Open Source Graphics Drivers; Proprietary Graphics Drivers - HP ZCentral 4R User Manual

For more information, go to the Ubuntu Desktop certified hardware search page at
certification/desktop
http://www.ubuntu.com.

Open source graphics drivers

Most distributions of the Linux operating system support graphics hardware through combinations of
software technologies built into the kernel and higher-level graphics applications such as display servers
(Xorg, Wayland) and display managers (Gnome, KDE).
Graphics hardware behavior depends upon setup by the running kernel and timing information obtained by
attached display hardware. When the kernel cannot correctly calibrate its initialization of graphics hardware
to available display hardware, the results can yield distorted or blank display screens.
The HP-provided Linux driver disc for Ubuntu relies on the same mechanisms to satisfy dependencies during
installation. So the same internet access is needed, as well as capability to elevate from the current user
session to administrator privileges.
Interaction with open source graphics drivers can occur during:
Graphical interactive installation sessions from downloaded Linux distribution media.
●
Use of Linux installations not supplemented with vendor-proprietary graphics drivers.
●
In cases of unusable display screens, HP recommends that the nomodeset option be added to the kernel boot
parameters to suppress mode-setting driver behavior and prioritize the use of alternate compatible display
drivers. You can usually edit the persistent inclusion of this parameter (in cases of the grub family of boot
loaders) into kernel boot parameters in configuration files usually found in: /etc/default/grub. See your
distribution's documentation for boot loader settings parameters.

Proprietary graphics drivers

Read this section to learn about proprietary graphics drivers.
Most HP computers can be ordered with graphics cards that have been through extensive verification by HP.
For a list of supported cards, see Linux Hardware Matrix for HP Workstations at
linux_hardware_matrix.
NOTE: Not all graphics cards are supported on every computer. Limitations generally occur for cards that
consume large amounts of power in lower-power computers.
HP supports third-party proprietary graphics drivers. For drivers that have been tested, go to
http://www.hp.com/support, and follow the on-screen instructions to find your product and locate the
documentation.
These proprietary drivers are not a standard part of the RHEL, SLED, or Ubuntu distributions because they are
not open source. Driver revisions more recent than those at the HP support website are supported directly by
the vendor.
16 Chapter 5 Setting up Linux
and search for your computer product. Ubuntu is available at no cost from
http://www.ubuntu.com/
http://www.hp.com/support/