Easiest method to install NVIDIA driver on Ubuntu
There are several methods to install NVIDIA driver on Ubuntu 16.04 or 18.04. This is the easiest method I found so far.
1. Add graphics-drivers repository
sudo add-apt-repository ppa:graphics-drivers/ppa
sudo apt update
2. Install NVIDIA driver
a) If you have a GUI
i. Open Software & Updates and go to Additional Drivers tab.
ii. Select the latest driver and click on Apply Changes
b) If you do not have a GUI.
Refer to https://medium.com/@hdpoorna/setup-a-gui-for-your-remote-ubuntu-server-6503e1f33e9f in order to setup a GUI for your remote Ubuntu server and follow step “a”,
Or if you want to stick with the CLI,
sudo apt install nvidia-415
3. Blacklist nouveau driver
sudo nano /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-nouveau.conf
Paste/enter the following
blacklist nouveau
options nouveau modeset=0
Then,
Press “CTRL + X”
Press “Y”
Press “Enter”
After that,
sudo update-initramfs -u
4. Restart
5. Verify
Open terminal.
nvidia-smi