Installation Guide

NVIDIA DOCA Installation Guide

This document details the necessary steps to set up NVIDIA DOCA in your environment.

There are two ways to install the NVIDIA BlueField-2 DPU software:

• Using the SDK Manager which provides a GUI/CLI for full BlueField-2 installation
• Manual installation with a step-by-step procedure

1.1. Supported Platforms

1.2. Hardware Prerequisites

This quick start guide assumes that an NVIDIA® BlueField® DPU has been installed in a server according to the instructions detailed in your DPU's hardware user guide.

1.3. DOCA Packages

1.4. Supported Operating System

The operating system supported on the BlueField DPU is Ubuntu 20.04. The following operating systems are supported on the host machine:

• CentOS/RHEL 7.6/8.0/8.2
• Ubuntu 18.04/20.04

1.5. Supported Kernel Versions

NVIDIA SDK Manager supports DOCA installation, including software packages on the host and the BlueField-2 target.

• To use the SDK Manager GUI, please refer to NVIDIA SDK Manager GUI installation guide for DOCA for detailed instructions.
• To use the SDK Manager CLI, please refer to NVIDIA SDK Manager CLI installation guide for DOCA for detailed instructions.

This guide provides the minimal first-step instructions for setting up DOCA on a standard system.

3.1. Installation Files

3.2. Software Prerequisites

1. If you wish to continue without the DOCA local repo package for host, install the minimal tools needed on the host to allow managing and flashing new firmware on the BlueField.

   For Ubuntu/Debian

   1. Download the DOCA Tools package from Installation Files section for the host.
   2. Unpack the deb repo. Run:
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      sudo dpkg -i doca-host-repo-ubuntu<version>_amd64.deb
              

   3. Perform apt update. Run:
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      sudo apt-get update
              

   4. Run apt install for DOCA SDK, DOCA runtime, DOCA tools.
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      sudo apt install doca-tools
              

   For CentOS/RHEL

   1. Download the DOCA Tools package from Installation Files section for the x86 host.
   2. Unpack the RPM repo. Run:
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      sudo rpm -Uvh doca-host-repo-rhel<version>.x86_64.rpm
              

   3. Run yum install for DOCA SDK, DOCA runtime, DOCA tools.
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      sudo yum install doca-tools
              

   Note:

   Skip the following step to proceed without the DOCA local repo package for host.

2. Alternatively, to continue with the DOCA local repo package for host installation:

   Installing DOCA Local Repo Package on Ubuntu Host

   1. Download the DOCA SDK, DOCA Runtime, and DOCA Tools package from Installation Files section for the host.
   2. Unpack the deb repo. Run:
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      sudo dpkg -i doca-host-repo-ubuntu<version>_amd64.deb
              

   3. Perform apt update. Run:
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      sudo apt-get update
              

   4. Run apt install for DOCA SDK, DOCA runtime, DOCA tools.
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      sudo apt install doca-sdk
      sudo apt install doca-runtime
      sudo apt install doca-tools
              

   Installing DOCA Local Repo Package on CentOS Host

   1. Download the DOCA SDK, DOCA Runtime, and DOCA Tools package from Installation Files section for the x86 host.
   2. Install the following software dependencies. Run:
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      sudo yum install -y epel-release
      sudo yum install -y uriparser-devel
      sudo yum install -y 'dnf-command(config-manager)' 
      sudo dnf -y install dnf-plugins-core
      sudo yum install -y epel-release
      sudo dnf config-manager --set-enabled PowerTools
      sudo yum install meson
              

   3. Unpack the RPM repo. Run:
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      sudo rpm -Uvh doca-host-repo-rhel<version>.x86_64.rpm
              

   4. Run yum install for DOCA SDK, DOCA runtime, DOCA tools.
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      sudo yum install doca-sdk
      sudo yum install doca-runtime
      sudo yum install doca-tools
              

   Installing DOCA Local Repo Package on RHEL Host

   1. Open a RedHat account.
      1. Log into RedHat website via the developers tab.
      2. Create a developer user.
   2. Run:
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      subscription-manager register --username=<username> --password=PASSWORD
              

      To extract pool ID:
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      subscription-manager list --available --all
      ...
      Subscription Name:   Red Hat Developer Subscription for Individuals
      Provides:            Red Hat Developer Tools (for RHEL Server for ARM)
                           ...
                           Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder for x86_64
      ...
      Pool ID:             <pool-id>
      ...
              

