NVIDIA announced open-source Linux GPU kernel modules on May 19, 2022, starting with its R515 driver release. The modules are dual-licensed under GPL and MIT, but NVIDIA did not open-source the complete Linux driver: user-mode components such as CUDA remained closed source. Today, NVIDIA recommends the open module flavor by default for supported Turing-and-newer GPUs; older Maxwell, Pascal, and Volta GPUs require the proprietary flavor.
What NVIDIA open-sourced
The announcement covered the Linux GPU kernel modules: the part of the driver that runs in the Linux kernel. NVIDIA published that code under a dual GPL/MIT license beginning with R515. The May 19, 2022 announcement and NVIDIA’s official source repository describe the project as open GPU kernel modules, not an open-source release of the entire driver stack.
The distinction matters because a working graphics or compute setup involves more than kernel code. NVIDIA’s user-mode driver components—including CUDA-related components—remained closed-source and were distributed as prebuilt binaries. The open kernel modules work with NVIDIA firmware and user-space stacks such as CUDA, OpenGL, and Vulkan; the components must correspond to the same driver release.
Which NVIDIA GPUs support the open module flavor?
NVIDIA’s current driver installation guide, accessed September 28, 2026, limits the open module flavor to Turing and newer GPU architectures. Maxwell, Pascal, and Volta GPUs require the proprietary module flavor.
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| GPU architecture | Open module flavor | Practical guidance |
|---|---|---|
| Turing and newer | Supported, subject to the exact GPU and driver release | Check NVIDIA’s current compatibility information and your distribution’s installation instructions. |
| Maxwell, Pascal, and Volta | Not supported | Use the proprietary module flavor. |
“Turing and newer” is an architecture-level guide, not a substitute for checking a particular model’s eligibility. Consult NVIDIA’s current device information and the instructions for your Linux distribution and driver branch before installing.
What changed over time?
At launch in 2022, NVIDIA described support for Turing- and Ampere-based data-center GPUs as production-ready, while GeForce and Workstation support was characterized as alpha-quality. Those labels described the launch state, not today’s general support quality. NVIDIA’s current installation guide says the open module flavor became the default and suggested installation starting with the 560 driver release series. For a current installation decision, follow the guide for your GPU, distribution, and driver branch rather than applying the old launch-era quality labels.
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How to install or build the modules safely
NVIDIA provides distribution-specific package instructions in its driver installation guide; its source repository also documents building and installing the modules directly. The appropriate route depends on your distribution and driver branch, so use current instructions rather than copying commands from the 2022 announcement.
- Check GPU eligibility. Confirm that the exact GPU supports the open module flavor; Maxwell, Pascal, and Volta require the proprietary flavor.
- Choose a supported installation route. Use the NVIDIA guide that matches your Linux distribution and intended driver branch, or follow the repository’s build instructions if building from source.
- Keep driver components aligned. Match the kernel modules with the corresponding GSP firmware and user-space driver components from the same driver release. Do not mix components from different releases.
Why “NVIDIA open-sourced its GPU driver” needs qualification
That shorthand can imply that all NVIDIA driver code is public. More precisely, NVIDIA released the Linux GPU kernel-module source; user-mode components remained closed. This distinction is useful when evaluating what can be inspected or built from source, and when troubleshooting a driver installation: open kernel-module source does not mean every component on which the complete driver relies is open.
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