Hi all

When I still installed the nvidia driver "old style" (i. e. without using packages) I seem to remember that it was kernel specific, i. e. the nvidia driver, like all kernel modules, needs to compile against the running kernel's source.

As I understand it, if I install the kmod-nvidia rpm package from rpmfusion, I get a -binary- nvidia driver, that is pre-compiled against the standard FC10 kernel version? If not, how does it work? Does yum "know" to compile the just-downloaded rpmfusion'ed kmod-nvidia against the running kernel source? Doesn't this mean you MUST have a kernel source package installed, BEFORE installing kmod-nivida? What happens if I have a kernel that there isn't a kernel source package for? (Like, if I compile my own kernel with my own unique settings...?)

This is why I hate packages... too much odours of Windows.... - closed black boxes that either work or they don't, and if they don't, you're screwed...

If I now do have the above installed (i. e. a pre-compiled, packaged nvidia driver fo the standard FC10 kernel version) obviously I'll have major problems if I now go and upgrade the kernel? I. e. the nvidia kernel module will stop working / loading (since it is for an older kernel).

From a package viewpoint, what do I do then?

"Old style" I'd simply reinstall it against the new kernel's source and be done with it, but apparently this is a major no-no, especially in such a heavily "packaged" distro as FC10 seems to be?

It seems MUCH simpler to throw RPM out the window first thing and do everything "old style" - download a source tarball and compile, tarball -> compile, tarball -> compile... than fiddling with these infernally complex packaging systems that seem to put you in the same "pre-packaged" straightjacket type situation as Windows loves to put you in.

All you do is install the kmod package that matches your kernel. Every time the kernel updates the kmod package updates. Or use the akmod package which detects if you need a new kmod and then "recompiles" every time your kernel changes.

The nvidia packages from the rpmfusion repos will only work with official Fedora kernels (thats what they are compiled against). YUM does not do any compiling, its just for managing prebuilt packages. If you have a kernel that you built yourself, you probably have to compile build the nvidia driver using the run files from nvidia.com because the packages from rpmfusion will not work with your custom kernel (unless you get the source rpm and compile a package against your own kernel). If there is a Fedora kernel upgrade, the rpmfusion nvidia drivers will also get updated. If you hate packages, then maybe something like Gentoo is better for you because it gives you more control.