linux-egpu-boot-switch

automate things with an integrated GPU and an NVIDIA / AMD eGPU

Tested Setup:

• XPS 13 9370 / Lenovo X1 Yoga
• Ubuntu 18.04 / Ubuntu 19.04 / Fedora 29
• ASUS XG Station Pro + NVIDIA GPU

Prerequirements:

• once booted connect the eGPU enclosure and authorize it (if user authentication is needed)
  • newest Ubuntu and Fedora versions with GNOME handles this via GUI
• if on NVIDIA install NVIDIA drivers

How to install this:

• find the BusID of your egpu via "lspci"
• copy everything to the appropriate directories
  • change the BusID in /etc/X11/xorg.conf.egpu
    • if on AMD, change the Driver "nvidia" to your AMD driver (eg. "amdgpu")
      • if you don't have an integrated Intel GPU delete the whole first Section with the "modesetting" driver
  • change the BusID in /usr/sbin/egpu_detect
• make /usr/sbin/egpu_detect executable

  'chmod +x /usr/sbin/egpu_detect'

• enable the new gpuboot service

  'systemctl enable gpuboot'

What to expect from this:

• when the GPU is connected on boot the xorg.conf will be created

• when the GPU is NOT connected on boot the xorg.conf will be removed

• so just connect / disconnect and boot and everything should be set

  • performance at the desk
  • battery life on the go