6.6 KiB
6.6 KiB
DKMS and NVIDIA User Guide for Particle-OS
Overview
Particle-OS includes comprehensive DKMS (Dynamic Kernel Module Support) and NVIDIA driver support, enabling users to install proprietary drivers and kernel modules while maintaining the immutable system architecture. This guide covers common use cases and best practices.
Quick Start
Installing NVIDIA Drivers
# Auto-detect and install optimal NVIDIA driver
sudo apt-layer --nvidia-install auto
# Install specific driver version
sudo apt-layer --nvidia-install 535
# Check NVIDIA driver status
sudo apt-layer --nvidia-status
Installing DKMS Modules
# Install VirtualBox DKMS module
sudo apt-layer --dkms-install virtualbox-dkms 6.1.38
# Install VMware DKMS module
sudo apt-layer --dkms-install open-vm-tools-dkms 12.3.0
# Check DKMS status
sudo apt-layer --dkms-status
Common Use Cases
Gaming Setup with NVIDIA
# 1. Install NVIDIA drivers
sudo apt-layer --nvidia-install auto
# 2. Configure NVIDIA Prime for GPU switching
sudo apt-layer --nvidia-prime-configure
# 3. Switch to NVIDIA GPU for gaming
sudo apt-layer --gpu-switch nvidia
# 4. Install gaming software
sudo apt-layer install steam wine lutris
# 5. Verify NVIDIA drivers are working
sudo apt-layer --nvidia-status
Virtualization Setup
# 1. Install VirtualBox DKMS module
sudo apt-layer --dkms-install virtualbox-dkms 6.1.38
# 2. Install VirtualBox
sudo apt-layer install virtualbox
# 3. Verify DKMS module is installed
sudo apt-layer --dkms-status
# 4. Start VirtualBox
virtualbox
VMware Workstation Setup
# 1. Install VMware DKMS module
sudo apt-layer --dkms-install open-vm-tools-dkms 12.3.0
# 2. Install VMware Workstation
sudo apt-layer install vmware-workstation
# 3. Rebuild DKMS modules if needed
sudo apt-layer --dkms-rebuild-all
# 4. Start VMware Workstation
vmware
Advanced DKMS Management
Kernel Updates and DKMS
When the kernel is updated, DKMS modules need to be rebuilt:
# 1. Update system (includes kernel updates)
sudo apt-layer upgrade
# 2. Rebuild all DKMS modules for new kernel
sudo apt-layer --dkms-rebuild-all
# 3. Verify all modules are rebuilt
sudo apt-layer --dkms-status
Specific Module Management
# Rebuild specific module
sudo apt-layer --dkms-rebuild virtualbox-dkms 6.1.38
# Remove specific module
sudo apt-layer --dkms-remove virtualbox-dkms 6.1.38
# List all installed modules
sudo apt-layer --dkms-list
NVIDIA GPU Switching
# Switch to NVIDIA GPU (performance mode)
sudo apt-layer --gpu-switch nvidia
# Switch to integrated GPU (power saving mode)
sudo apt-layer --gpu-switch integrated
# Use automatic GPU switching
sudo apt-layer --gpu-switch auto
# Check current GPU status
sudo apt-layer --nvidia-status
Troubleshooting
DKMS Build Failures
If DKMS module installation fails:
# 1. Check DKMS status for errors
sudo apt-layer --dkms-status
# 2. Install kernel headers if missing
sudo apt-layer install linux-headers-$(uname -r)
# 3. Try rebuilding the module
sudo apt-layer --dkms-rebuild-all
# 4. Check system logs for detailed errors
sudo journalctl -xe
NVIDIA Driver Issues
If NVIDIA drivers aren't working:
# 1. Check NVIDIA driver status
sudo apt-layer --nvidia-status
# 2. Reinstall NVIDIA drivers
sudo apt-layer --nvidia-install auto
# 3. Configure NVIDIA Prime
sudo apt-layer --nvidia-prime-configure
# 4. Switch to NVIDIA GPU
sudo apt-layer --gpu-switch nvidia
# 5. Reboot system
sudo reboot
GPU Switching Issues
If GPU switching isn't working:
# 1. Check NVIDIA Prime status
sudo apt-layer --nvidia-status
# 2. Reconfigure NVIDIA Prime
sudo apt-layer --nvidia-prime-configure
# 3. Check if prime-select is available
which prime-select
# 4. Manually switch GPU
sudo prime-select nvidia
sudo prime-select intel
sudo prime-select query
Best Practices
1. Always Use Atomic Operations
Particle-OS DKMS commands use atomic transactions with automatic rollback:
# Safe installation with rollback on failure
sudo apt-layer --dkms-install module-name version
# Safe removal with rollback on failure
sudo apt-layer --dkms-remove module-name version
2. Check Status After Operations
Always verify that operations completed successfully:
# Check DKMS status after installation
sudo apt-layer --dkms-status
# Check NVIDIA status after driver installation
sudo apt-layer --nvidia-status
3. Rebuild After Kernel Updates
Always rebuild DKMS modules after kernel updates:
# After system upgrade
sudo apt-layer upgrade
sudo apt-layer --dkms-rebuild-all
4. Use Auto-Detection for NVIDIA Drivers
Let Particle-OS auto-detect the optimal NVIDIA driver:
# Auto-detect is usually the best choice
sudo apt-layer --nvidia-install auto
5. Configure NVIDIA Prime for Laptops
For laptops with dual GPUs, configure NVIDIA Prime:
# Configure for automatic GPU switching
sudo apt-layer --nvidia-prime-configure
sudo apt-layer --gpu-switch auto
Gaming Variants
Particle-OS offers pre-configured gaming variants with NVIDIA support:
Particle-OS Bazzite Gaming (NVIDIA)
- Ubuntu 25.04 base
- Pre-installed NVIDIA drivers
- Gaming optimizations
- Steam, Wine, Lutris integration
Particle-OS Corona Gaming (NVIDIA)
- Ubuntu 24.04 LTS base
- KDE Plasma desktop
- Pre-installed NVIDIA drivers
- Gaming performance tuning
Integration with Particle-OS Features
Atomic Updates with DKMS
DKMS modules are automatically handled during system updates:
# Update system (includes DKMS module rebuilding)
sudo apt-layer upgrade
# Rollback if DKMS rebuild fails
sudo apt-layer rollback
Live System Operations
DKMS modules can be installed on live systems:
# Install DKMS module on live system
sudo apt-layer --live-install virtualbox-dkms
# Commit changes as new layer
sudo apt-layer --live-commit "Add VirtualBox DKMS support"
Container-Based Installation
DKMS modules can be installed in isolated containers:
# Install DKMS module in container
sudo apt-layer --container base-image new-image virtualbox-dkms
Conclusion
Particle-OS provides comprehensive DKMS and NVIDIA support that integrates seamlessly with the immutable system architecture. The atomic operations ensure system stability while providing the flexibility needed for gaming, virtualization, and hardware support.
For more information, see: