a above conf.
3. Reboot Ubuntu
This install task is very very very complicated!!
Why this command recommend a oss version?
I would liket to know the reason why this command reccomend a oss version.
Why this command does not reccommend a stable version of GPU driver?
In developers forum of NVIDIA, the open version of drivers are recomended not to use.
Reference
https://forums.developer.nvidia.com/t/nvidia-smi-outputs-no-devices-were-found-on-ubuntu-22-04-driver-520/234829
https://github.com/NVIDIA/open-gpu-kernel-modules/issues/433

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#1

It's one command:

echo "NVreg_OpenRmEnableUnsupportedGpus=1" | sudo tee /etc/modprobe.d/nvreg_fix.conf > /dev/null

Not very complicated at all.....

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Yuhki Yano (y-vectorfield) said (last edit ): 		#2

Thank you very much for your comment. However, your comment did not solve my question.
I would like to know the reason why this command recommend not stable version but oss version ?

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#3

The OSS driver is stable

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Yuhki Yano (y-vectorfield) said (last edit ): 		#4

Thank you very much for your comment.
The way I put the question was not clear enough.
Why does this command recommend a driver which nedd to set a additional conf.
Why does this recoomend a non open version driver ??
If we install the non open version, we do not need to set a additional option.
NVIDIA developer's forum reccommended non open version drivers.

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actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#5

Because sometimes it's needed. Lots of modules have lots of options. This makes them work for specific hardwares. It doesn't mean it isn't stable.

Here are some for the iwlwifi module as an example
https://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2483375&p=14128359

Your particular chip needs the option to function. Nothing more comicated than that

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Johnson (j3soon) said : 		#6

The full command provided by @actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) should be the following instead:

```
echo "options nvidia NVreg_OpenRmEnableUnsupportedGpus=1" | sudo tee /etc/modprobe.d/nvreg_fix.conf > /dev/null
```

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Yuhki Yano (y-vectorfield) said (last edit ): 		#7

Thank you very much for your comment.
Howerver, your comments did not answer of my question.
It is unnecessary to know how to set a additional conf for open driver efficiently.
Why does this command reccomend a non-open version driver?
How does this command reccomend a driver ? (reccomend a newest one ??)
If we install a non-open version, we do not need to set these settings.

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Nozo (m-nozo) said : 		#8

I'm sorry to interrupt you. I have also seen this issue.

I think what's confusing is that the nvidia-driver-*-open drivers that the "ubuntu-drivers devices" command suggests as "recommended" don't work by default. Also, it doesn't seem easy for users to find workarounds to add option to nvidia's kernel module. Isn't there an article about this workaround in the official Ubuntu documentation?

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Launchpad Janitor (janitor) said : 		#9

This question was expired because it remained in the 'Open' state without activity for the last 15 days.

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Yuhki Yano (y-vectorfield) said : 		#10

Nozo, thank you very much for your comment.
Anyone know the answer of our question?

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Launchpad Janitor (janitor) said : 		#11

This question was expired because it remained in the 'Open' state without activity for the last 15 days.