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Best Distro For Docker Desktop With Nvidia CUDA? (lemmy.world)
submitted 3 weeks ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]
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I'm looking to switch over to Linux but I need a distro that I can easily set up Docked Desktop and get Nvidia drivers and CUDA installed. I tried Mint so far but it will not for the life of me install the Nvidia drivers!

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[-] [email protected] 6 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

Any distro will work.Your issues with driver install should be obvious, but also let us know what card you're working.

There is a big difference between Docker Desktop and docker-ce when you're talking about CUDA integration and performance. You probably just want docker-ce with the nvidia-runtime configured.

The easier distros with Nvidia drivers are going to be the Debian, Fedora or Ubuntu flavors, and you need to pay attention to the CUDA requirement which is not always in-line with the stock gaming GPU version of drivers. Nvidia has a compatibility matrix you can lookup with detailed instructions on how to navigate what is what.

[-] [email protected] 0 points 3 weeks ago

Needs to be Docker Desktop. The other person using it can not for the life of them use a terminal aha. As for my card, RTX 4070.

[-] [email protected] 2 points 3 weeks ago

Okay, well it doesn't NEED to be Docker Desktop for sure. There is just a difference in the configurations of how it works, but whatever Desktop can do, docker-ce can do.

For starters, let's find out why you can't install drivers. Do you have an error?

[-] [email protected] 3 points 3 weeks ago

Docker desktop differs more than just configuration. Iirc the whole docker command and engine desktop uses runs in some kind of container as well, making it more difficult to use from the cli if you want to.

[-] [email protected] 1 points 3 weeks ago

I was able to switch to Docker Engine. Got everything working in about 10 minutes.

[-] [email protected] 1 points 3 weeks ago

No I think they mean the Docker Desktop application. The commercial GUI to docker.

[-] [email protected] 2 points 3 weeks ago

That's exactly it. Luckily I managed to have them assigned to a task better suited for their skill set. I'm using Docker Engine now. Got everything set up easily.

[-] [email protected] 5 points 3 weeks ago

Ubuntu. It has great Nvidia driver support. Everything works practically out of the box.

[-] [email protected] 2 points 3 weeks ago

I switched over to Ubuntu and Docker Engine instead of Desktop (other person was moved to another project more suited to them). Got it all working in less than 10 minutes. Thanks for the help!

[-] [email protected] 1 points 3 weeks ago

You're welcome! :)

[-] [email protected] 1 points 3 weeks ago

I'll give it a shot.

[-] [email protected] 1 points 3 weeks ago

Doesn't mint use the same driver package as Ubuntu?

[-] [email protected] 1 points 3 weeks ago

Yes.

[-] [email protected] 1 points 3 weeks ago

So what would be the benefit of trying Ubuntu if mint didn't work? As far as installing packages is concerned, they're practically the same

[-] [email protected] 1 points 3 weeks ago

Mint, or any other flavor of Ubuntu, don't come with the third party driver installer GUI application. You have to read documentation and go through command line to install the correct driver.

[-] [email protected] 4 points 3 weeks ago

There is Docker Desktop for Linux?

[-] [email protected] 2 points 3 weeks ago

Yes.

[-] [email protected] 2 points 3 weeks ago* (last edited 3 weeks ago)

Ive gotten linux mint and popos working long term for gaming with two Nvidia cards, ones a 970 and the others a 3080ti. Not sure if that info helps but I found those distros to be stable.

Edit to add: I use docker and portainer on both.

this post was submitted on 05 Jun 2025
13 points (81.0% liked)

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