Optimus? Working or not?

The only reason why I have a gaming laptop is to run X-Plane11.

Recently I learned that when I see this line in system information in the Graphics section that it means optimus is not working:

Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.20.10 driver: modesetting,nvidia

I was advised to add nomodeset to grub. I tried it and the line above changed to:

Display: x11 server: X.Org 1.20.10 driver: nvidia

Based on this, is optimus a problem on my laptop or not?

Thanks.

Did you install propitiatory driver for this graphics card?
Do you have NVIDIA X Server Settings among the list of applications?
If all are yes, then the graphics card is working properly.

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Optimus works very fine on Linux. After downloading the propitiatory driver, restart your laptop, open the Nvidia X application and in the PRIME profiles option, set your GPU mode to Nvidia On Demand. Restart one final time and you're done. You are running in optimus mode now.

1 Like

As a side note, in order to improve battery life, install tlpui on your system. Runs well with optimus.

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Also, when you have Prime Offload enabled (that's what optimus on Linux is called), and you want to run an application that doesn't automatically use offload, you can launch it with your GPU with this command:

__NV_PRIME_RENDER_OFFLOAD=1 <application name>

You can learn more about it here:
https://download.nvidia.com/XFree86/Linux-x86_64/435.17/README/primerenderoffload.html

1 Like

Yes to both questions.

Does the application specifically say PRIME profile? I can't seem to find this.

Cant find that either.

If you hit alt+F2 or use the terminal to input the command nvidia-settings does it open a Settings console?

Yes it does. The same console is opened when selecting the app by clicking on the nvidia xserver icon.

I pasted a screen shot above.

Ah, thanks for the screenshot. I had not seen it since it was edited in.

Have you read this piece?:
https://www.dell.com/support/kbdoc/en-us/000132622/a-guide-to-nvidia-optimus-on-dell-pcs-with-an-ubuntu-operating-system

Just did. Thanks.

Ran into that situation:

pkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of nvidia-331:
nvidia-331 depends on nvidia-340; however:
Package nvidia-340 is not configured yet.

Which resulted in this error message:

Errors were encountered while processing:
nvidia-340
nvidia-331
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)

I was trying to install nvidia-340 but that seems to be an error too.

Please run

sudo apt purge nvidia-*

to remove any conflicting driver files.
Then

sudo apt clean && sudo apt autoremove

sudo apt install nvidia-331

1 Like

A different error was encountered. Here is where the installation started to have some problems. Would you know what this means?:

Setting up nvidia-340 (340.108-0ubuntu5.20.04.2) ...
dpkg: error: version '-' has bad syntax: revision number is empty
dpkg: error: version '-' has bad syntax: revision number is empty
update-initramfs: deferring update (trigger activated)
INFO:Enable nvidia-340
DEBUG:Parsing /usr/share/ubuntu-drivers-common/quirks/lenovo_thinkpad
DEBUG:Parsing /usr/share/ubuntu-drivers-common/quirks/dell_latitude
DEBUG:Parsing /usr/share/ubuntu-drivers-common/quirks/put_your_quirks_here
Adding system user nvidia-persistenced' (UID 125) ... Adding new group nvidia-persistenced' (GID 132) ...
Adding new user nvidia-persistenced' (UID 125) with group nvidia-persistenced'
...
Not creating home directory `/'.
Loading new nvidia-340-340.108 DKMS files...
Building for 5.11.0-27-generic
Building for architecture x86_64
Building initial module for 5.11.0-27-generic
Error! Bad return status for module build on kernel: 5.11.0-27-generic (x86_64)
Consult /var/lib/dkms/nvidia-340/340.108/build/make.log for more information.
dpkg: error processing package nvidia-340 (--configure):
installed nvidia-340 package post-installation script subprocess returned error
exit status 10
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of nvidia-331:
nvidia-331 depends on nvidia-340; however:
Package nvidia-340 is not configured yet.

dpkg: error processing package nvidia-331 (--configure):
dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
Processing triggers for mime-support (3.64ubuntu1) ...
Processing triggers for gnome-menus (3.36.0-1ubuntu1) ...
Processing triggers for libc-bin (2.31-0ubuntu9.2) ...
Processing triggers for man-db (2.9.1-1) ...
Processing triggers for desktop-file-utils (0.24-1ubuntu3) ...
Processing triggers for initramfs-tools (0.136ubuntu6.6) ...
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-5.11.0-27-generic
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/skl_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i9
15
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/bxt_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i9
15
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/kbl_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i9
15
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/glk_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i9
15
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/kbl_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i9
15
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/kbl_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i9
15
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/cml_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i9
15
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/icl_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i9
15
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/ehl_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i9
15
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/ehl_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i9
15
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/tgl_huc_7.5.0.bin for module i91
5
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/tgl_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i9
15
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/tgl_huc_7.5.0.bin for module i91
5
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/tgl_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i9
15
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/dg1_dmc_ver2_02.bin for module i
915
Errors were encountered while processing:
nvidia-340
nvidia-331
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)

sudo dpkg --configure -a

sudo apt-get install -f

1 Like

More errors. Do I have to go back to Microsoft Windows?:

