I have been using Fedora Cinnamon Spin for about a year now, but forget when I actually discovered RPM Fusion.

RPM Fusion is a software repository, providing add-on packages for the Fedora distribution of the Linux computer operating system. It was born as a merge of the older repositories Livna, Dribble and Freshrpms. They distributed software that Fedora will not, either because it does not meet Fedora’s definition of free software, or because distribution of that software may violate US law.

Probably started using RPM Fusion soon after finding Fedora…information ‘n help for Fedora seems easier to find on the internet than most other Distros (exception would be Ubuntu, of course). Last I heard, Linus Torvalds uses the Fedora GNOME Workstation, so maybe that is one reason ‘Thangs are fairly easy to find for Fedora.

I have a few GeForce GPU’s and try to install the Nvidia drivers on any computer I own with a GeForce installed. Here was the MAIN article I finally found on installing Nvidia drivers on Fedora, that actually worked ‘n stayed working:

Prior to that, I had tried several times to install the Nvidia drivers, and had found one method worked…for a short time, i.e. suddenly one day, the Nvidia driver didn’t work, and if I recall correctly Fedora wouldn’t boot into the desktop.

Started looking again, and at some point found ‘n tried the method suggested in the How to install the NVIDIA drivers on Fedora 32 article. Here’s what caught my eye in the article:

Install Nvidia Driver using RPMFusion

Installing the Nvidia driver on Fedora Linux using RPM Fusion is the easiest and recommended way since you do not have to deal with driver re-compiling every-time there is a new kernel update.

Yeah, that “re-compiling” info sounds like why my Nvidia driver had stopped working…I mean, last ‘Thang I wanna be doing is “re-compiling” anything in an OS!?!

Anyway, followed those instructions, and have never had another Nvidia driver problem with Fedora!

Wasn’t so lucky with CentOS 8 ‘n CentOS Stream ‘n Oracle. Found articles on how to install the drivers on CentOS, but they never worked for me. Most of those articles involved eventually having to disable the nouveau driver, then installing the Nvidia driver when the “Xorg server is stopped” – er, WHAT!?!

Then AlmaLinux came out, and I couldn’t get the Nvidia drivers to install there either. However, the other day I tested the new AlmaLinux 8.4, did another search for how to install Nvidia drivers on it, and found this: Configuration – RPM Fusion. It easily worked!!!

Then tried the Configuration – RPM Fusion on CentOS Stream, and it also worked there!!!  No more ‘having to disable the nouveau driver, then installing the Nvidia driver when the “Xorg server is stopped”’ madness, just a simple mix of GUI apps ‘n a couple keyboard commands.

Since the steps involved are a ‘Tad different with each RHEL-based Distro I will hold off on posting any of those pics here.

By different steps, I mean like this:

  • 1) Fedora – would use just the ‘How to install the NVIDIA drivers on Fedora 32’ link info, with a main focus on the “Install Nvidia Driver using RPMFusion” section there.
  • 2) CentOS Stream – would require the “sudo dnf update” … well, since I am Fulltime Linux Root User on all my permanent Linux Distros, I only type in “dnf update.” I usually reboot if any updates are added, and then use the Configuration – RPM Fusion link. a) Just click on the ‘RPM Fusion free for RHEL 8 or compatible like CentOS’ choice, download ‘n follow the graphical software link to install section. b) Then same for the ‘RPM Fusion nonfree for RHEL 8 or compatible like CentOS’ choice. c) Finally, back to the ‘How to install the NVIDIA drivers on Fedora 32’ link and this:

I reboot again, and then you’ll see the NVIDIA app icon in the “Show Application” section.

Click on the icon and the NVIDIA X Server Settings opens:

That’s an old pic, but the app looks like that when opened. Your correct Nvidia driver will be installed. Now, I am assuming that by installing RPM Fusion on AlmaLinux and CentOS Stream, that there will not be any need for “re-compiling” every time there is a kernel update, but I’ve only tested this for a few days with these Distros. My guess is that installing RPM Fusion is the key…

  • 3) AlmaLinux – works the same as “2) CentOS Stream” above.

Will add this post to the RHEL-based page…

LINUX IS LIKE A BOX OF CHOCOLATES – you never know what you’re gonna get!

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