Installing Proprietary Drivers on Linux: RHEL, Ubuntu, and openSUSE

When using Linux, depending on the hardware you have, you may at times need to install proprietary drivers to optimise performance, especially for GPU, Wi-Fi, or other peripheral devices. Different Linux distributions have different methods for handling these installations. Below, we will walk through how to install proprietary drivers on three major distributions: Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL), Ubuntu, and openSUSE.

1. Red Hat Enterprise Linux (RHEL)

On RHEL, installing proprietary drivers often involves using the dnf package manager. For instance, let's take an example of installing an NVIDIA driver.

Step 1: Enable the EPEL repository:

bash sudo dnf install epel-release sudo dnf config-manager --set-enabled powertools

Step 2: Install ELRepo:

bash sudo dnf install https://www.elrepo.org/elrepo-release-8.el8.elrepo.noarch.rpm sudo rpm --import https://www.elrepo.org/RPM-GPG-KEY-elrepo.org

Step 3: Install the NVIDIA driver:

bash sudo dnf install kmod-nvidia

Step 4: Reboot your system:

bash sudo reboot

These steps will help you install NVIDIA proprietary drivers. Always ensure that kernel-devel package corresponds to your kernel version before installing drivers.

2. Ubuntu

Ubuntu uses the apt package management system. The additional drivers tool provides a straightforward way to manage proprietary drivers. Here are the steps:

Step 1: Open Software & Updates:

Launch Software & Updates from the application menu or use this command: bash software-properties-gtk

Step 2: Additional Drivers tab:

Navigate to the "Additional Drivers" tab. The tool will automatically search for available drivers.

Step 3: Select and apply the proprietary driver:

Choose the proprietary driver needed for your hardware. It can be displayed as "tested" or "proprietary". Then, apply changes.

Step 4: Reboot your system:

bash sudo reboot

This GUI method is user-friendly and recommended for beginners or those who prefer not to use the command line.

3. openSUSE

openSUSE uses zypper as its package management tool. As with the other distributions, let’s consider installing an NVIDIA driver here.

Step 1: Add the NVIDIA repository:

bash sudo zypper addrepo --refresh https://download.nvidia.com/opensuse/leap/15.3 NVIDIA

Step 2: Install the NVIDIA graphics driver:

bash sudo zypper install x11-video-nvidiaG05

Step 3: Reboot your system:

bash sudo reboot

This command installs the proprietary NVIDIA driver suitable for most recent NVIDIA cards. Be sure to check compatibility with your specific GPU model.

Conclusion

While installing proprietary drivers can sometimes be necessary to fully utilize the capabilities of your hardware, it's important to consider open-source alternatives that might suffice without needing proprietary solutions. However, when in need, each Linux distribution provides its mechanisms—dnf for RHEL, apt for Ubuntu, and zypper for openSUSE. Ensure to keep your system updated for compatibility and security issues.

Whether you're a newcomer or an experienced Linux user, managing proprietary drivers doesn't have to be a chore. Just follow the steps above respective to your Linux distribution and enhance your system's capabilities efficiently.