# Installation of nvidia-304xx drivers on Rocky8.5 **URL:** \ **Category:** Rocky Linux Help & Support\ **Created:** [September 18, 2022, 10:37pm UTC](https://forums.rockylinux.org/t/installation-of-nvidia-304xx-drivers-on-rocky8-5/7284 "2022-09-18T22:37:55Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 2\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![LenE](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7bcc69/32.png) [@LenE](https://forums.rockylinux.org/u/LenE)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2022, 10:37pm UTC](https://forums.rockylinux.org/t/installation-of-nvidia-304xx-drivers-on-rocky8-5/7284/1 "2022-09-18T22:37:55Z")
Acknowledgements I appreciate the encouragement of RPMFusion senior staff, Nicolas Chauvet and Leigh Scott, to proceed with this installation. They have made it absolutely clear that nvidia-304xx drivers reached end-of-life (EOL) years ago, and they in no way are responsible or liable for any unreliabilities or failures in installations using them in conjunction with their software. With that caveat in mind, I extend my profuse “thank you’s” to Leigh for his mentoring in assembling the required archival RPMFusion software components, and especially for prescribing the fundamental rpmbuild –rebuild command without which the installation would have been impossible. I also appreciate the information enigma9o7 has provided in his post, [nvidia-304 won't install](https://ubuntuforums.org/showthread.php?t=2396263), which I’ve used many times in similar installations, and has some applicability in this one. * * * Rocky 8.6 kernel is unusable For machines with SATA disk controllers, the required disk drivers are missing in the Rocky 8.6 kernel. (Reference: [Rocky 8.6 won’t boot on PC with Nvidia Graphics card](https://forums.rockylinux.org/t/rocky-8-6-won-t-boot-on-pc-with-nvidia-graphics-card/6564)) Also, the kernel-devel package is missing a file. (Reference: [Module build fails on RHEL8.6 as kmap\_types.h is removed from kernel-devel. - Red Hat Customer Portal](https://access.redhat.com/solutions/6964004)) Fortunately, the Fedora29 kernel has the necessary characteristics to fill the gap. * * * REQUIRED EXTRAS * * * RPMFusion current components From [Index of /free/el/updates/8/x86\_64/b](https://download1.rpmfusion.org/free/el/updates/8/x86_64/b) buildsys-build-rpmfusion-30-9.el8.x86\_64.rpm and buildsys-build-rpmfusion-kerneldevpkgs-current-30-9.el8.x86\_64.rpm * * * RPMFusion archival components From [RepoView: "RPM Fusion Fedora nonfree 27 - x86\_64"](https://mirror1.hs-esslingen.de/pub/Mirrors/archive.rpmfusion.org/nonfree-archive/fedora/releases/27/Everything/x86_64/os/repoview/letter_x.group.html), the 3 driver files, xorg-x11-drv-nvidia-304xx - NVIDIA’s 304xx serie proprietary display driver for NVIDIA graphic cards xorg-x11-drv-nvidia-304xx-devel - Development files for xorg-x11-drv-nvidia-304xx xorg-x11-drv-nvidia-304xx-libs - Libraries for xorg-x11-drv-nvidia-304xx From [Index of /pub/Mirrors/archive.rpmfusion.org/nonfree-archive/fedora/updates/27/SRPMS/n](https://mirror1.hs-esslingen.de/pub/Mirrors/archive.rpmfusion.org/nonfree-archive/fedora/updates/27/SRPMS/n), nvidia-304xx-kmod-304.137-4.fc27.src.rpm From [Index of /pub/Mirrors/archive.rpmfusion.org/nonfree-archive/fedora/updates/27/x86\_64/a](https://mirror1.hs-esslingen.de/pub/Mirrors/archive.rpmfusion.org/nonfree-archive/fedora/updates/27/x86_64/a), akmod-nvidia-304xx-304.137-4.fc27.x86\_64.rpm * * * Signing Key Collection To avoid any problems with kernel taint, all packages from other than the standard repos should be checked for valid signatures. Therefore, all public keys from valid software sources should be imported into the rpm database. (This importation is most easily handled in the installation procedure immediately after the graphics user interface is in place). From the RPMFusion web site, the keys to be downloaded are: RPM-GPG-KEY-rpmfusion-free-el-8 RPM-GPG-KEY-rpmfusion-nonfree-el-8 RPM-GPG-KEY-rpmfusion-free-fedora-27 RPM-GPG-KEY-rpmfusion-nonfree-fedora-27 RPM-GPG-KEY-rpmfusion-free-fedora-29 RPM-GPG-KEY-rpmfusion-nonfree-fedora-29 (I’m vague on whether only free or only nonfree keys are required; it’s minimal overhead simply to install both). From [https://archives.fedoraproject.org](https://archives.fedoraproject.org), Fedora 29 updates, the package fedora-gpg-keys-29-6.noarch.rpm, when installed, loads a large number of fedora-version keys into /etc/pki/rpm-gpg. From there, the Fedora 29 and Fedora 27 related ones can be imported into the rpm database: specifically, sudo rpm --import RPM-GPG-KEY-fedora-29-x86\_64, sudo rpm --import RPM-GPG-KEY-fedora-27-x86\_64 When the EPEL repo is activated, sudo yum install epel-release, the EPEL public key, RPM-GPG-KEY-EPEL-8, is placed in /etc/pki/rpm-gpg. The RPM-GPG-KEY-rockyofficial public key is in /etc/pki/rpm-gpg as part of the Rocky8.5 installation. * * * Fedora27 Graphics It is well known that nvidia-304xx drivers don’t work if the xorg-x11-server-Xorg version is \> 1.19.n Fortunately, the necessary downgrade is readily accomplished by installing the following packages: glx-utils-8.4.0-5.20181118git1830dcb.el8.x86\_64.rpm initial-setup-gui-0.3.81.7-1.el8.x86\_64.rpm mesa-dri-drivers-21.3.4-1.el8.x86\_64.rpm plymouth-system-theme-0.9.4-11.20200615git1e36e30.el8.x86\_64.rpm spice-vdagent-0.20.0-4.el8.x86\_64.rpm xorg-x11-drv-ati-7.9.0-3.fc27.x86\_64.rpm xorg-x11-drv-evdev-2.10.5-4.fc27.x86\_64.rpm xorg-x11-drv-fbdev-0.4.3-28.fc27.x86\_64.rpm xorg-x11-drv-intel-2.99.917-30.20160929.fc27.x86\_64.rpm xorg-x11-drv-libinput-0.26.0-1.fc27.x86\_64.rpm xorg-x11-drv-nouveau-1.0.15-3.fc27.x86\_64.rpm xorg-x11-drv-qxl-0.1.5-5.fc27.x86\_64.rpm xorg-x11-drv-vesa-2.3.2-28.fc27.x86\_64.rpm xorg-x11-drv-vmware-13.2.1-4.fc27.x86\_64.rpm xorg-x11-drv-wacom-0.35.0-3.fc27.x86\_64.rpm xorg-x11-server-common-1.19.6-7.fc27.x86\_64.rpm xorg-x11-server-Xorg-1.19.6-7.fc27.x86\_64.rpm xorg-x11-utils-7.5-28.el8.x86\_64.rpm xorg-x11-xauth-1.0.9-12.el8.x86\_64.rpm xorg-x11-xinit-1.3.4-18.el8.x86\_64.rpm The el8 packages should be installed first from the standard repos. The fc27 packages need to be downloaded from [https://archives.fedoraproject.org](https://archives.fedoraproject.org), Fedora 27 Release packages, and installed locally. * * * Fedora29Kernel The following packages to install the Fedora 29 kernel need to be downloaded from [https://archives.fedoraproject.org](https://archives.fedoraproject.org), Fedora 29 Release packages: kernel-4.18.16-300.fc29.x86\_64.rpm kernel-core-4.18.16-300.fc29.x86\_64.rpm kernel-cross-headers-4.18.16-300.fc29.x86\_64.rpm kernel-devel-4.18.16-300.fc29.x86\_64.rpm kernel-headers-4.18.16-300.fc29.x86\_64.rpm