Nvidia has released its latest drivers for Linux, FreeBSD, and Solaris, marking a significant shift in the company’s approach to open-source software. The new Nvidia 560 drivers now default to using open-source GPU kernel modules, a move that aligns with the core values of these operating systems.
Traditionally, Nvidia’s drivers for Linux and other open-source OSes have been proprietary, limiting user access to the code. However, with the Nvidia 560 update, the “nvidia-installer” tool now defaults to open-source kernel modules for the display driver. This is a major step forward for the company, as it increasingly supports the open-source community.
Beyond this key change, the new drivers bring several enhancements. Notably, they address issues that caused crashes in Xwayland games and fix a memory corruption bug related to Advanced Configuration and Power Interface (ACPI) events on certain laptops. The update also improves support for laptops and displays with variable refresh rates and adds Vulkan-related information to the “nvidia-settings” control panel.
This latest release represents a positive development for Nvidia users who rely on open-source operating systems, offering both better compatibility and a commitment to open-source principles.
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