cloudwater@cloudwater-Alienware-15-R3:~$ sudo dpkg --configure -a
Setting up nvidia-340 (340.108-0ubuntu5.20.04.2) ...
dpkg: error: version '-' has bad syntax: revision number is empty
dpkg: error: version '-' has bad syntax: revision number is empty
update-initramfs: deferring update (trigger activated)
INFO:Enable nvidia-340
DEBUG:Parsing /usr/share/ubuntu-drivers-common/quirks/lenovo_thinkpad
DEBUG:Parsing /usr/share/ubuntu-drivers-common/quirks/put_your_quirks_here
DEBUG:Parsing /usr/share/ubuntu-drivers-common/quirks/dell_latitude
Removing old nvidia-340-340.108 DKMS files...


Deleting module version: 340.108
completely from the DKMS tree.

Done.
Loading new nvidia-340-340.108 DKMS files...
Building for 5.11.0-27-generic
Building for architecture x86_64
Building initial module for 5.11.0-27-generic
Error! Bad return status for module build on kernel: 5.11.0-27-generic (x86_64)
Consult /var/lib/dkms/nvidia-340/340.108/build/make.log for more information.
dpkg: error processing package nvidia-340 (--configure):
installed nvidia-340 package post-installation script subprocess returned error exit status 10
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of nvidia-331:
nvidia-331 depends on nvidia-340; however:
Package nvidia-340 is not configured yet.

dpkg: error processing package nvidia-331 (--configure):
dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
Processing triggers for libc-bin (2.31-0ubuntu9.2) ...
Processing triggers for initramfs-tools (0.136ubuntu6.6) ...
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-5.11.0-27-generic
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/skl_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i915
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/bxt_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i915
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/kbl_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i915
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/glk_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i915
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/kbl_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i915
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/kbl_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i915
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/cml_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i915
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/icl_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i915
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/ehl_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i915
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/ehl_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i915
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/tgl_huc_7.5.0.bin for module i915
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/tgl_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i915
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/tgl_huc_7.5.0.bin for module i915
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/tgl_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i915
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/dg1_dmc_ver2_02.bin for module i915
Errors were encountered while processing:
nvidia-340
nvidia-331

cloudwater@cloudwater-Alienware-15-R3:~$ sudo dpkg --configure -a
Setting up nvidia-340 (340.108-0ubuntu5.20.04.2) ...
dpkg: error: version '-' has bad syntax: revision number is empty
dpkg: error: version '-' has bad syntax: revision number is empty
update-initramfs: deferring update (trigger activated)
INFO:Enable nvidia-340
DEBUG:Parsing /usr/share/ubuntu-drivers-common/quirks/lenovo_thinkpad
DEBUG:Parsing /usr/share/ubuntu-drivers-common/quirks/put_your_quirks_here
DEBUG:Parsing /usr/share/ubuntu-drivers-common/quirks/dell_latitude
Removing old nvidia-340-340.108 DKMS files...


Deleting module version: 340.108
completely from the DKMS tree.

Done.
Loading new nvidia-340-340.108 DKMS files...
Building for 5.11.0-27-generic
Building for architecture x86_64
Building initial module for 5.11.0-27-generic
Error! Bad return status for module build on kernel: 5.11.0-27-generic (x86_64)
Consult /var/lib/dkms/nvidia-340/340.108/build/make.log for more information.
dpkg: error processing package nvidia-340 (--configure):
installed nvidia-340 package post-installation script subprocess returned error exit status 10
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of nvidia-331:
nvidia-331 depends on nvidia-340; however:
Package nvidia-340 is not configured yet.

dpkg: error processing package nvidia-331 (--configure):
dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
Processing triggers for libc-bin (2.31-0ubuntu9.2) ...
Processing triggers for initramfs-tools (0.136ubuntu6.6) ...
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-5.11.0-27-generic
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/skl_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i915
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/bxt_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i915
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/kbl_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i915
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/glk_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i915
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/kbl_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i915
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/kbl_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i915
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/cml_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i915
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/icl_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i915
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/ehl_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i915
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/ehl_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i915
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/tgl_huc_7.5.0.bin for module i915
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/tgl_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i915
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/tgl_huc_7.5.0.bin for module i915
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/tgl_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i915
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/dg1_dmc_ver2_02.bin for module i915
E

cloudwater@cloudwater-Alienware-15-R3:~$ sudo apt-get install -f
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
2 not fully installed or removed.
After this operation, 0 B of additional disk space will be used.
Setting up nvidia-340 (340.108-0ubuntu5.20.04.2) ...
dpkg: error: version '-' has bad syntax: revision number is empty
dpkg: error: version '-' has bad syntax: revision number is empty
update-initramfs: deferring update (trigger activated)
INFO:Enable nvidia-340
DEBUG:Parsing /usr/share/ubuntu-drivers-common/quirks/lenovo_thinkpad
DEBUG:Parsing /usr/share/ubuntu-drivers-common/quirks/put_your_quirks_here
DEBUG:Parsing /usr/share/ubuntu-drivers-common/quirks/dell_latitude
Removing old nvidia-340-340.108 DKMS files...