kernel-modules-4.18.16-300.fc29.x86\_64.rpm kernel-modules-extra-4.18.16-300.fc29.x86\_64.rpm kernel-tools-4.18.10-300.fc29.x86\_64.rpm kernel-tools-libs-4.18.10-300.fc29.x86\_64.rpm kernel-tools-libs-devel-4.18.10-300.fc29.x86\_64.rpm * * * The file, disable-nouveau.conf, loaded into /etc/modprobe.d, to disable the nouveau graphics driver after reboot: blacklist nouveau blacklist vga16fb blacklist rivafb blacklist nvidiafb blacklist rivatv blacklist amd64\_edac\_mod blacklist amd76\_edac options nouveau modeset=0 * * * All these files and packages should be assembled and organized on a USB stick for ready upload during the installation process. * * * INSTALLATION PROCEDURE * * * Initial Hard Drive Installation Using the Rocky 8.5 minimal .iso, for reasons as per the Rocky forum post mentioned above, the following 2 statements needed to be added to install boot up command: inst.dd=hd:LABEL=OEMDRV://kmod-sat\_nv-5.4.5.el8.x86\_64.rpm inst.dd=hd:LABEL=OEMDRV://kmod-forcedeth=0.0-6.el8\_4.elrepo.x86\_64.rpm (The first file can be downloaded from a Japanese CentOS8.5 archive, the 2nd from the ELRepo website). The standard software selected on install is the Server option, and the Basic Development Tools. * * * Initial Installs without a GUI, preparing for a GUI Mount a USB stick containing the Fedora29Kernel packages, sudo mount /dev/sdb1 /mnt (I uploaded them into a directory, /usr/share/Fedora29Kernel). sudo yum localinstall k\*.rpm, install 54 packages, upgrades 3. Generate a grub configuration file: sudo grub2-mkconfig -o /boot/grub2/grub.cfg sudo reboot, and after reboot, the Fedora29Kernel is the default, as indicated by uname -r from the command line. sudo yum group install Fonts, installs 41 packages. sudo yum group install ‘RPM Development Tools’, install 27 packages, upgrades 15 yum list rpmdevtools —\> just to confirm that it is installed rpmdev-setuptree —\> then check that the rpmbuild directory has been created for /home/user sudo yum install epel-release —\> create yum access to EPEL repository cd /etc/pki/rpm-gpg —\> proceed to install two important keys ASAP sudo rpm --import RPM-GPG-KEY-rockyofficial sudo rpm --import RPM-GPG-KEY-EPEL-8 Because gdm has a dependency on xorg-x11-server-Xorg-1.20, and a downgrade to xorg-x11-server-Xorg-1.19.6 is required, gdm is excluded from the XFCE interface: sudo yum --exclude=gdm group install “XFCE”, installs 151 packages The yum install-only limit, for the number of kernels retained, applies to other kernel component packages also, and can be a problem when multiple versions of them are normally retained, specifically kernel-devel. Therefore, as a precaution, cd /etc, sudo nano yum.conf, change the install\_only limit from the default 3 to 6. sudo yum update, installs 55 packages, upgrades 225. (After this update, a cache problem occured when trying another install: the message said to run sudo yum clean packages: after a reboot, normal processing returned). sudo yum install sddm → sddm is the replacement display manager sudo yum install gvfs → gives thunar normal USB mount and unmount capability sudo systemctl set-default graphical.target → activates GUI on reboot sudo reboot * * * Remaining Installs, from GUI From Settings —\> Window Manager Tweaks ----\> disable compositor From Settings —\> Screensaver —\> disable screensaver and disable lock screen From a USB stick, upload and