Kali Linux 1.1.0 kernel 3.18 – Install proprietary NVIDIA driver – NVIDIA Accelerated Linux Graphics Driver

Step 1: Install Linux headers

Install Linux headers as those will be required to build NVIDIA Driver modules.

root@kali:~# aptitude -r install linux-headers-$(uname -r)

Where -r means install all recommended packages as well.

Step 2: Install NVIDIA Kernel

Next I installed NVIDIA Kernel

root@kali:~# apt-get install nvidia-kernel-$(uname -r)

Step 3: Install NVIDIA Driver Kernel DKMS

We’re almost ready. You can now install new NVIDIA driver nvidia-kernel-dkms by using the following command:

root@kali:~# aptitude install nvidia-kernel-dkms

While installing you get two popups where you select OK

First one tell you there’s a conflict (well of course, there’s a conflict, you have nouveau installed now and replacing it with Proprietary NVIDIA Driver). So we press OK on this popup.

The second popup tell you that you dont have a xorg.conf file in /etc/X11/ folder. . Yeap, we will fix that soon. Press OK .

Press OK on both popups.

Step 4: Install xconfig NVIDIA driver application

Now we need a xorg.conf file in /etc/X11/ folder. The easiest way to do that is by installing nvidia-xconfig package.

Use the following command:

root@kali:~# aptitude install nvidia-xconfig

This will install Xconfig package which then generates a xorg.conf file in /etc/X11/ folder.

Step 5: Generate xorg server configuration file

Now that we have installed nvidia-xconfig package, issue the following command to generate Xorg server configuration file.

root@kali:~# nvidia-xconfig

It will rename any existing xorg.conf file and create a new one. On in there wasn’t a per-exisiting xorg.conf file it will just create a brand new one.

Note: If this was a fresh Kali installation, you will see WARNING: Unable to locate/open X configuration file.

This is good as that means your installation will work fine now.

Now as directed by NVIDIA driver nvidia-kernel-dkms, reboot your machine to complete installation.

root@kali:~# reboot