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# A03 R8 ❯ NVIDIA: Installation on 8.x

ℹ️ This article is part of AlmaLinux System Series.

💡 Experience Level ⭐☆☆☆☆
📆 Last modified 2024-02-02
🔧 Tested by
↳ version | platform | date 		none
↳ 9.x | x86_64 | 2023-05-xx

# 🌟 Introduction

This is a dedicated example for the AlmaLinux 8.x series, demonstrating how to install NVIDIA graphics driver using one of three variants:

  • Variant I: Precompiled/Binary Driver
  • Variant II: Compile Driver Source
  • Variant III : NVIDIA .run Driver Installation Guide

# 🔖 Variant I: Install Binary Driver

➡️ Enable PowerTools:

sudo dnf config-manager --set-enabled powertools
sudo dnf makecache

➡️ Add EPEL8:

sudo dnf -y install epel-release
sudo dnf upgrade

➡️ Add NVIDIA Repository:

sudo dnf config-manager --add-repo https://developer.download.nvidia.com/compute/cuda/repos/rhel8/x86_64/cuda-rhel8.repo
sudo dnf makecache

➡️ Install the latest NVIDIA driver:

sudo dnf module install nvidia-driver:latest

➡️ Install third-party libraries for CUDA:

sudo dnf install freeglut-devel libX11-devel libXi-devel libXmu-devel make mesa-libGLU-devel freeimage-devel libglfw3-devel

# 🔖 Variant II: Compile Driver Source

TIP

Installing NVIDIA drivers on AlmaLinux 8 requires using ELRepo Mainline kernel.

➡️ Enable PowerTools & add EPEL8:

sudo dnf config-manager --set-enabled powertools
sudo dnf makecache && sudo dnf -y install epel-release
sudo dnf makecache

➡️ Add ELRepo:

rpm --import https://www.elrepo.org/RPM-GPG-KEY-elrepo.org
sudo dnf -y install https://www.elrepo.org/elrepo-release-8.el8.elrepo.noarch.rpm
sudo dnf makecache

➡️ Enable ELRepo Mainline Kernel Repo:

sudo dnf config-manager --set-enabled elrepo-kernel
sudo dnf makecache

➡️ Install ELrepo Mainline kernel:

sudo dnf -y install kernel-ml kernel-ml-modules kernel-ml-modules-extra kernel-ml-devel kernel-headers

➡️ Add NVIDIA repository:

sudo dnf config-manager --add-repo https://developer.download.nvidia.com/compute/cuda/repos/rhel8/x86_64/cuda-rhel8.repo
sudo dnf makecache

➡️ Install NVIDIA DKMS Drivers:

sudo dnf module install nvidia-driver:latest-dkms

➡️ Disable Nouveau:

printf 'blacklist nouveau\n' | sudo tee /etc/modprobe.d/nouveau-blacklist.conf
sudo dracut -f --regenerate-all
lsmod | grep -Ei '(nouv|nvidia)'

➡️ Reboot to runlevel 3:

sudo systemctl set-default multi-user.target
sudo reboot
sudo systemctl set-default graphical.target
sudo reboot

# 🔖 Variant III: NVIDIA .run Driver Installation Guide

➡️ Enable needed repository:

sudo dnf install epel-release
sudo dnf config-manager --set-enabled powertools
sudo dnf config-manager --set-enabled extras

➡️ Install needed packages:

sudo dnf install kernel-devel
sudo dnf install kernel-headers
sudo dnf install dkms
sudo dnf install redhat-lsb-core
sudo dnf install vulkan
sudo dnf install vulkan-tools
sudo dnf install vulkan-headers
sudo dnf install vulkan-loader-devel

➡️ Disable Nouveau:

sudo touch /etc/modprobe.d/nouveau-blacklist.conf
echo "blacklist nouveau" | sudo tee /etc/modprobe.d/nouveau-blacklist.conf
echo "options nouveau modeset=0" | sudo tee -a /etc/modprobe.d/nouveau-blacklist.conf

sudo dracut --force

sudo grub2-mkconfig -o /boot/grub2/grub.cfg
sudo grub2-mkconfig -o /boot/efi/EFI/almalinux/grub.cfg

sudo reboot

➡️ Install the .run driver : Download the latest driver (Verify compatibility with your GPU):

https://www.nvidia.com/en-us/drivers/unix/linux-amd64-display-archive/

➡️ Go into the downloaded driver directory (Replace /path/to/driver with the actual path):

cd /path/to/driver

➡️ Make executable (XXX.XXX.XX Is the driver version):

sudo chmod +x NVIDIA-LINUX-x86_64-XXX.XXX.XX.run

➡️ Switch to Run Level 3 :

sudo init 3

➡️ .run Driver installation options :

Choose either Option 1 or Option 2 based on your preference.

Option 1 :

Install via the Console Text UI by following the prompt: Replace XXX.XXX.XX with the actual driver version.

sudo ./NVIDIA-LINUX-x86_64-XXX.XXX.XX.run

Option 2 :

Install silently via console : Replace XXX.XXX.XX with the actual driver version.

sudo ./NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-XXX.XXX.XX.run --accept-license --silent --run-nvidia-xconfig --dkms

➡️ Update the initramfs (This is needed as of 535.XXX.XX drivers) :

Update the initramfs to ensure the changes made by the NVIDIA driver installation are reflected.

sudo dracut -f

sudo grub2-mkconfig -o /boot/grub2/grub.cfg
sudo grub2-mkconfig -o /boot/efi/EFI/almalinux/grub.cfg

➡️ Set the default target to graphical for a desktop environment & Set the default target back to multi-user for a server or command-line environment.

sudo systemctl set-default graphical.target
sudo systemctl set-default multi-user.target

sudo reboot

# Known issue with NVIDIA-Settings Desktop Icon:

# Create NVIDIA Settings desktop icon :

sudo echo "[Desktop Entry]" | sudo tee /usr/share/applications/nvidia-settings.desktop
sudo echo "Type=Application" | sudo tee -a /usr/share/applications/nvidia-settings.desktop
sudo echo "Name=NVIDIA Settings" | sudo tee -a /usr/share/applications/nvidia-settings.desktopsudo
sudo echo "Comment=Configure NVIDIA Settings" | sudo tee -a /usr/share/applications/nv```idia-settings.desktop
sudo echo "Exec=nvidia-settings" | sudo tee -a /usr/share/applications/nvidia-settings.desktop
sudo echo "Icon=nvidia-settings" | sudo tee -a /usr/share/applications/nvidia-settings.desktop
sudo echo "Terminal=false" | sudo tee -a /usr/share/applications/nvidia-settings.desktop
sudo echo "Categories=System;Settings;X-Red-Hat-Base-Utilities;" | sudo tee -a /usr/share/applications/nvidia-settings.desktop

# 📚 Further Reading and Next Steps

Get Back:

In-depth Resources:

Related Resources:

← A03 R9 ❯ NVIDIA: Installation on 9.x →