Deleting module version: 340.108
completely from the DKMS tree.

Done.
Loading new nvidia-340-340.108 DKMS files...
Building for 5.11.0-27-generic
Building for architecture x86_64
Building initial module for 5.11.0-27-generic
Error! Bad return status for module build on kernel: 5.11.0-27-generic (x86_64)
Consult /var/lib/dkms/nvidia-340/340.108/build/make.log for more information.
dpkg: error processing package nvidia-340 (--configure):
installed nvidia-340 package post-installation script subprocess returned error exit status 10
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of nvidia-331:
nvidia-331 depends on nvidia-340; however:
Package nvidia-340 is not configured yet.

dpkg: error processing package nvidia-331 (--configure):
dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
Processing triggers for libc-bin (2.31-0ubuntu9.2) ...
Processing triggers for initramfs-tools (0.136ubuntu6.6) ...
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-5.11.0-27-generic
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/skl_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i915
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/bxt_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i915
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/kbl_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i915
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/glk_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i915
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/kbl_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i915
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/kbl_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i915
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/cml_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i915
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/icl_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i915
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/ehl_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i915
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/ehl_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i915
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/tgl_huc_7.5.0.bin for module i915
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/tgl_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i915
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/tgl_huc_7.5.0.bin for module i915
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/tgl_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i915
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/dg1_dmc_ver2_02.bin for module i915
Errors were encountered while processing:
nvidia-340
nvidia-331
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)

ugh...

tells us that /var/lib/dpkg/info/nvidia-340.postinst has a typo: replace $KERNELS with $CURRENT_KERNEL then dpkg-reconfigure nvidia-340 works as expected.

1 Like

How can I edit as owner this file?:

Open a terminal with the keyboard shortcut ctrl_alt_t

Enter in sudo -i, then enter your password. The terminal will open as Root.
Enter in nautilus and the File Manager will open with Elevated Privileges.
Navigate to /var/lib/dpkg/info and open the nvidia-340.postinst file in a text editor.

Only found this line:
NEWEST_KERNEL=$(get_newest_kernel "$KERNELS") which was replaced like this:
NEWEST_KERNEL=$(get_newest_kernel "$CURRENT_KERNEL")

Now this:

cloudwater@cloudwater-Alienware-15-R3:~$ sudo dpkg-reconfigure nvidia-340
/usr/sbin/dpkg-reconfigure: nvidia-340 is broken or not fully installed
cloudwater@cloudwater-Alienware-15-R3:~$

Please try

sudo apt --fix-broken install

in your terminal.

This is the result:

cloudwater@cloudwater-Alienware-15-R3:~$ sudo apt --fix-broken install
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
2 not fully installed or removed.
After this operation, 0 B of additional disk space will be used.
Setting up nvidia-340 (340.108-0ubuntu5.20.04.2) ...
update-initramfs: deferring update (trigger activated)
INFO:Enable nvidia-340
DEBUG:Parsing /usr/share/ubuntu-drivers-common/quirks/lenovo_thinkpad
DEBUG:Parsing /usr/share/ubuntu-drivers-common/quirks/dell_latitude
DEBUG:Parsing /usr/share/ubuntu-drivers-common/quirks/put_your_quirks_here
Removing old nvidia-340-340.108 DKMS files...


Deleting module version: 340.108
completely from the DKMS tree.

Done.
Loading new nvidia-340-340.108 DKMS files...
Building for 5.11.0-27-generic
Building for architecture x86_64
Building initial module for 5.11.0-27-generic
Error! Bad return status for module build on kernel: 5.11.0-27-generic (x86_64)
Consult /var/lib/dkms/nvidia-340/340.108/build/make.log for more information.
dpkg: error processing package nvidia-340 (--configure):
installed nvidia-340 package post-installation script subprocess returned error
exit status 10
dpkg: dependency problems prevent configuration of nvidia-331:
nvidia-331 depends on nvidia-340; however:
Package nvidia-340 is not configured yet.

dpkg: error processing package nvidia-331 (--configure):
dependency problems - leaving unconfigured
Processing triggers for libc-bin (2.31-0ubuntu9.2) ...
Processing triggers for initramfs-tools (0.136ubuntu6.6) ...
update-initramfs: Generating /boot/initrd.img-5.11.0-27-generic
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/skl_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i9
15
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/bxt_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i9
15
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/kbl_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i9
15
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/glk_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i9
15
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/kbl_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i9
15
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/kbl_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i9
15
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/cml_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i9
15
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/icl_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i9
15
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/ehl_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i9
15
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/ehl_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i9
15
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/tgl_huc_7.5.0.bin for module i91
5
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/tgl_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i9
15
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/tgl_huc_7.5.0.bin for module i91
5
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/tgl_guc_49.0.1.bin for module i9
15
W: Possible missing firmware /lib/firmware/i915/dg1_dmc_ver2_02.bin for module i
915
Errors were encountered while processing:
nvidia-340
nvidia-331
E: Sub-process /usr/bin/dpkg returned an error code (1)