Nvidia on Ubuntu: Difference between revisions

Line 1:

Because I wanted to run a local [[Artificial Intelligence]] platform called [[Ollama]], I wanted to ensure that my GPU was fully utilized in the system since GPUs are the particular type of hardware best suited for these [[Vector database|Vector]] calculations<ref>https://docs.nvidia.com/cuda/cuda-c-programming-guide/index.html#the-benefits-of-using-gpus</ref>. And, I have a 'decent' GPU - [[PC Build 2024#Video Card (GPU)|Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060]] (the best you could get in 2024). In trying to install the latest Nvidia driver, I set off on a week-long journey of learning, frustration and perseverance discovering the inner workings of Ubuntu 24.04, Xorg, the Linux kernel and kernel modules, DRM, Secure Boot, initramfs and more.

Because I wanted to run a local [[Artificial Intelligence]] platform called [[Ollama]], I wanted to ensure that my GPU was fully utilized in the system since GPUs are the particular type of hardware best suited for these [[Vector database|Vector]] calculations<ref>https://docs.nvidia.com/cuda/cuda-c-programming-guide/index.html#the-benefits-of-using-gpus</ref>. And, I have a 'decent' GPU - [[PC Build 2024#Video Card (GPU)|Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060]] (the best you could get when I built the system in 2024). In trying to install the latest Nvidia driver, I set off on a week-long journey of learning, frustration and perseverance discovering the inner workings of Ubuntu 24.04, Xorg, the Linux kernel and kernel modules, DRM, Secure Boot, initramfs and more.

I still do not have the Nvidia driver loaded - even after 40+ reboots and attempts. Instead I'm using the Nouveau driver but at least I have a working system and I believe now that I've finally figured out what needs to be done to disable Nouveau and install Nvidia - a project that I am approaching with greater scrutiny now. I'm documenting the things that I encounter in this journey.

Revision as of 05:57, 30 June 2025 view source Admin (talk \| contribs) Image-reviewer, Bureaucrats, Check users, confirmed, Moderators (CommentStreams), Interface administrators, Push subscription managers, Administrators (Semantic MediaWiki), Curators (Semantic MediaWiki), Editors (Semantic MediaWiki), staff, Suppressors, sysadmin, Administrators, uploadaccess, upwizcampeditors, Widget editors 2,745 edits No edit summary Tag: Visual edit ← Older edit		Revision as of 21:32, 30 June 2025 view source Greg Rundlett (talk \| contribs) 94 edits mNo edit summary Tag: Visual edit Newer edit →
Line 1:		Line 1:
	Because I wanted to run a local [[Artificial Intelligence]] platform called [[Ollama]], I wanted to ensure that my GPU was fully utilized in the system since GPUs are the particular type of hardware best suited for these [[Vector database\|Vector]] calculations<ref>https://docs.nvidia.com/cuda/cuda-c-programming-guide/index.html#the-benefits-of-using-gpus</ref>. And, I have a 'decent' GPU - [[PC Build 2024#Video Card (GPU)\|Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060]] (the best you could get in 2024). In trying to install the latest Nvidia driver, I set off on a week-long journey of learning, frustration and perseverance discovering the inner workings of Ubuntu 24.04, Xorg, the Linux kernel and kernel modules, DRM, Secure Boot, initramfs and more.		Because I wanted to run a local [[Artificial Intelligence]] platform called [[Ollama]], I wanted to ensure that my GPU was fully utilized in the system since GPUs are the particular type of hardware best suited for these [[Vector database\|Vector]] calculations<ref>https://docs.nvidia.com/cuda/cuda-c-programming-guide/index.html#the-benefits-of-using-gpus</ref>. And, I have a 'decent' GPU - [[PC Build 2024#Video Card (GPU)\|Nvidia GeForce RTX 4060]] (the best you could get when I built the system in 2024). In trying to install the latest Nvidia driver, I set off on a week-long journey of learning, frustration and perseverance discovering the inner workings of Ubuntu 24.04, Xorg, the Linux kernel and kernel modules, DRM, Secure Boot, initramfs and more.

	I still do not have the Nvidia driver loaded - even after 40+ reboots and attempts. Instead I'm using the Nouveau driver but at least I have a working system and I believe now that I've finally figured out what needs to be done to disable Nouveau and install Nvidia - a project that I am approaching with greater scrutiny now. I'm documenting the things that I encounter in this journey.		I still do not have the Nvidia driver loaded - even after 40+ reboots and attempts. Instead I'm using the Nouveau driver but at least I have a working system and I believe now that I've finally figured out what needs to be done to disable Nouveau and install Nvidia - a project that I am approaching with greater scrutiny now. I'm documenting the things that I encounter in this journey.