New Features in Release 5.1

• Miscellaneous bug fixes

New Features in Release 5.2

• New default values for the license borrow time and license linger time:
  • The default license borrow time is reduced from 7 days to 1 day.
  • The default license linger time is reduced from 10 minutes to 0 minutes.
• New setting LingerInterval for overriding the default license linger time
• Miscellaneous bug fixes

New Features in Release 5.3

• Plain-text logging on Windows of significant licensing events
• New setting EnableLogging for disabling or enabling logging of significant licensing events
• Miscellaneous bug fixes

New Features in Release 5.4

• Miscellaneous bug fixes

Hardware and Software Support Introduced in Release 5.4

• Support for Red Hat Enteprise Linux 7.5 and CentOS 7.5 as a guest OS

Description

To reduce the possibility of memory exhaustion, vGPU profiles with 512 Mbytes or less of frame buffer support only 1 virtual display head on a Windows 10 guest OS.

The following vGPU profiles have 512 Mbytes or less of frame buffer:

• Tesla M6-0B, M6-0Q
• Tesla M10-0B, M10-0Q
• Tesla M60-0B, M60-0Q

Workaround

Use a profile that supports more than 1 virtual display head and has at least 1 Gbyte of frame buffer.

Description

Using the frame buffer for the NVIDIA hardware-based H.264/HEVC video encoder (NVENC) may cause memory exhaustion with vGPU profiles that have 512 Mbytes or less of frame buffer. To reduce the possibility of memory exhaustion, NVENC is disabled on profiles that have 512 Mbytes or less of frame buffer. Application GPU acceleration remains fully supported and available for all profiles, including profiles with 512 MBytes or less of frame buffer. NVENC support from both Citrix and VMware is a recent feature and, if you are using an older version, you should experience no change in functionality.

The following vGPU profiles have 512 Mbytes or less of frame buffer:

• Tesla M6-0B, M6-0Q
• Tesla M10-0B, M10-0Q
• Tesla M60-0B, M60-0Q

Workaround

If you require NVENC to be enabled, use a profile that has at least 1 Gbyte of frame buffer.

Description

A VM running a version of the NVIDIA guest VM drivers from a previous main release branch, for example release 4.4, will fail to initialize vGPU when booted on a Nutanix AHV platform running the current release of Virtual GPU Manager.

In this scenario, the VM boots in standard VGA mode with reduced resolution and color depth. The NVIDIA virtual GPU is present in Windows Device Manager but displays a warning sign, and the following device status:

Windows has stopped this device because it has reported problems. (Code 43)

Depending on the versions of drivers in use, the Nutanix AHV VM’s /var/log/messages log file reports one of the following errors:

• An error message:

  vmiop_log: error: Unable to fetch Guest NVIDIA driver information

• A version mismatch between guest and host drivers:

  vmiop_log: error: Guest VGX version(1.1) and Host VGX version(1.2) do not match

• A signature mismatch:

  vmiop_log: error: VGPU message signature mismatch.

Resolution

Install the current NVIDIA guest VM driver in the VM.

Description

Tesla M60, Tesla M6, and GPUs based on the Pascal GPU architecture, for example Tesla P100 or Tesla P4, support error correcting code (ECC) memory for improved data integrity. Tesla M60 and M6 GPUs in graphics mode are supplied with ECC memory disabled by default, but it may subsequently be enabled using nvidia-smi. GPUs based on the Pascal GPU architecture are supplied with ECC memory enabled.

However, NVIDIA vGPU does not support ECC memory. If ECC memory is enabled, NVIDIA vGPU fails to start.

The following error is logged in the Nutanix AHV VM’s /var/log/messages log file:

vmiop_log: error: Initialization: VGX not supported with ECC Enabled.

Resolution

Ensure that ECC is disabled on all GPUs.

Before you begin, ensure that NVIDIA Virtual GPU Manager is installed on your hypervisor.

1. Use nvidia-smi to list the status of all GPUs, and check for ECC noted as enabled on GPUs.

   # nvidia-smi -q
   
   ==============NVSMI LOG==============
   
   Timestamp                           : Tue Dec 19 18:36:45 2017
   Driver Version                      : 384.99
   
   Attached GPUs                       : 1
   GPU 0000:02:00.0
   
   [...]
   
       Ecc Mode
           Current                     : Enabled
           Pending                     : Enabled
   
   [...]

2. Change the ECC status to off on each GPU for which ECC is enabled.
   • If you want to change the ECC status to off for all GPUs on your host machine, run this command:

     # nvidia-smi -e 0

   • If you want to change the ECC status to off for a specific GPU, run this command:

     # nvidia-smi -i id -e 0

     id is the index of the GPU as reported by nvidia-smi.

     This example disables ECC for the GPU with index 0000:02:00.0.

