I installed linux-lts as a backup kernel on a Lenovo Z510 notebook with Intel graphics with no problems; broadcom-wl-dkms was installed automatically. However, on a desktop with Nvidia graphics I could never get linux-lts to boot until some(?) dkms versions were used instead of normal versions. My Nvidia card (GK104 GeForce GTX 770) uses the 435 driver so I don’t need any 390xx modules.
@CMarch There seems to be a lot of confusion about dkms. You either use the dkms version or the standard version of Nvidia drivers. Dkms requires linux headers. So if you use nvidia-dkms then you need to install the corresponding headers. So you would be using the nvidia-dkms-installer for the dkms version after installing the headers.
current kernel (linux-headers)
lts kernel (linux-lts-headers)
zen kernel (linux-zen-headers)
hardened kernel (linux-hardened-headers)
So you only need the headers if you are using that specific kernel.
Otherwise if you are installing standard Nvidia then you would be using the
nvidia-installer.
The same practice goes for Broadcom if you are using dkms for it. You need to install the same corresponding headers for what ever kernel Broadcom is being used on.
So broadcom-wl-dkms requires the appropriate corresponding headers to be installed.
The standard broadcom-wl does not.
Edit: I’m still unsure at this stage if the headers are going to be part of the install of dkms as it’s still being worked on. But at any rate they need to be installed for dkms.
An essential feature of DKMS is that it automatically recompiles all DKMS modules if a new kernel version is installed. This allows drivers and devices outside of the mainline kernel to continue working after a Linux kernel upgrade.
Another benefit of DKMS is that it allows the installation of a new driver on an existing system, running an arbitrary kernel version, without any need for manual compilation or precompiled packages provided by the vendor.
@ricklinux thanks for this information. I now understand the how and why of DKMS a little better. My confusion arose when mixing current and lts on the same system. I now have current and lts installed on a notebook and a desktop and all is well.