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Debian#

This section covers:

  • Debian 12

Preparation#

  1. Perform the Pre-installation Actions.

  2. The kernel headers and development packages for the currently running kernel can be installed with:

    # apt install linux-headers-$(uname -r)

  3. Enable the contrib repository:

    # add-apt-repository contrib

  4. Choose an installation method: Local Repository Enablement or Network Repository Enablement (amd64).

Local Repository Enablement#

  1. Download the NVIDIA driver repository:

    $ wget https://developer.download.nvidia.com/compute/nvidia-driver/${version}/local_installers/nvidia-driver-local-repo-${distro}-${version}_${arch}.deb

    where ${version} is the NVIDIA driver version.

  2. Install local repository on file system:

    # dpkg -i nvidia-driver-local-repo-${distro}-${version}*_${arch}.deb
# apt update

  3. Enroll ephemeral public GPG key:

    # cp /var/nvidia-driver-local-repo-${distro}-${version}/nvidia-driver-*-keyring.gpg /usr/share/keyrings/

Network Repository Enablement (amd64)#

  1. Install the new cuda-keyring package:

    $ wget https://developer.download.nvidia.com/compute/cuda/repos/${distro}/x86_64/cuda-keyring_1.1-1_all.deb
# dpkg -i cuda-keyring_1.1-1_all.deb
# apt update

If you are unable to install the cuda-keyring package you can follow these instructions:

  1. Enroll the new signing key:

    $ wget https://developer.download.nvidia.com/compute/cuda/repos/${distro}/x86_64/cuda-archive-keyring.gpg
# mv cuda-archive-keyring.gpg /usr/share/keyrings/cuda-archive-keyring.gpg

  2. Enable the network repository:

    # echo "deb [signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/cuda-archive-keyring.gpg] https://developer.download.nvidia.com/compute/cuda/repos/${distro}/x86_64/ /" \
    | tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/cuda-${distro}-${arch}.list

Network Repository Enablement (arm64)#

  1. Install the new cuda-keyring package:

    $ wget https://developer.download.nvidia.com/compute/cuda/repos/${distro}/sbsa/cuda-keyring_1.1-1_all.deb
# dpkg -i cuda-keyring_1.1-1_all.deb
# apt update

If you are unable to install the cuda-keyring package you can follow these instructions:

  1. Enroll the new signing key:

    $ wget https://developer.download.nvidia.com/compute/cuda/repos/${distro}/sbsa/cuda-archive-keyring.gpg
# mv cuda-archive-keyring.gpg /usr/share/keyrings/cuda-archive-keyring.gpg

  2. Enable the network repository:

    # echo "deb [signed-by=/usr/share/keyrings/cuda-archive-keyring.gpg] https://developer.download.nvidia.com/compute/cuda/repos/${distro}/sbsa/ /" \
    | tee /etc/apt/sources.list.d/cuda-${distro}-${arch}.list

Selecting a Branch or a Specific Driver version#

To confine and pin the system to track a specific branch or driver version, install the appropriate pinning package, for example:

# apt install nvidia-driver-pinning-<branch>

or

# apt install nvidia-driver-pinning-<version>

Hint

For the best experience when locking a branch, we suggest installing the pinning package prior to installing the driver.

More information on the use and scope of these packages can be found in the recent updates section on Version locking packages for Ubuntu / Debian and explained in detail at Version locking.

Driver Installation#

These instructions apply to both local and network installations.

Open Kernel Modules

# apt -V install nvidia-open

Proprietary Kernel Modules

# apt -V install cuda-drivers

Compute-only (Headless) and Desktop-only (no Compute) Installation#

It’s possible to install the driver without all the desktop components (GL, EGL, Vulkan, X drivers, and so on) to limit the footprint and dependencies on the system. With the same logic it’s possible to install a desktop system without any compute component.

Note

The components excluded at installation time can always be added at a later stage. This will pull in all the additional dependencies required.

Compute-only System#

Open Kernel Modules

# apt -V install nvidia-driver-cuda nvidia-kernel-open-dkms

Proprietary Kernel Modules

# apt -V install nvidia-driver-cuda nvidia-kernel-dkms

Desktop-only System#

Open Kernel Modules

# apt -V install nvidia-driver nvidia-kernel-open-dkms

Proprietary Kernel Modules

# apt -V install nvidia-driver nvidia-kernel-dkms

Reboot the System#

# reboot

Perform the Post-installation Actions.