     # nvidia-smi -i 0000:02:00.0 -e 0

3. Reboot the host.
4. Confirm that ECC is now disabled for the GPU.

   # nvidia-smi -q
   
   ==============NVSMI LOG==============
   
   Timestamp                           : Tue Dec 19 18:37:53 2017
   Driver Version                      : 384.99
   
   Attached GPUs                       : 1
   GPU 0000:02:00.0
   [...]
   
       Ecc Mode
           Current                     : Disabled
           Pending                     : Disabled
   
   [...]

If you later need to enable ECC on your GPUs, run one of the following commands:

• If you want to change the ECC status to on for all GPUs on your host machine, run this command:

  # nvidia-smi -e 1

• If you want to change the ECC status to on for a specific GPU, run this command:

  # nvidia-smi -i id -e 1

  id is the index of the GPU as reported by nvidia-smi.

  This example enables ECC for the GPU with index 0000:02:00.0.

  # nvidia-smi -i 0000:02:00.0 -e 1

After changing the ECC status to on, reboot the host.

Description

A single vGPU configured on a physical GPU produces lower benchmark scores than the physical GPU run in pass-through mode.

Aside from performance differences that may be attributed to a vGPU’s smaller frame buffer size, vGPU incorporates a performance balancing feature known as Frame Rate Limiter (FRL). On vGPUs that use the best-effort scheduler, FRL is enabled. On vGPUs that use the fixed share or equal share scheduler, FRL is disabled.

FRL is used to ensure balanced performance across multiple vGPUs that are resident on the same physical GPU. The FRL setting is designed to give good interactive remote graphics experience but may reduce scores in benchmarks that depend on measuring frame rendering rates, as compared to the same benchmarks running on a pass-through GPU.

Description

If all GPUs in the platform are assigned to VMs in passthrough mode, nvidia-smi will return an error:

[root@vgx-test ~]# nvidia-smi
Failed to initialize NVML: Unknown Error

This is because GPUs operating in passthrough mode are not visible to nvidia-smi and the NVIDIA kernel driver operating in the Nutanix AHV dom0.

Resolution

N/A

Description

When starting multiple VMs configured with large amounts of RAM (typically more than 32GB per VM), a VM may fail to initialize vGPU. In this scenario, the VM boots in standard VGA mode with reduced resolution and color depth. The NVIDIA vGPU software GPU is present in Windows Device Manager but displays a warning sign, and the following device status:

Windows has stopped this device because it has reported problems. (Code 43)

The Nutanix AHV VM’s /var/log/messages log file contains these error messages:

vmiop_log: error: NVOS status 0x29
vmiop_log: error: Assertion Failed at 0x7620fd4b:179
vmiop_log: error: 8 frames returned by backtrace
...
vmiop_log: error: VGPU message 12 failed, result code: 0x29
...
vmiop_log: error: NVOS status 0x8
vmiop_log: error: Assertion Failed at 0x7620c8df:280
vmiop_log: error: 8 frames returned by backtrace
...
vmiop_log: error: VGPU message 26 failed, result code: 0x8

Description

Cloned VMs configured with a vGPU type different than the type in the master image fail to start.

When a Windows 10 VM is booted, the VM becomes stuck in a loop and alternately displays Getting devices ready: 50% and Preparation in progress.

Workaround

Create one master image for each vGPU type that you want to use. Do not attempt to configure a cloned VM with a vGPU type different than the type in the master image.

Status

Not an NVIDIA bug

Ref. #

2285306

Description

A VM might acquire a license for NVIDIA vGPU software after a remote desktop session has connected to the VM. In this situation, some licensed features and capabilities are not available to a properly licensed vGPU or pass-through GPU in the session. For example, the updated maximum resolution supported is not available.

Workaround

Before attempting this workaround, confirm that the VM has obtained the correct license for NVIDIA vGPU software.

1. After installing the guest VM driver package and configuring required license settings on the VM (or on the master image used for VM deployment), set the IgnoreSP property to 1.

   • On Windows, add the following registry setting:

     [HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\NVIDIA Corporation\Global\GridLicensing] 
     "IgnoreSP"=dword:00000001

   • On Linux, add the following setting to the file /etc/nvidia/gridd.conf:

     IgnoreSP=1

2. Restart the VM.

Status

Resolved in NVIDIA vGPU software release 5.3.

Ref. #

200391532

Description

License settings configured through a Windows Group Policy Object (GPO) are ignored. Windows Registry settings applied through a GPO are set after the NVIDIA vGPU software graphics driver service is started. Therefore, NVIDIA vGPU software cannot be configured through a GPO.

Workaround

Use the Registry Editor to set the Windows Registry keys for license settings individually.

