gpu-xserver-switch

Inspired by kevinhwang91/xps-13-config

This script helps you free to configure your external GPU and switch between internal GPU external GPU.

Features:

• Adaptive configure Xorg Server when external GPU attach after PC startup.
• Command line to switch between internal GPU and external GPU.
• Detach external GPU satfely.
• Support Nvidia Proprietary driver.

Environment under test:

• Linux Kernal: 4.19 lts
• Linux Distros: Arch Linux & Manjaro
• Desktop Environment: Gnome
• Laptop: XPS 13 9370
• External GPU: Nvidia 1060 3G
• Internal GPU Driver: modesetting
• External GPU Driver: nvidia

Requirement

• Have an external GPU enclosure and set up correctly.
• Authorized Thunderbolt for external GPU.
• Installled external GPU driver

Installation

1. Inspect and backup your current GPU xserver configuration /etc/X11/xorg.conf because it will be overrided by gpu-xserver-switch.
2. Run git clone https://github.com/kevinhwang91/gpu-xserver-switch.git.
3. Run cd gpu-xserver-switch && sudo RETRY=4 make.

Makefile include RETRY environment to solve PC boots so fast that external GPU couldn't initialized successfully through GPU enclosure, see FAQs.

/etc/X11/xorg.conf maybe doesn't exist, xserver using other configuration path such as /etc/X11/xorg.conf.d,/usr/share/X11.

Configurations

1. Run sudo gxs setup and select your external GPU card.
2. Edit your internal GPU xserver /etc/X11/xorg.conf.igpu configuration.

Use

Make sure Install gpu-xserver-switch successfully before using below command line.

When do reload, Display Manager will kill current xserver, just like logout.

Switch to interlnal GPU

Run sudo gxs i or sudo gxs i <<<'y' without prompt to do reload.

Switch to external GPU

Run sudo gxs e or sudo gxs e <<<'y' without prompt to do reload.

Attach GPU enclosure

Run sudo gxs a or sudo gxs a <<<'y' without prompt to do reload.

Detach GPU enclosure

Run sudo gxs d or sudo gxs d <<<'y' without prompt to do reload.

Adaptive switching GPU

Adaptive switching GPU: without manual run command sudo gxs e or sudo gxs i to swtich GPU after login.

If you want to adaptively switch GPU after PC startup, Please follow below steps:

1. Make sure you can switch both GPUs using sudo gxs e <<<'y' and sudo gxs i <<<'y'.
2. Enable gpu-xserver-switch service sudo systemctl enable gpu-xserver-switch.service.

FAQs

Q: How to know which GPU used?

A: Run glxinfo | grep 'OpenGL renderer'

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Q: Could not reload when switching GPU.

A: Run journalctl or dmesg to make sure the GPU initialized successfully and inspect xserver log.

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Q: Could not adaptively switch GPU after PC startup.

A: Run journalctl -b to make sure the GPU initialized successfully and inspect xserver log, try to make install again increasing value of RETRY and wait for a minute to login at display manager interface such as GDM.

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Related Project

• egpu-switcher
• gswitch

License

The project is licensed under a BSD-3-clause license. See the LICENSE file.