Questions[headless](ubuntu)

I'm installing Nvidia driver 450 on a 20.04 brand new server with no desktop environment (which I do not want to have).

(Context: final goal is to install cuda toolkit via Tensorflow Docker, and drivers are the only thing outta container).

When it comes to apt install, turns out that both nvidia-driver-450/nvidia-driver-450-server packages will carry a huge load of gnome-related stuff.

So I'm wondering if nvidia-headless-450/nvidia-headless-450-server will suffice. Asking for both brokes apt, so my questions are

1. what's the -server suffixed variant supposed to do? Official guide doesn't clarify much.
2. is the headless metapackage containing the actual driver?

I am running a headless server with an Nvidia GPU. Even when the GPU is not doing any work, it is consuming about 25 Watts of power:

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| NVIDIA-SMI 430.26       Driver Version: 430.26       CUDA Version: 10.2     |
|-------------------------------+----------------------+----------------------+
| GPU  Name        Persistence-M| Bus-Id        Disp.A | Volatile Uncorr. ECC |
| Fan  Temp  Perf  Pwr:Usage/Cap|         Memory-Usage | GPU-Util  Compute M. |
|===============================+======================+======================|
|   0  GeForce GTX 950     Off  | 00000000:01:00.0 Off |                  N/A |
|  0%   61C    P0    26W / 110W |      0MiB /  2001MiB |      0%      Default |
+-------------------------------+----------------------+----------------------+

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Processes:                                                       GPU Memory |
|  GPU       PID   Type   Process name                             Usage      |
|=============================================================================|
|  No running processes found                                                 |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+

Is there a way to completely turn off power delivery to the GPU when it is not in use?

I tried sudo prime-select intel Which does cause nvidia-smi to stop working, but a power meter connect to the wall shows exactly the same power consumption with either intel or nvidia selected.

Completely removing the GPU reduces the power consumption by about 30 Watts as expected.

The main purpose is to save power and costs during idle operations, with an option to spin up the GPU when it is needed (remotely via ssh).

I've ordered a dedicated (headless) server with an nvidia GeForce GT 710B GPU at ikoula (offsite data center). Now I am trying to get a full blown desktop gui to run on it so I can actually run what I want to run on it (streaming an AI learning a task using OBS). I got a desktop with TightVNC but it doesn't have access to the GPU using that method and thus OBS will not start.
xrdb installs and I can get a login window but when I login I simply get the default blue screen. (see images)

I have created a virtual monitor using the following command:

sudo nvidia-xconfig -a --allow-empty-initial-configuration \
--use-display-device="DFP-0" --connected-monitor="DFP-0" \
--custom-edid="DFP-0:/home/$USER/edid.txt"

and I am able to run startx without problem I just can't seem to login to a desktop.

my current /etc/X11/xorg.conf file generated from the above code: http://paste.ubuntu.com/p/HdWpJfzPvx/

I tried logging in onto root and I got a desktop. So somehow in my config I get a desktop for root but not for other users...

Ps. a monitor emulator plug is "not possible in my price range"

edit: it runs sometimes but it is very random. Does ANYONE know a proper way to boot mate or xfce4 on a remote ubuntu server with xrdp??? It just doesn't seem to work for me....

Edit: I really need help with this guys......I am about to just delete everything and leave it. I had it working yesterday but it seems to be really really inconsistent. I had it working on display :11.0 but now I can't even get it to open a display....

If anyone can get this to work I'll be eternally grateful.

/var/log/Xorg.0.log
/var/log/Xorg.1.log
/var/log/xrdp.log
/var/log/xrdp-sesman.log
/etc/X11/xorg.conf
/etc/xrdp/startwm.sh

What it currently does when I connect to xrdp and login is hang for 20 seconds and then I am back to the login screen. If you require more data let me know.

Edit: tried x2go as suggested but got this error:

Is there a way to disable the GUI in the desktop version of Ubuntu 18.04. so save on power consumption during idle states?

Since I won't have a monitor hooked up to the machine anyway, I'd rather manage Ubuntu through an SSH connection or Webmin.

I need a CD or USB stick, that will install Ubuntu on a completely headless machine. Stick CD in and restart, no keyboard or screen should be involved.

There are a few obstacles:

1. The language selection menu when you first boot the CD.
2. The fact that the CD menu waits.
3. The installer's asking questions during installation.