NVIDIA's Graphics Driver Will Run Into Problems With Linux 5.3 On IBM POWER

[phoronix]

Phoronix: NVIDIA's Graphics Driver Will Run Into Problems With Linux 5.3 On IBM POWER

For those using the NVIDIA proprietary graphics driver on an IBM POWER system, it could be a while before seeing Linux 5.3+ kernel support. Upstream has removed code depended upon by the NVIDIA binary driver for supporting the POWER architecture and as is the case they don't care that it will break NVIDIA driver support since it's binary/out-of-tree...

http://www.phoronix.com/scan.php?page=news_item&px=Linux-5.3-NVIDIA-POWER-Problem

[skeevy420]

Unlike the ZFS/GPL exports stuff, this doesn't look to be easily revertible.

On one hand, I get dropping code nothing native to the kernel uses; on the other hand, it's a bit of a dick move when they screw over out-of-tree modules like that.

[torsionbar28]

On one hand, I get dropping code nothing native to the kernel uses; on the other hand, it's a bit of a dick move when they screw over out-of-tree modules like that.

Hardly. The "dick move" is 100% Nvidia's, for profiting from an ecosystem they refuse to contribute back to. Why should kernel devs do them any favors? This is Nvidia's problem to sort out. When Nvidia decides to follow AMD's leadership example and open source their GeForce drivers, this problem magically disappears. Linus was spot on with his famous "F$%& You Nvidia!" quote.

[skeevy420]

for profiting from an ecosystem they refuse to contribute back to

Do you realize that that's how Capitalism works? You hold your secrets and make your money for as long as you can. Not everyone can figure out a good blend of Capitalism and Communism like AMD has.

I do find it funny and very ironic that Nvidia is Team Green, the color of money. and that AMD is Team Red, the color of Communism.

[schmidtbag]

Huh, I just assumed Nvidia hardware never worked on POWER.

[Michael]

Huh, I just assumed Nvidia hardware never worked on POWER.

Many of the world's most powerful super-computers at the moment are NVIDIA+POWER9.

[aht0]

Hardly. The "dick move" is 100% Nvidia's, for profiting from an ecosystem they refuse to contribute back to. Why should kernel devs do them any favors? This is Nvidia's problem to sort out. When Nvidia decides to follow AMD's leadership example and open source their GeForce drivers, this problem magically disappears. Linus was spot on with his famous "F$%& You Nvidia!" quote.

If world lived by your Marxist ideology, we even would not have computers. Counting fingers would do..

[Danny3]

Congratulations to kernel developers for doing the right thing that is good for the open source ecosystem.
I'm glad that they're not like Canonical's developers bending over for every shitty company's whims.
Seeing 2/3 (AMD and Intel) thrive while having open source graphics drivers leaves really no excuse for Nvidia's shitty behaviour against its customers.
I think at this point the name that would better fit Nvidia is Ngreedia, because tey only care about the money and forgot that their customer already payed for the hardware and they should deserve better treatment.

[tuxd3v]

Do you realize that that's how Capitalism works? You hold your secrets and make your money for as long as you can. Not everyone can figure out a good blend of Capitalism and Communism like AMD has.

I do find it funny and very ironic that Nvidia is Team Green, the color of money. and that AMD is Team Red, the color of Communism.

This has nothing to do with Communism( Political System.. ), but instead Socialism Ideology..
And if you haven't figured that out,
The Linux Kernel , and a gazillion of other projects, have roots on Socialism, sharing of information, contributing back to the community, and so on..

In Europe,
Socialism is very present if a lot of Countries( majority of them, even at Political points of view ), but you don't have a single Country, at least currently( afaik ), that is based in Communism..
And Europe has 51 Countries..
We have Public Social Healthcare Systems, Social Insurance, and so on..

[lumks]

If world lived by your Marxist ideology, we even would not have computers. Counting fingers would do..

... Nope ... The point is that they could keep the closed source driver in general, but could to a opensource kernel module. Just like AMD with the pro driver. They dont have to go full out with everything. But they have to expect that things change inside the kernel and it would be sad if linux development suffers because of out-of-tree stuff.