How To Disable Nouveau Driver in Linux (CentOS, Rocky Linux, Ubuntu)

Document Scope:

This document provides instructions for disabling the Nouveau open-source graphics driver on Linux distributions such as CentOS, Rocky Linux, and Ubuntu. Disabling Nouveau is often necessary when installing proprietary NVIDIA graphics drivers for improved performance and functionality.

Steps:

Blacklisting Nouveau Driver:

• • Description: Blacklisting the Nouveau driver prevents it from loading during system boot, allowing the installation and use of proprietary NVIDIA drivers.
• a. Open a terminal window or switch to a virtual console by pressing Ctrl + Alt + F2 (or any function key from F2 to F6).
• b. Log in with your username and password.
• c. Create or edit the blacklist configuration file using a text editor. The location of the file may vary depending on your Linux distribution:
•  
• CentOS/Rocky Linux:

  vi /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf

• Ubuntu:

  vi /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-nouveau.conf

• d. Add the following lines to the file to blacklist the Nouveau driver:

  blacklist nouveau options nouveau modeset=0

   

• e.Save the changes and exit the text editor
• Regenerate the initial RAM filesystem (initramfs) to apply the changes:

  • CentOS/Rocky Linux:

    sudo dracut -f

  • Ubuntu:

    sudo update-initramfs -u

Removing Nouveau Kernel Modules:

• • Description: Removing Nouveau kernel modules ensures that they are not loaded during system boot.
• a. Open a terminal window or switch to a virtual console.
• b. Run the following command to remove the Nouveau kernel modules:

  sudo rmmod nouveau

• c. Repeat the command for each Nouveau kernel module if necessary.

Rebooting the System:

• • Description: After blacklisting Nouveau and removing its kernel modules, reboot the system to apply the changes.
• a. Run the following command to reboot the system:
  

  sudo reboot 

  
  b. After the system restarts, Nouveau should be disabled, allowing the installation of proprietary NVIDIA drivers.

Conclusion:

Disabling the Nouveau driver on Linux systems such as CentOS, Rocky Linux, and Ubuntu is a crucial step for installing proprietary NVIDIA graphics drivers. By following the instructions provided in this document, users can effectively blacklist the Nouveau driver, remove its kernel modules, and ensure that it does not interfere with the installation and operation of NVIDIA drivers. Once Nouveau is disabled, users can proceed with installing and configuring the proprietary NVIDIA drivers for improved graphics performance and functionality.