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Nvidia releases open-source GPU kernel modules

developer.nvidia.com

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Re: Nvidia releases open-source GPU kernel modules

#261

Post by anthk »

SXX wrote: post #183
feanaro wrote: post #177

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I've never properly understood why the closed source AMD driver still exists. Is it substantially different from the open source one? Does it offer anything not included in the open source one?

AMD proprietary driver actually has only few proprietary bits. Other than OpenCL that was already mentioned there are: * Proprietary shader compiler that can also be used for Vulkan * Legacy OpenGL driver optimized for closed-source workstation apps

Worse than I tought:

https://rebatir.fr/post/2022-01-25-OpenCL_on_Linux_state_of_...

Re: Nvidia releases open-source GPU kernel modules

#263

Post by kaladin-jasnah »

8organicbits wrote: post #38

This may be a boon for unlocking hardware features on GeForce. Stuff like below shows that some things are just disabled in hardware, but lots of reverse engineering would be needed to bypass it. https://www.ibtimes.com/nvidia-geforce-graphics-card-virtual...

With this NVIDIA can move these things to the GPU firmware, making things like vGPU enablement harder.

Re: Nvidia releases open-source GPU kernel modules

#264

Post by evolve2k »

the_duke wrote: post #7

I wonder if this has been in the works for years, or if this is a reaction to the recent Lapsus hack.

Looking over the GitHub commit history of the two contributors on the repo, I’d say it’s a reaction.

These folks look like they’ve barely touched much open source code before now.

A planned run up would surely have these folks doing more GitHub based commits even if on very private repos.

Re: Nvidia releases open-source GPU kernel modules

#266

Post by greggsy »

mort96 wrote: post #238
mjg59 wrote: post #53

1) This is unambiguously Good News 2) This is not upstreamable in its current form (nvidia admit this in their press release) 3) In an ideal world, nouveau (the open source driver for nvidia hardware) would be able to target this kernel code. Right now though there's no commitment for any sort of stable userland ABI, and that makes that difficult (moving to a new driver version may break interfaces that nouveau uses)…

Sadly, it's also not the actual GPU driver, just the kernel part; you still need their massive closed blob in userspace. Almost had me excited there for a moment.

Has any rationale been provided around the blob being closed?

Is it licensed, or simply too too complicated to pick apart?

Graphics is a complicated field, but the techniques could still be patented - surely their market status isn’t dependent on trade secrets?

Re: Nvidia releases open-source GPU kernel modules

#267

Post by shmerl »

mort96 wrote: post #238
mjg59 wrote: post #53

1) This is unambiguously Good News 2) This is not upstreamable in its current form (nvidia admit this in their press release) 3) In an ideal world, nouveau (the open source driver for nvidia hardware) would be able to target this kernel code. Right now though there's no commitment for any sort of stable userland ABI, and that makes that difficult (moving to a new driver version may break interfaces that nouveau uses)…

Sadly, it's also not the actual GPU driver, just the kernel part; you still need their massive closed blob in userspace. Almost had me excited there for a moment.

I expect once Nouveau will have reclocking ironed out, there will be an effort to implement Vulkan on top of it in Mesa. OpenGL is already available.

That will allow avoiding Nvidia blob except for the firmware.

Re: Nvidia releases open-source GPU kernel modules

#268

Post by shmerl »

greggsy wrote: post #266
mort96 wrote: post #238

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Sadly, it's also not the actual GPU driver, just the kernel part; you still need their massive closed blob in userspace. Almost had me excited there for a moment.

Has any rationale been provided around the blob being closed? Is it licensed, or simply too too complicated to pick apart? Graphics is a complicated field, but the techniques could still be patented - surely their market status isn’t dependent on trade secrets?

My guess - tangled code mess without clear control over ownership and bean counters not approving the work of untangling all that to open things up - it's not an easy process for huge legacy codebase.

Re: Nvidia releases open-source GPU kernel modules

#269

Post by johnny22 »

amazd wrote: post #242
moffkalast wrote: post #101

Earlier quoted context omitted.

I wonder if this is related: https://www.eetimes.com/wp-content/uploads/Nvidia-hack-secur...

def seems related

it's not at all. it's been in the works via redhat, canonical and others for probably 2 years now.

Re: Nvidia releases open-source GPU kernel modules

#270

Post by eek2121 »

mort96 wrote: post #238
mjg59 wrote: post #53

1) This is unambiguously Good News 2) This is not upstreamable in its current form (nvidia admit this in their press release) 3) In an ideal world, nouveau (the open source driver for nvidia hardware) would be able to target this kernel code. Right now though there's no commitment for any sort of stable userland ABI, and that makes that difficult (moving to a new driver version may break interfaces that nouveau uses)…

Sadly, it's also not the actual GPU driver, just the kernel part; you still need their massive closed blob in userspace. Almost had me excited there for a moment.

I came here to say that. This isn't an NVIDIA commitment to open source; it is a slap in the face. Rather than open sourcing the drivers, they are patching the kernel to fit the needs of their proprietary driver. Note that I'm not against proprietary software, however, title of this post was super misleading and NVIDIA needs to grow up and work on an open-source driver. The world will NOT change for them.
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