      
      

      And use the pool ID for the Subscription Name and Provides that include Red Hat CodeReady Linux Builder for x86_64.

   3. Run:
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      subscription-manager attach --pool=<pool-id>
      subscription-manager repos --enable codeready-builder-for-rhel-8-x86_64-rpms
              

   4. Install the DOCA local repo package for host. Run:
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      rpm -Uvh doca-host-repo-rhel<version>.x86_64.rpm
      yum makecache
      sudo yum install doca-runtime
      sudo yum install doca-sdk
      sudo yum install doca-tools
              

   5. Sign out from your RHEL account. Run:
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      subscription-manager remove --all
      subscription-manager unregister
              

      The upgrade takes effect only after mlxfwreset which is performed in later steps.

3. Initialize MST. Run:
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   sudo mst start
           

4. Reset the nvconfig params to their default values:
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   sudo mlxconfig -d /dev/mst/mt41686_pciconf0 -y reset
   
   Reset configuration for device /dev/mst/<device>? (y/n) [n] : y
   Applying... Done!
   -I- Please reboot machine to load new configurations.
           

5. Skip this step if your BlueField DPU is Ethernet only. Please refer to Supported Platforms to learn your DPU type. If you have a VPI DPU, the default link type of the ports will be configured to IB. To verify your link type, run:
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   sudo mst start
   sudo mlxconfig -d /dev/mst/mt41686_pciconf0 -e q | grep -i link_type
   Configurations:                              Default         Current         Next Boot
   *        LINK_TYPE_P1                        IB(1)           ETH(2)          IB(1)
   *        LINK_TYPE_P2                        IB(1)           ETH(2)          IB(1)
           

   Note:

   If your DPU is Ethernet capable only, then the sudo mlxconfig -d <device> command will not provide an output.

   If the current link type is set to IB, run the following command to change it to Ethernet:
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   sudo mlxconfig -d /dev/mst/mt41686_pciconf0 s LINK_TYPE_P1=2 LINK_TYPE_P2=2
           

   
   
6. Assign a dynamic IP to tmfifo_net0 interface (RShim host interface).
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   ifconfig tmfifo_net0 192.168.100.1 netmask 255.255.255.252 up
           

7. Verify that RShim is active.
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   sudo systemctl status rshim
           

   This command is expected to display active (running). If RShim service does not launch automatically, run:
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   sudo systemctl enable rshim
   sudo systemctl start rshim
           

3.3. Image Installation

Users have two options for installing DOCA on the DPU:

• Upgrading the full DOCA image on the DPU (recommended) - this option overwrites the entire boot partition.
• Upgrading DOCA local repo package on the DPU – this option upgrades DOCA components without overwriting the boot partition. Use this option to preserve configurations or files on the DPU itself.

3.3.1. Installing Full DOCA Image on DPU

Ubuntu users are required to provide a unique password that will be applied at the end of the BlueField OS image installation. This password needs to be defined in a bf.cfg configuration file. To set the password for the "ubuntu" user:

1. Create password hash. Run:
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   # openssl passwd -1
   Password:
   Verifying - Password:
   $1$3B0RIrfX$TlHry93NFUJzg3Nya00rE1
           

2. Add the password hash in quotes to the bf.cfg file:
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   # sudo vim bf.cfg
   ubuntu_PASSWORD='$1$3B0RIrfX$TlHry93NFUJzg3Nya00rE1'
           

   When running the installation command, use the --config flag to provide the file containing the password:
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   sudo bfb-install --rshim <rshimN> --bfb <image_path.bfb> --config bf.cfg
           

   
   
   Note:

   If --config is not used, then upon first login to the BlueField device, users will be asked to update their password.

