AMD Introduces New Hotplug Driver Option For The X.Org Server

Currently when hot-plugging a new GPU to a running X.Org Server, the generic xf86-video-modesetting DDX driver ends up being utilized. However, a new "HotplugDriver" xorg.conf option has been introduced by AMD to allow users to specify their desired DDX driver. In turn this makes it possible for those hot-plugging hardware like AMD Radeon GPUs such as within eGPU enclosures to specify using the xf86-video-amdgpu driver instead.

While the xf86-video-modesetting driver is widely-used and works for most use-cases, for those hot-plugging GPUs and wanting to use xf86-video-amdgpu for its features or other reasons, this new "HotplugDriver" option makes that possible. Similarly, it works for any other DDX driver too.

With code merged on Wednesday to the X.Org Server Git, the "HotplugDriver" option can be specified within the xorg.conf/xorg.conf.d with a value of the desired DDX driver. While not many are using eGPU enclosures or hot-plugging their GPUs otherwise, this change is a nice addition for those wanting to use something besides xf86-video-modesetting.

This change isn't relevant in the Wayland world with the necessary DRM/KMS kernel driver automatically loaded anyhow and Wayland compositors not relying on DDX drivers.