Possible to load updated nvidia module w/o rebooting?

gcasillo

Is there a way to load an updated nvidia driver module without having to reboot? There's been a good pace of updates to nvidia-drivers recently, and while I usually just reboot to get the updated nvidia.ko module loaded, I'd like to avoid rebooting if unnecessary.

I should add that I run a KDE-3.5.10 desktop on top of Xorg.

alunduil · Posted: Thu Feb 12, 2009 8:39 pm Post subject:

If I'm not mistaken you should be able to just:

jettjunker · Apprentice Joined: 10 Sep 2005 Posts: 267

I think if you just exit X (and stop KDM if you use that), then rmmod nvidia & modprobe nvidia, then restart X (or kdm and reenter KDE) you'll be good.
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Core2Duo T7100 1.8 ghz mini-itx, Nvidia FX220: Gentoo/Gnome/CompizFusion:XGL
CoreDuo 1.83 ghz 13" Macbook, GMA 950: Ubuntu/Gnome/CompizFusion:AIGLX

kite14 · Apprentice Joined: 07 Nov 2006 Posts: 216 Location: Italy

According to the "Gentoo Linux nVidia Guide", you just need to:

gcasillo · Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2009 3:33 am Post subject:

I think jettjunker has it right. If I try to unload or reload the nvidia module while in KDE and X, then I get a "Module nvidia is in use." error. I have to logout of KDE, stop KDM and X, reload the module, then jump back in to KDE. Which I was guessing would be the case. Just as well reboot then in most cases. It's only a workstation that can be rebooted. Just hate to give up that uptime.

doctork · Posted: Fri Feb 13, 2009 5:12 am Post subject:

I used the procedure described by jetjunker about two hours ago. It worked fine, as witness I'm typing this message on that system.

doc