   The following is an example of Ubuntu installation assuming the "pv" Linux tool has been installed (to view the installation progress).
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   sudo bfb-install --rshim rshim0 --bfb DOCA_<version>-aarch64.bfb --config bf.cfg
   Pushing bfb
   1.08GiB 0:00:57 [19.5MiB/s] [      <=>    ]
   Collecting BlueField booting status. Press Ctrl+C to stop…
   INFO[BL2]: start
   INFO[BL2]: DDR POST passed
   INFO[BL2]: UEFI loaded
   INFO[BL31]: start
   INFO[BL31]: runtime
   INFO[UEFI]: eMMC init
   INFO[UEFI]: eMMC probed
   INFO[UEFI]: PCIe enum start
   INFO[UEFI]: PCIe enum end
   INFO[MISC]: Ubuntu installation started
   INFO[MISC]: Installation finished
   INFO[MISC]: Rebooting...
           

   
   
   Note:

   This installation sets up the OVS bridge.

3.3.2. Installing DOCA Local Repo Package on DPU

1. Download the DOCA SDK, DOCA Runtime, and DOCA Tools package from section Installation Files.
2. Copy deb repo package into BlueField. Run:
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   sudo scp -r doca-repo-aarch64-ubuntu2004-local_<version>_arm64.deb ubuntu@192.168.100.2:/tmp/
           

3. Unpack the deb repo. Run:
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   sudo dpkg -i doca-repo-aarch64-ubuntu2004-local_<version>_arm64.deb
           

4. Run apt update.
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   sudo apt-get update
           

5. Run apt install for DOCA SDK, DOCA runtime, DOCA tools:
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   sudo apt install doca-sdk
   sudo apt install doca-runtime
   sudo apt install doca-tools
           

3.4. Firmware Upgrade

To upgrade firmware:

1. SSH to your BlueField device via 192.168.100.2 (preconfigured). The default credentials for Ubuntu are as follows:
   • Username: ubuntu
   • Password: unique password

   For example:

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   host$ ssh ubuntu@192.168.100.2 Password: <configured-password>
           

   
   

2. Upgrade firmware in BlueField DPU. Run:
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   sudo /opt/mellanox/mlnx-fw-updater/mlnx_fw_updater.pl
           

   Example output:
   
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   Device #1:
   ----------
   
     Device Type:      BlueField-2
     [...]
     Versions:         Current        Available
        FW             <Old_FW>       <New_FW>
           

3. For the firmware upgrade to take effect:
   1. Run the following command on the BlueField DPU and host:
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      sudo mst start
              

   2. Run the command below on the BlueField DPU and immediately afterwards on the host. Do not wait for the command to complete on the BlueField DPU before issuing the command on the host.
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      sudo mlxfwreset -d /dev/mst/<device> -l 3 -y reset
              

      Note:

      If your BlueField device is a controller or if you are performing remote install, you must power cycle the BlueField.

3.5. Post-installation Procedure

1. Restart the driver. Run:
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   host$ sudo /etc/init.d/openibd restart
   Unloading HCA driver:                                      [  OK  ]
   Loading HCA driver and Access Layer:                       [  OK  ]
           

2. Configure the physical function (PF) interfaces.
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   host$ sudo ifconfig <interface-1> <network-1/mask> up
   host$ sudo ifconfig <interface-2> <network-2/mask> up
           

   For example:
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   host$ sudo ifconfig p2p1 192.168.200.32/24 up
   host$ sudo ifconfig p2p2 192.168.201.32/24 up
           

   Pings between the source and destination should now be operational.

