clang, dkms and ERROR: could not insert 'nvidia': Exec format error

NVIDIA_DKMS_CLANG.md

When DKMS uses clang to compile the nvidia kernel driver, you're boned.

sudo modprobe nvidia
modprobe: ERROR: could not insert 'nvidia': Exec format error

Unfortunately, dkms doesn't take CC and CXX settings from the environment.

sudo update-alternatives --config cc
sudo update-alternatives --config c++
sudo dkms remove nvidia/390.48 -k 4.15.0-32-generic
sudo dkms build nvidia/390.48 -k 4.15.0-32-generic
sudo dkms install nvidia/390.48 
sudo modprobe nvidia

And reboot.

I've been tearing my hair out for days with this. Thanks!

In 2021, the DKMS script for nvidia explicitly switches to gcc, so this shouldn't be necessary anymore. You should see the CC= setting scrolling by when DKMS builds the module.