locally install fedora-gpg-keys-29-6.noarch.rpm From /etc/pki/rpm-gpg, sudo rpm --import RPM-GPG-KEY-fedora-29-x86\_64, and sudo rpm --import RPM-GPG-KEY-fedora-27-x86\_64 From a USB stick, upload the rpmfusion keys into /etc/pki/rpm-gpg, and sudo rpm --import RPM-GPG-KEY-rpmfusion\* From a USB stick, upload the Fedora27Graphics packages. (I uploaded them into a directory, /usr/share/Fedora27Graphics). Install the required el8 modules: sudo yum install glx-utils initial-setup-gui initial-setup mesa-dri-drivers plymouth-system-theme spice-vdagent xorg-x11-utils xorg-x11-xauth xorg-x11-xinit, installs 127 packages. Check the Fedora 27 packages, rpm --checksig x\*.rpm, should show that all signatures are o.k. sudo yum --skip-broken localinstall x\*.fc27.x86\_64.rpm, installs 10 packages, downgrades 5 For convenience, from /home/user, mkdir Downloads; from a USB stick, upload nvidia-304xx-kmod\*.src.rpm into it From a USB stick, upload and locally install buildsys-build-rpmfusion and buildsys-build-rpmfusion-kerneldevpkgs-current, which install kmodtool as a dependency sudo yum install akmods dkms kmod, installs 8 packages * * * The Home Stretch From /home/user/Downloads, rpmbuild --rebuild --define="kernels $(uname -r)” nvidia-304xx\*.rpm, which creates kmod-nvidia-304xx\*.x86\_64.rpm in /home/user/rpmbuild/RPMS/x86\_64 Into that same directory, upload the 4 RPMFusion archival packages, akmod-nvidia\*.rpm and the 3 xorg-x11-drv\*.rpm’s. Into /etc/modprobe.d, upload the disable-nouveau.conf file, reboot After reboot, the vesa graphics driver will be in effect, with a larger text size. sudo service sddm stop, cntrl-alt-F2, login in text mode From /home/user/rpmbuild/RPMS/x86\_64, sudo yum localinstall \*.rpm, which install the 5 packages there. sudo reboot; NB: the Fedora 29 kernel is no longer the default on login. from Advanced options, it is the last entry; select it. sudo lshw -C video should show that the nvidia driver is in effect * * * Post Installation Versionlock xorg-x11-server-Xorg-1.19.6-7.fc27.x86\_64 Xorg version 1.19.6 is essential to the functioning of the nvidia-304xx drivers so it should not be upgraded. sudo yum install python3-dnf-plugin-versionlock, to install the versionlock package. sudo dnf versionlock add xorg-x11-server-Xorg-1.19.6-7.fc27.x86\_64, to lock the Xorg package. Sddm bug and work-around To enable root login with the sddm display manager, in /etc/sddm.conf, the MinimumUID value needs to be changed from 1000 to 0. Unfortunately, this step enables a considerable number of extraneous login UID’s in addition to root, egs. GAMES, MAIL, OPERATOR. There is provision for entering a comma- delimited list of exclusions into the file, but that doesn’t seem to work. Fortunately, the last ID used on a login is retained for the next login, so there’s no significant problem in usage. There is horizontal scrolling to select the UID on login, so one just has to remember that “root is on the right”, and it’s not too problematic to switch between ordinary user and root login. Len E. ---
**Author:** ![brian](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forums.rockylinux.org/brian/32/5777_2.png) [@brian](https://forums.rockylinux.org/u/brian)\ **Post date:** [August 25, 2023, 3:39am UTC](https://forums.rockylinux.org/t/installation-of-nvidia-304xx-drivers-on-rocky8-5/7284/2 "2023-08-25T03:39:58Z")