For full instructions about setting up a development environment, refer to the NVIDIA DOCA Developer Guide.

NVIDIA® CUDA® is a parallel computing platform and programming model developed by NVIDIA for general computing GPUs.

This section details the necessary steps to set up CUDA on your environment. This section assumes that a BFB image has already been installed on your environment. To install CUDA on your converged accelerator:

1. Download and install the latest NVIDIA Data Center GPU driver.
2. Download and install CUDA.

5.1. Downloading and Installing NVIDIA Data Center GPU Driver

NVIDIA Data Center GPU driver installation is done using a run file. First, you must download the run file of the relevant driver version. This link contains the run file which installs the driver, version 495, based on your Linux distribution and your system architecture (should be Arm64).

This section details the necessary steps to set up CUDA on your environment. It assumes that a BFB image has already been installed on your environment.

The downloaded run file should be executed from the converged accelerator. There are multiple ways of doing that, however the easiest is downloading it locally and copying it to the converged accelerator. Execute the run file:

            

            
./<runfile-name>
        

Test that the driver installation completed successfully. Run:

            

            
nvidia-smi
        

Output example:

            

            
Thu Oct 28 11:28:13 2021
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| NVIDIA-SMI 495.08 Driver Version: 495.08 CUDA Version: 11.5     |
|-------------------------------+----------------------+----------------------+
| GPU  Name        Persistence-M| Bus-Id        Disp.A | Volatile Uncorr. ECC |
| Fan  Temp  Perf  Pwr:Usage/Cap|         Memory-Usage | GPU-Util  Compute M. |
|                               |                      |               Mig M. |
|===============================+======================+======================|
|   0  NVIDIA BF A10       0ff  | 00000000:06:00.0 0ff |                    0 |
|  0%   34C   P0    83W / 225W  |      0MiB / 22731MiB |      0%      Default |
|                               |                      |                  N/A |
+-------------------------------+----------------------+----------------------+

+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Processes:                                                                  |
|  GPU   GI   CI        PID   Type   Process name                  GPU Memory |
|        ID   ID                                                   Usage      |
|=============================================================================|
| No running process found                                                    |
+-----------------------------------------------------------------------------+
        

5.2. Downloading and Installing CUDA

Downloading and installing CUDA can be done in the CUDA Toolkit 11.5 Downloads webpage.

You may encounter issues when trying to run the wget commands found in the above link on the converged accelerator. In that case, follow these steps:

1. Download the *.pin file according to your Linux distribution and version and copy it to the converged accelerator.

   This link downloads the *.pin file for Ubuntu 20.04 for Arm64 (sbsa) system architecture.

2. Download the CUDA repo.

   Select the relevant CUDA repo according to the Linux distribution and version on your environment. This link contains the CUDA-11.5 Toolkit for Ubuntu 20.04 for Arm64 system architecture (*arm64.deb).

3. Install the CUDA packages. Run the following commands on the converged card:
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   sudo mv cuda-ubuntu2004.pin /etc/apt/preferences.d/cuda-repository-pin-600
   sudo dpkg -i cuda-repo-ubuntu2004-11-5-local_11.5.0-495.29.05-1_arm64.deb
   sudo apt-key add /var/cuda-repo-ubuntu2004-11-5-local/7fa2af80.pu
   sudo apt-get update
   sudo apt-get -y install cuda-toolkit-11-5
           

   
   
4. Run vectorAdd sample (located under /usr/local/cuda11-5/samples/0_Sample/vectorAdd) to verify that the installation completed successfully.
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   ./vectorAdd
           

   If the vectorAdd sample worked as expected, it should output "Test Passed".
   Note:

   When running vectorAdd, if it seems that the GPU is slow or stuck, stop execution and run the following command:

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   sudo setpci -v -d ::0302 800.L=201 # CPL_VC0 = 32
           

   
   

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