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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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Linux 6.6 To Better Protect Against The Illicit Behavior Of NVIDIA's Proprietary Driver (www.phoronix.com)

submitted 1 year ago by pnutzh4x0r@lemmy.ndlug.org to c/linux@lemmy.ml

259 comments fedilink hide all child comments

Luis Chamberlain sent out the modules changes today for the Linux 6.6 merge window. Most notable with the modules update is a change that better builds up the defenses against NVIDIA's proprietary kernel driver from using GPL-only symbols. Or in other words, bits that only true open-source drivers should be utilizing and not proprietary kernel drivers like NVIDIA's default Linux driver in respecting the original kernel code author's intent.

Back in 2020 when the original defense was added, NVIDIA recommended avoiding the Linux 5.9 for the time being. They ended up having a supported driver several weeks later. It will be interesting to see this time how long Linux 6.6+ thwarts their kernel driver.

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[–] ArbitraryValue@sh.itjust.works 7 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (34 children)

I get why the Linux folks are doing this, but I don't expect that it will make them popular with anyone who actually uses Nvidia drivers on Linux (which is a lot of people). I'm sure that my employer will choose up-to-date Nvidia drivers over up-to-date versions of the kernel, at least in the short term. In the long term it probably won't be an issue since Nvidia will figure something out, but if it did become an issue then ultimately Nvidia driver support is non-negotiable for the company where I work.

(No one cares what a small tech company does, but the big guys need Nvidia too so it should be possible to piggyback on whatever they do.)

[–] rikudou@lemmings.world 5 points 1 year ago (2 children)

I use Nvidia drivers on Linux and fully support it. You know what else is non-negotiable? Linux support for Nvidia. Huge chunk of their money comes from people using their GPUs on Linux for machine learning. And while they can use older kernels for now (because they're still supported), they won't be able to forever. And corporates will want a supported OS with their Nvidia card.

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[–] librechad@lemm.ee 5 points 1 year ago (5 children)

Just installed the nvidia-driver for my 2080 SUPER and my system isn't starting now. I'm using Debian 12.1 and after installing the driver, it crashes after entering in my password for my encrypted drive.

I will load up a Live USB and see if I can fix the issue. Any help would be appreciated!

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[–] true_blue@lemmy.comfysnug.space 5 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

I use Nvidia's proprietary driver because the open-source Nouveau driver won't work with my display. Will this update break the driver, or just make it slower?

I'd love to stop using Nvidia, but I don't have much choice about using their proprietary driver until I get my next video card, or Nouveau starts working for me.

[–] Chewy7324@discuss.tchncs.de 7 points 1 year ago (1 children)

It probably means it'll take longer for Nvidia to release a driver for Linux 6.6 and might stop them from doing so. They'll probably find a way to circumvent this and continue to violate the GPLv2 the kernel is licensed under.

If your on a distro which gets a new kernel quickly it might be a good idea to pin Linux 6.5 so the system doesn't update to a kernel which the driver doesn't support. But whether that's necessary woll probably be talked about more once 6.6 actually releases.

PS: If your on a 2000 series or later GPU you might actually be able to use nouveau at some point, since there's ongoing work on an open source Vulkan driver with actually useable performance. Thanks to Nvidia it definitely won't work on Pascal and earlier.

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