Nvidia Drivers - Debian 12.5 - Error: GPL-incompatible module

[ryanz]

Hi everyone,

I searched this group and found one similar error post all the way back in 2007 but because that was a different era I post this one in the hope the users will be able to help me solve the problem.

Running the latest fresh install of Debian 12.5 with Kernel 6.1.0-18-amd64.
My laptop has a Nvidia 230MX GPU installed.

I've tried a few things but just can't get Nvidia drivers to fully work.
I disabled the nouveau drivers with a blacklist and grub edits and the system boots into both GUI and T without errors.

In one scenario, running automated installation using apt with non-free-firmware and contrib added I get nvidia-drivers installed and can see the Nvidia-Settings in the desktop but there is no Prime Profile and when tested with a 3D render the GPU sat at 0% usage.

The other option was to try again, both with a apt purge *nvidia* and fresh install (just to be sure there wasn't anything broken) by using the downloaded Nvidia 230MX Driver (NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-535.154.05.run)

With the second option the Nvidia diver installation screen runs to 98% then fails on errors.
The logs show this (snip):

======
-> Checking to see whether the nvidia kernel module was successfully built
executing: 'cd ./kernel; /usr/bin/make -k -j8 NV_EXCLUDE_KERNEL_MODULES="" SYSSRC="/lib/modules/6.1.0-18-amd64/source" SYSOUT="/lib/modules/6.1.0-18-amd64/build" NV_KERNEL_MODULES="nvidia"'...
make[1]: Entering directory '/usr/src/linux-headers-6.1.0-18-common'
make[2]: Entering directory '/usr/src/linux-headers-6.1.0-18-amd64'
MODPOST /tmp/selfgz888/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-535.154.05/kernel/Module.symvers
ERROR: modpost: GPL-incompatible module nvidia.ko uses GPL-only symbol '__rcu_read_lock'
ERROR: modpost: GPL-incompatible module nvidia.ko uses GPL-only symbol '__rcu_read_unlock'
make[3]: *** [/usr/src/linux-headers-6.1.0-18-common/scripts/Makefile.modpost:126: /tmp/selfgz888/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-535.154.05/kernel/Module.symvers] Error 1
make[3]: Target '__modpost' not remade because of errors.
make[2]: *** [/usr/src/linux-headers-6.1.0-18-common/Makefile modpost] Error 2
make[2]: Target 'modules' not remade because of errors.
make[2]: Leaving directory '/usr/src/linux-headers-6.1.0-18-amd64'
make[1]: *** [Makefile:250: __sub-make] Error 2
make[1]: Target 'modules' not remade because of errors.
make[1]: Leaving directory '/usr/src/linux-headers-6.1.0-18-common'
make: *** [Makefile:82: modules] Error 2
-> Error.
ERROR: An error occurred while performing the step: "Checking to see whether the nvidia kernel module was successfully built". See /var/log/nvidia-installer.log for details.
-> The command `cd ./kernel; /usr/bin/make -k -j8 NV_EXCLUDE_KERNEL_MODULES="" SYSSRC="/lib/modules/6.1.0-18-amd64/source" SYSOUT="/lib/modules/6.1.0-18-amd64/build" NV_KERNEL_MODULES="nvidia"` failed with the following output:

make[1]: Entering directory '/usr/src/linux-headers-6.1.0-18-common'
make[2]: Entering directory '/usr/src/linux-headers-6.1.0-18-amd64'
MODPOST /tmp/selfgz888/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-535.154.05/kernel/Module.symvers
ERROR: modpost: GPL-incompatible module nvidia.ko uses GPL-only symbol '__rcu_read_lock'
ERROR: modpost: GPL-incompatible module nvidia.ko uses GPL-only symbol '__rcu_read_unlock'
make[3]: *** [/usr/src/linux-headers-6.1.0-18-common/scripts/Makefile.modpost:126: /tmp/selfgz888/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-535.154.05/kernel/Module.symvers] Error 1
make[3]: Target '__modpost' not remade because of errors.
make[2]: *** [/usr/src/linux-headers-6.1.0-18-common/Makefile modpost] Error 2
make[2]: Target 'modules' not remade because of errors.
make[2]: Leaving directory '/usr/src/linux-headers-6.1.0-18-amd64'
make[1]: *** [Makefile:250: __sub-make] Error 2
make[1]: Target 'modules' not remade because of errors.
make[1]: Leaving directory '/usr/src/linux-headers-6.1.0-18-common'
make: *** [Makefile:82: modules] Error 2
ERROR: The nvidia kernel module was not created.
ERROR: Installation has failed. Please see the file '/var/log/nvidia-installer.log' for details. You may find suggestions on fixing installation problems in the README available on the Linux driver download page at www.nvidia.com.
===

Can anyone please give some advice on either of these two issues so I can get this working?

Thanks.

[donald]

-Admin note: There are what seem to be 20 threads on this topic, I'm letting this one go through because at least it starts technical and no one is arguing in it.

@ryanz Did you recently update? Ensure that contrib and non-free are available in your sources list.

[ryanz]

Thanks Admin. I see I searched only in the Graphical Section, not full forum

Yes, I'm fully updated with contrib and non-free are available in the sources list.

[cds60601]

"ERROR: Installation has failed. Please see the file '/var/log/nvidia-installer.log' for details. You may find suggestions on fixing installation problems in the README available on the Linux driver download page at www.nvidia.com."

I was wondering if the Op actually looked at the log mentioned then read the README and went to the site. If not, seems like a good place to start.

[donald]

@ryanz
viewtopic.php?t=158200
and
viewtopic.php?p=792711
and
viewtopic.php?t=158261

Are of the same vein as your issue.

Would you mind if I closed this thread and you look in those instead?

[ryanz]

Thanks for these links, will look there. You can close.