Nvidia Graphics, WITHOUT Installing a driver

kevinbenko · 04-20-2024, 02:21 PM

{I had stroke in 2011, and am "brain-damaged"}

I have done this before, and cannot remember how I did it, and I need to do it again.

I have an Nvidia graphics card.
I DID NOT install the driver, rather, I used Debian packages to get the behavior of the Nvidia driver.
I was experimenting with my "backup plan" and the I wiped out the root directory, and, of coursed, I could not restore it.

That's the short explanation

Does anyone know how to do this on Debian?

rico001 · 04-20-2024, 04:43 PM

Maybe nvidia common;

kevinbenko · 04-20-2024, 06:33 PM

All I get with "Nvidia Commons" is stock information. And by stock I mean investing/stock_shares/whatever.

cwizardone · 04-20-2024, 09:38 PM

On a clean new installation the nouveau driver should work automatically when you boot up. Does Debian install Nvidia's driver as part of the process? Apparently, from what I've seen over at DistroWatch, Deban does install Nvidia's proprietary driver.
https://distrowatch.com/table.php?distribution=debian

kevinbenko · 04-21-2024, 06:08 PM

The download from Nvidia never works, and I do play graphic-intensive games.
But, like I have done this previously, there are Debian packages that work PERFECTLY, without a driver and it involves Debian-related packages.
But because I am brain-damaged I cannot remember what packages I have previously installed.

Yeah... that stroke is a {bad-word}!

Have yourself a great day!

PS: the nouveau driver is active... I think by default it is always active.

cwizardone · 04-21-2024, 07:20 PM

Maybe one of these videos can help.
https://www.youtube.com/results?sear...iver+in+bebian

kevinbenko · 04-22-2024, 02:46 PM

Thank You for all the suggestions, but, yet again I do not want an actual Nvidia driver.
In the past, I used only Debian packages that acted just like actual Nvidia drivers, but due to my drain-damage I cannot remember these packages {The downside of brain damage}.

I am still looking for these elusive Debian packages.
Has anyone done this before?

Have yourself a great day.
And I am still looking for a solution.

mrmazda · 04-22-2024, 10:56 PM

Take a look at this primer to try to understand graphics driver processes and terms. You really shouldn't have to do anything special to use FOSS drivers with NVidia GPUs, unless you have a model that depends on firmware that may not be installed by default, possibly one of the following:

Code:

# apt-cache search mware | sort | egrep 'veau|vidia|gpu'
firmware-nvidia-gsp - NVIDIA GSP firmware
firmware-nvidia-tesla-gsp - NVIDIA GSP firmware (Tesla version)
nvidia-kernel-dkms - NVIDIA binary kernel module DKMS source
nvidia-tesla-470-kernel-support - NVIDIA binary kernel module support files (Tesla 470 version)
nvidia-tesla-kernel-dkms - NVIDIA binary kernel module DKMS source (Tesla version)
#

In general NVidia GPU users are usually best off to not try to use Wayland, which Gnome and KDE/Plasma now prefer to use by default. You may need to select X11 at your login screen for acceptable results.

kevinbenko · 04-24-2024, 06:52 PM

OK, I will try to decipher this, and I will tell you in a few hours/days/whatever.

Have yourself a wonderful day!

kevinbenko · 04-25-2024, 05:45 PM

A stroke is a b{bad-word}h.

I am confused/bewildered by what y'all have posted.
I will seek within the Debian Documentation for my answers.
When/If I do find the answers I am looking for I will try to remember the results within the Debian Documentation.

{sigh}

Have yourself an excellent day!

{PS: I lived in Tennessee for three years, which gives me the Super Power to say y'all without feeling embarrassed}

kevinbenko · 04-26-2024, 01:12 PM

Crap!
it did not work!

