Objective

The objective is to install the NVIDIA drivers on Ubuntu 18.04 Bionic Beaver Linux. This article will discuss three methods of Nvidia driver installation in the following order:

• Automatic Install using standard Ubuntu Repository
• Automatic Install using PPA repository to install Nvidia Beta drivers
• Manual Install using the Official nvidia.com driver

Operating System and Software Versions

• Operating System: - Ubuntu 18.04 Bionic Beaver Linux

Requirements

Privileged access to your Ubuntu 18.04 Bionic Beaver installation will be required.

Difficulty

EASY - MEDIUM

Conventions

• # - requires given linux commands to be executed with root privileges either directly as a root user or by use of sudo command
• $ - requires given linux commands to be executed as a regular non-privileged user

Automatic Install using standard Ubuntu Repository

The first method is the easiest to perform and in most cases it is the recommended approach. First, detect the model of your nvidia graphic card and the recommended driver. To do so execute:

 $ ubuntu-drivers devices

== /sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:01.0/0000:01:00.0 ==

modalias : pci:v000010DEd00001180sv00001458sd0000353Cbc03sc00i00

vendor   : NVIDIA Corporation

model    : GK104 [GeForce GTX 680]

driver   : nvidia-304 - distro non-free

driver   : nvidia-340 - distro non-free

driver   : nvidia-384 - distro non-free recommended

driver   : xserver-xorg-video-nouveau - distro free builtin

== cpu-microcode.py ==

driver   : intel-microcode - distro free

From the above output we can conclude that the current system has NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680graphic card installed and the recommend driver to install is nvidia-384. If you agree with the recommendation feel free to use ubuntu-drivers command again to install all recommended drivers:

$ sudo ubuntu-drivers autoinstall

Alternatively, install desired driver selectively using the apt command. For example:

$ sudo apt install nvidia-340

Once the installation is concluded, reboot your system and you are done.

Automatic Install using PPA repository to install Nvidia Beta drivers

Using graphics-drivers PPA repository allows us to install bleeding edge Nvidia beta drivers at the risk of unstable system. To proceed first add the ppa:graphics-drivers/ppa repository into your system:

$ sudo add-apt-repository ppa:graphics-drivers/ppa

$ sudo apt update

Next, identify your graphic card model and recommended driver:

$ ubuntu-drivers devices

== /sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:01.0/0000:01:00.0 ==

modalias : pci:v000010DEd00001180sv00001458sd0000353Cbc03sc00i00

vendor   : NVIDIA Corporation

model    : GK104 [GeForce GTX 680]

driver   : nvidia-340 - third-party free

driver   : nvidia-390 - third-party free recommended

driver   : nvidia-387 - third-party free

driver   : nvidia-304 - distro non-free

driver   : nvidia-384 - third-party free

driver   : xserver-xorg-video-nouveau - distro free builtin

== cpu-microcode.py ==

driver   : intel-microcode - distro free

Same as with the above standard Ubuntu repository example, either install all recommended drivers automatically:

$ sudo ubuntu-drivers autoinstall

or selectively using the apt command. Example:

$ sudo apt install nvidia-390

Once done, reboot your system.

Manual Install using the Official Nvidia.com driver

Identify your NVIDIA VGA card

The below commands will allow you to identify your Nvidia card model:

$  lshw -numeric -C display

or

$ lspci -vnn | grep VGA

Download the Official Nvidia Driver

Using your web browser navigate to the official Nvidiawebsite and download an appropriate driver for your Nvidia graphic card. Save the file into your home directory. Example:

$ ls

NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-384.111.bin

Install Prerequisites

The following prerequisites are required to compile and install Nvidia driver:

$ sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386

$ sudo apt update

$ sudo apt install build-essential libc6:i386

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Disable Nouveau Nvidia driver

Next step is to disable the default nouveau Nvidia driver. Follow this guide on how to disable the default Nouveau Nvidia driver. Make sure you reboot your system before you proceed to the next step.

Stop Desktop Manager

In order to install new Nvidia driver we need to stop the current display server. The easiest way to do this is to change into runlevel 3 using the telinit command. After executing the following linux command the display server will stop, therefore make sure you save all your current work ( if any ) before you proceed:

$ sudo telinit 3

Hit CTRL+ALT+F1 and login with your username and password to open a new TTY1 session.

Install Nvidia Driver

To start installation of Nvidia driver execute the following linux command and follow the wizard:

$ bash NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-384.111.bin

1. Accept License
2. The distribution-provided pre-install script failed! Are you sure you want to continue? -> CONTINUE INSTALLATION
3. Would you like to run the nvidia-xconfig utility? -> YES

The Nvidia driver is now installed. Reboot your system:

$ sudo reboot

Configure NVIDIA X Server Settings

After reboot your should be able to start NVIDIA X Server Settings app from the Activities menu.

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Appendix

Error message:

WARNING: Unable to find suitable destination to install 32-bit compatibility libraries

Depending on your needs, this can be safely ignored. However, if you wish to install steam game platform this issue cannot be ignored. To resolve execute:

$ sudo dpkg --add-architecture i386

$ sudo apt update

$ sudo apt install libc6:i386

and re-run the nvidia driver installation.