Status

Open

Ref. #

2010398

Description

On Windows 10 Creators Update (1703), licensing pop-up windows contain the text microsoft.explorer.notification.

Version

Windows 10 Creators Update (1703)

Status

Open

Ref. #

200346607

Description

In Linux guest VMs, the license expires before the default borrow period has elapsed. In normal operation, the license is renewed periodically at an interval that depends on the license borrow period. As a result, a failure to renew the license may cause the license to expire before the default borrow period has elapsed.

Workaround

To reduce the possibility of license-renewal failures caused by transient network issues, increase the license borrow period to a value of about 7 days.

Status

Resolved in NVIDIA vGPU software release 5.3.

Ref. #

200376678

Description

After an Ubuntu 14.04 guest VM has acquired a license, multiple display heads connected to the VM are not detected.

Version

Ubuntu 14.04

Workaround

To see all the connected display heads after the VM has acquired a license, open the Displays settings window and click Detect displays.

Status

Resolved in NVIDIA vGPU software release 5.3.

Ref. #

200334648

Description

On GPUs based on the Pascal architecture, Ubuntu VMs to which an NVIDIA vGPU or pass-through GPU is assigned run slowly after acquiring a license. Ubuntu VMs that have not been assigned an NVIDIA vGPU or pass-through GPU run noticeably faster.

Workaround

After the VM has acquired a license, restart the lightdm service.

Status

Resolved in NVIDIA vGPU software release 5.2.

Ref. #

200359618

Description

In a Red Enterprise Linux 7.3 guest VM, an increase in resolution from 1024×768 to 2560×1600 is not applied after a license is acquired and the gridd service is restarted. This issue occurs if the multimonitor parameter is added to the xorg.conf file.

Version

Red Enterprise Linux 7.3

Status

Open

Ref. #

200275925

Description

On Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.8 and 6.9, and CentOS 6.8 and 6.9, a segmentation fault in DBus code causes the nvidia-gridd service to exit.

The nvidia-gridd service uses DBus for communication with NVIDIA X Server Settings to display licensing information through the Manage License page. Disabling the GUI for licensing resolves this issue.

Since 5.1: The GUI for licensing is disabled by default.

Version

Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.8 and 6.9

CentOS 6.8 and 6.9

NVIDIA vGPU software 5.0

5.0 Only: Workaround

This workaround requires sudo privileges.

1. As root, edit the /etc/nvidia/gridd.conf file to set the EnableUI option to FALSE.

2. Start the nvidia-gridd service.

   # sudo service nvidia-gridd start

3. Confirm that the nvidia-gridd service has obtained a license by examining the log messages written to /var/log/messages.

   # sudo grep gridd /var/log/messages
   …
   Aug 5 15:40:06 localhost nvidia-gridd: Started (4293)
   Aug 5 15:40:24 localhost nvidia-gridd: License acquired successfully.

Status

Open

Ref. #

• 200358191
• 200319854
• 1895945

Description

By default, the Manage License option is not available in NVIDIA X Server Settings. This option is missing because the GUI for licensing on Linux is disabled by default to work around the issue that is described in A segmentation fault in DBus code causes nvidia-gridd to exit on Red Hat Enterprise Linux and CentOS.

Version

NVIDIA vGPU software 5.1

Workaround

This workaround requires sudo privileges.

1. If NVIDIA X Server Settings is running, shut it down.

2. If the /etc/nvidia/gridd.conf file does not already exist, create it by copying the supplied template file /etc/nvidia/gridd.conf.template.

3. As root, edit the /etc/nvidia/gridd.conf file to set the EnableUI option to TRUE.

4. Start the nvidia-gridd service.

   # sudo service nvidia-gridd start

When NVIDIA X Server Settings is restarted, the Manage License option is now available.

Status

Open

Description

The nvidia-gridd service exits with an error because the required configuration is not provided.

The known issue described in A segmentation fault in DBus code causes nvidia-gridd to exit on Red Hat Enterprise Linux and CentOS causes the NVIDIA X Server Settings page for managing licensing settings through a GUI to be disabled by default. As a result, if the required license configuration is not provided through the configuration file, the service exits with an error.

Details of the error can be obtained by checking the status of the nvidia-gridd service.

