NVIDIA Brev#


Screenshot of the AI Workbench Settings page with the Brev integration in a red bounding box.

Overview#

NVIDIA Brev is a user-friendly platform for launching cloud instances.

Connecting Brev to Workbench is straightforward.

  • Configure the Brev integration in the AI Workbench Settings page

  • Create a Brev instance using the Brev console

  • Create a remote Location in AI Workbench and select the Brev instance you created

Using Brev with AI Workbench#

Prerequisites#

Before you use Brev, you need to meet the following requirements:

  • You must have AI Workbench installed locally

  • You must have a valid email address to create an NVIDIA account

Step 1: Configure integration#


Screenshot of the AI Workbench Settings page with the Brev integration in a red bounding boxe.

Note

This is a one time setup that requires NVIDIA account creation if you don’t yet have one.

If you already have an NVIDIA account, then use that email when connecting the Brev integration.

To configure the integration, you need to:

  • Go to the AI Workbench Settings page.

  • Click “Connect” on the Brev card.

  • Enter your email when prompted, and follow the account creation steps if needed.

  • Wait until the integration and authentication are confirmed in your browser.

Note

If you are creating an NVIDIA account for the first time, you need to:

  1. Receive a confirmation email with a code needed to initiate account creation.

  2. Create your account and password.

  3. Create your NVIDIA Cloud Account and give it a name.

  4. Log in to your NVIDIA account to finalize the Brev integration.

Step 2: Create an instance in Brev#

You must create an instance on Brev before you can add it as a Workbench location.


Screenshot of the GPU tab on the Brev console showing the Create New Instance button.

To create an instance in Brev, you need to:

  • Log in to Brev at brev.nvidia.com, go to the GPU tab, and click Create New Instance.

  • Select the GPU type, and then select the configuration and provider.

  • Configure the disk size, give the instance a unique name, and click Deploy to launch the instance.

Warning

The AI Workbench integration with Brev does not support Lambda Labs because their instances lack start/stop capabilities.

You can use any other cloud provider available in Brev, including AWS, Azure, Crusoe and GCP.

Step 3: Add the Location#

Once the integration is connected, you can add running Brev instances directly in the AI Workbench remote location modal.


Screenshot of the Location creation modal with a Brev instance named "test-instance".

To add a Brev instance as a remote location, you need to: - Go to the Locations page in the Desktop App - Select Add Remote Location at the top right - Select Create Brev Location and click Next - Select the Brev org from the drop down at top right - Select the instance you created and click Add Location

Step 4: Work in the Location#

The Brev location is like any other remote Workbench location with the added benefit that Workbench will start/stop the instance when you open/close the location.

Working in the Brev location is the same as working in any other remote location. To begin working, all you need to do is:

  • Open the Brev location in the Desktop App. This will start the instance, and depending on the cloud provider this can take a few minutes.

  • Close all AI Workbench windows connected to the Brev location and that action will stop the instance.

Warning

You should always double-check the Brev console (brev.nvidia.com) to confirm instances are shutdown. Otherwise, you may be charged for idle time.

FAQs#

Is Brev a cloud provider?#

No. Brev is not a cloud provider. Brev partners with major cloud providers to offer a single platform to deploy and manage GPU instances.

Is Brev free?#

No. Brev has a flexible, pay-as-you-go model where you only pay for the time you use an instance. You need a credit card to provision an instance.

Can I configure the Brev integration with the CLI?#

Yes. You can configure the integration and you can create a Brev location using the CLI.

Use the command nvwb connect integration and then select Brev from the drop down.

You can add a running Brev instance with the command nvwb create context --brev. Select the instance name from the drop down.

Why doesn’t my Brev instance show up in Workbench?#

There are a few potential reasons:

  • You haven’t configured the Brev integration with that particular account

  • You already created a location with that instance

  • You are looking in the wrong Brev org in the remote location modal

I see a Brev instance in the remote location modal, but I can’t add it as a location. Why is that?#

There are a few potential reasons:

  • The instance is not running

  • The instance is a Lambda Labs instance and AI Workbench does not support using them as a remote location