As I have stated, previously, it was merely simply adding in a few packages, the long @$$ set of instructions were way too complicated, thus I am reduced to adding random-ish packages and hoping it comes out OK.

life still sucks for me. Also the official NVIDIA driver ALWAYS fails.

back to square one again, but it comes directly from the Debian documentation

Have yourself a wonderful day!

kevinbenko · 04-30-2024, 02:16 PM

As a restatement:

A few years ago, I found the instructions that didn't use the Nvidia card, and it seemed to work perfectly, without the driver. I replaced my old computer with a new computer and I forgot to write down what I had changed. Can anybody give me the information I am looking for?

mrmazda · 05-01-2024, 11:18 PM

How long ago did you buy this computer? Can you exchange it for one lacking NVidia graphics? That would probably be your best way forward. You would have no need for doing special configuration that is rarely otherwise needed. AMD and Intel GPUs normally work nicely on pure FOSS automagic.

kevinbenko · 05-02-2024, 02:58 PM

As I have said, it did not use Nvidia-based driver in the past, but I used only Debian aptitude-based packages, and it worked perfectly, but as I am brain-damaged, I cannot recall the packages, even though they behaved just like the proprietary Nvidia drivers.

Thus the problem is my Brain-Damage, and nothing else.

Have yourself a glorious day!

mrmazda · Yesterday, 12:51 AM

For one of my 14 year old NVidias, the following is a list of all software installed on Bookworm that is specifically packaged for exclusive use by NVidia GPUs:

Code:

# dpkg-query -W | egrep 'veau|vidia'
firmware-nvidia-tesla-gsp       525.147.05-7~deb12u1
libdrm-nouveau2:amd64   2.4.114-1+b1
xserver-xorg-video-nouveau      1:1.0.17-2
#

That's it. Nothing special, and the last of the three is optional, unnecessary, and not currently used, as shown by the following functional report showing that "modesetting" is the loaded display driver:

Code:

# inxi -GSxxz --vs
inxi 3.3.34-00 (2024-04-13)
System:
  Kernel: 6.1.0-20-amd64 arch: x86_64 bits: 64 compiler: gcc v: 12.2.0
  Desktop: TDE (Trinity) v: R14.1.2 tk: Qt v: 3.5.0 wm: Twin dm: 1: TDM
    2: XDM Distro: Debian GNU/Linux 12 (bookworm)
Graphics:
  Device-1: NVIDIA GT218 [GeForce 210] vendor: eVga.com. driver: nouveau
    v: kernel arch: Tesla pcie: speed: 2.5 GT/s lanes: 16 ports:
    active: DVI-I-1,HDMI-A-1 empty: VGA-1 bus-ID: 01:00.0 chip-ID: 10de:0a65
    temp: 71.0 C
  Display: x11 server: X.Org v: 1.21.1.7 compositor: Twin v: 3.0 driver: X:
    loaded: modesetting dri: nouveau gpu: nouveau display-ID: :0 screens: 1
  Screen-1: 0 s-res: 3600x1200 s-dpi: 120
  Monitor-1: DVI-I-1 pos: right model: Dell P2213 res: 1680x1050 dpi: 90
    diag: 558mm (22")
  Monitor-2: HDMI-A-1 mapped: HDMI-1 pos: primary,left model: NEC EA243WM
    res: 1920x1200 dpi: 94 diag: 612mm (24.1")
  API: EGL v: 1.5 platforms: device: 0 egl: 1.4 drv: nouveau device: 1
    drv: swrast gbm: egl: 1.4 drv: nouveau surfaceless: egl: 1.4 drv: nouveau
    x11: egl: 1.4 drv: nouveau inactive: wayland
  API: OpenGL v: 3.3 vendor: nouveau mesa v: 22.3.6 glx-v: 1.4 es-v: 3.1
    direct-render: yes renderer: NVA8 device-ID: 10de:0a65
#

The nouveau kernel module (driver) shown above for "Device" is provided by each kernel .deb. Additional "nouveau" components are provided by a larger general Mesa package shared by all competent GPUs, such as one "nouveau" each for egl and opengl. X is complicated, but that needs be of no concern to mere mortal users who just want to use the internet, compose documents, and be entertained by videos and music using their computers. X automagic handles the needs of the GPU automatically for most users. That should include you.