Modern Garuda Linux hardware profiles will be replacing legacy hardware profiles
The modern Garuda Linux “hardware profiles” (hardware profiles are metapackages that install packages such as video drivers and apply certain settings related to them) will be replacing the legacy mhwd-powered hardware profiles automatically during the next system update (testing thread). By default, the following replacements will be made on demand:
garuda-video-linux-config→garuda-hardware-profile-standard-x11garuda-nvidia-config→garuda-hardware-profile-nvidia-closedgaruda-nvidia-prime-config→garuda-hardware-profile-nvidia-prime-closedgaruda-virtualmachine-guest-config→garuda-hardware-profile-vm
If your hardware profile is not listed (including if you are using a legacy NVIDIA driver package such as 470xx), an automatic conversion will not take place. This is because there is no equivalent for those legacy hardware profiles. For example, if you are using garuda-optimus-manager-470xx-config, it will not be replaced or removed automatically.
Old hardware profiles will continue to function for the foreseeable future, but will not be available in the repositories anymore. They will be an “orphaned” package, meaning a package without an equivalent in any installed repository. We do not recommend updating any legacy hardware profiles from the AUR in case submissions for these packages are made. They are untested and unapproved by the Garuda Linux team.
What this means for you
In most cases, nothing. In most cases, the modern hardware profile packages are functionally equivalent.
If the system is converted to an NVIDIA package ending in -closed after this update AND your NVIDIA GPU is Turing family or newer, the option to replace the -closed package with the equivalent package name with -closed omitted exists. This is the recommended version to use for NVIDIA GPUs Turing family or newer.
If the system is using legacy NVIDIA drivers such as 470xx/390xx, these are now officially unsupported. If the system has an NVIDIA GPU Maxwell family or newer, we recommend switching to the modern NVIDIA packages. Unsupported does not mean these drivers will stop working or a conscious effort was made to break them, it just means that these drivers will not be installed automatically by Garuda Linux tooling anymore due to their antiquated status.
Garuda Settings Manager is deprecated and will be removed
A recent package update of the Arch Linux upstream package hwinfo has put the final nail in the coffin for Garuda Settings Manager. It will be removed automatically during the next system update. We do not support keeping it installed since downgrading hwinfo would be required and partial upgrades are not supported. Garuda RANI will be installed instead to replace it.
MHWD is deprecated and will be replaced
The garuda-hardware-tool will automatically replace mhwd during the next system update (testing thread). This tool did not meet the requirements of the Garuda Linux team and was presenting a major maintenance burden and was replaced with a much simplified single-purpose tool.
Usage: garuda-hardware-tool [OPTIONS]
Options:
--help, -h Show this help message.
--nonfree Install non-free drivers.
--free Install free drivers only.
--noconfirm Do not prompt for confirmation during installation.
Either --nonfree or --free must be specified.
garuda-rani and garuda-rani-git are in conflict. Remove garuda-rani-git?
Due to package manager limitations, you’ll have to accept the removal temporarily. After the full system upgrade is finished, you can once again install garuda-rani-git:
sudo pacman -S garuda-rani-git