# service nvidia-gridd status
nvidia-gridd.service - NVIDIA Grid Daemon
Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/system/nvidia-gridd.service; enabled; vendor preset: disabled)
   Active: failed (Result: exit-code) since Wed 2017-11-01 19:25:07 IST; 27s ago
  Process: 11990 ExecStopPost=/bin/rm -rf /var/run/nvidia-gridd (code=exited, status=0/SUCCESS)
  Process: 11905 ExecStart=/usr/bin/nvidia-gridd (code=exited, status=0/SUCCESS)
Main PID: 11906 (code=exited, status=1/FAILURE)
Nov 01 19:24:35 localhost.localdomain systemd[1]: Starting NVIDIA Grid Daemon...
Nov 01 19:24:35 localhost.localdomain nvidia-gridd[11906]: Started (11906)
Nov 01 19:24:35 localhost.localdomain systemd[1]: Started NVIDIA Grid Daemon.
Nov 01 19:24:36 localhost.localdomain nvidia-gridd[11906]:  Failed to open config file : /etc/nvidia/gridd.conf error :No such file or directory
Nov 01 19:25:07 localhost.localdomain nvidia-gridd[11906]: Service provider detection complete.
Nov 01 19:25:07 localhost.localdomain nvidia-gridd[11906]: Shutdown (11906)
Nov 01 19:25:07 localhost.localdomain systemd[1]: nvidia-gridd.service: main process exited, code=exited, status=1/FAILURE
Nov 01 19:25:07 localhost.localdomain systemd[1]: Unit nvidia-gridd.service entered failed state.
Nov 01 19:25:07 localhost.localdomain systemd[1]: nvidia-gridd.service failed.

Workaround

Use a configuration file to license NVIDIA vGPU software on Linux as explained in Virtual GPU Client Licensing User Guide.

Status

Open

Ref. #

200359469

Description

After the mode is changed from licensed Quadro Virtual Datacenter Workstation Edition mode to Unlicensed Tesla mode, the Apply button on the Manage GRID License page is disabled. As a result, NVIDIA X Server Settings cannot be used to switch to Tesla (Unlicensed) mode on a licensed system.

Workaround

1. Start NVIDIA X Server Settings by using the method for launching applications provided by your Linux distribution.
2. In the NVIDIA X Server Settings window that opens, click Manage GRID License.
3. Clear the Primary Server field.
4. Select the Tesla (unlicensed) option.
5. Click Apply.

Status

Resolved in NVIDIA vGPU software release 5.2.

Ref. #

200359624

Description

NVIDIA vGPU software licenses remain checked out on the license server when non-persistent VMs are forcibly powered off.

The NVIDIA service running in a VM returns checked out licenses when the VM is shut down. In environments where non-persistent licensed VMs are not cleanly shut down, licenses on the license server can become exhausted. For example, this issue can occur in automated test environments where VMs are frequently changing and are not guaranteed to be cleanly shut down. The licenses from such VMs remain checked out against their MAC address for seven days before they time out and become available to other VMs.

Resolution

If VMs are routinely being powered off without clean shutdown in your environment, you can avoid this issue by shortening the license borrow period. To shorten the license borrow period, set the LicenseInterval configuration setting in your VM image. For details, refer to Virtual GPU Client Licensing User Guide.

Status

Closed

Ref. #

1694975

Description

Memory exhaustion can occur with vGPU profiles that have 512 Mbytes or less of frame buffer.

This issue typically occurs in the following situations:

• Full screen 1080p video content is playing in a browser. In this situation, the session hangs and session reconnection fails.
• Multiple display heads are used with Citrix XenDesktop or VMware Horizon on a Windows 10 guest VM.
• Higher resolution monitors are used.
• Applications that are frame-buffer intensive are used.
• NVENC is in use.

To reduce the possibility of memory exhaustion, NVENC is disabled on profiles that have 512 Mbytes or less of frame buffer.

The following vGPU profiles have 512 Mbytes or less of frame buffer:

• Tesla M6-0B, M6-0Q
• Tesla M10-0B, M10-0Q
• Tesla M60-0B, M60-0Q

The root cause is a known issue associated with changes to the way that recent Microsoft operating systems handle and allow access to overprovisioning messages and errors. If your systems are provisioned with enough frame buffer to support your use cases, you should not encounter these issues.

Workaround

• Use an appropriately sized vGPU to ensure that the frame buffer supplied to a VM through the vGPU is adequate for your workloads.
• Monitor your frame buffer usage.
• If you are using Windows 10, consider these workarounds and solutions:

  • Use a profile that has 1 Gbyte of frame buffer.

  • Optimize your Windows 10 resource usage.

    To obtain information about best practices for improved user experience using Windows 10 in virtual environments, complete the NVIDIA GRID vGPU Profile Sizing Guide for Windows 10 download request form.

Status

Open

Ref. #

• 200130864
• 1803861

Description

GDM fails to start on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.2 and CentOS 7.0 with the following error:

Oh no! Something has gone wrong!

Workaround

Permanently enable permissive mode for Security Enhanced Linux (SELinux).

1. As root, edit the /etc/selinux/config file to set SELINUX to permissive.

   SELINUX=permissive

2. Reboot the system.

   ~]# reboot

For more information, see Permissive Mode in Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7 SELinux User's and Administrator's Guide.

Status

Not an NVIDIA bug

Ref. #

200167868