Nvidia driver updates in Ubuntu - install via command line or Software&Updates

parzifal · 09-20-2018, 02:43 PM

Hi
Want to install latest 400.xxx nvidia driver in Ubuntu 18.04.
Normally I always wait for the driver to become available in Software & Updates.

However, reading this I was wondering if there is any potential problem installing via the command line?

The corollary to this question is why does it seem the latest driver is not immediately available in Software & Updates since I am using a PPA?

(2nd method in following link - Automatic Install using PPA repository to install Nvidia Beta drivers)

https://linuxconfig.org/how-to-insta...c-beaver-linux

ie

Quote:

$ sudo apt update

then either

Quote:

$ sudo ubuntu-drivers autoinstall

or

Quote:

$ sudo apt install nvidia-xxxx

JeremyBoden · 09-20-2018, 03:46 PM

Unless you have an over-riding need for the latest graphics driver, I wouldn't go there. Obviously Ubuntu have reservations about it?

If the current driver works, what do you expect to gain?

hydrurga · 09-20-2018, 03:53 PM

No there shouldn't be a problem installing from the command line if you are installing from Ubuntu's repos as described in the first part of that article. You may well find though that the driver you are currently using is the one that ubuntu-drivers already recommends (which one is that, by the way?).

On the other hand, I agree with JeremyBoden that it would inadvisable to install the beta from the PPA unless you are going to expect and be able to handle any problems that arise.

yancek · 09-20-2018, 04:58 PM

The latest drivers are not available because the Ubuntu (or any distribution for that matter) developers have not tested it. When you install anything "beta" you are volunteering to test it, that's what beta software is.