Install NVIDIA drivers and fix blank GDM on Debian

Some of following may not be necessary for newer kernels and NVIDIA drivers. Do refer to the references at the end.

Before we start, set up the SSH server to gain access if GDM still starts with a blank screen.

Install kernel headers

sudo apt install linux-headers-amd64

Install the driver and necessary firmware:

sudo apt install nvidia-driver firmware-misc-nonfree

Check whether the driver have installed successfully:

sudo dkms status

Configure video memory preservation after suspend and DRM kernel parameters. Open and edit:

sudo nano /etc/modprobe.d/nvidia-options.conf

Add the following line at the end, then save and exit:

options nvidia-current NVreg_PreserveVideoMemoryAllocations=1
options nvidia_drm modeset=1 fbdev=1

Enable the services for suspend (provided by nvidia-suspend-common):

sudo systemctl enable nvidia-suspend
sudo systemctl enable nvidia-hibernate
sudo systemctl enable nvidia-resume

Reboot and it should be good to go.

To check preserve video memory:

cat /proc/driver/nvidia/params | grep PreserveVideoMemoryAllocations
# Expects 1

To check modeset:

sudo cat /sys/module/nvidia_drm/parameters/modeset
# Expects Y

To check fbdev:

sudo cat /sys/module/nvidia_drm/parameters/fbdev
# Expects Y

To check Wayland compositor:

sudo journalctl -b 0 --grep "renderer for"
# Expects gbm

References