Virtual GPU Software R384 for Red Hat Enterprise Linux with KVM Release Notes

Release information for all users of NVIDIA virtual GPU software and hardware on Red Hat Enterprise Linux with KVM.

1. Release Notes

These Release Notes summarize current status, information on validated platforms, and known issues with NVIDIA vGPU software and associated hardware on Red Hat Enterprise Linux with KVM.

The releases in this release family of NVIDIA vGPU software include the software listed in the following table:

Software 5.0 5.1 5.2 5.3 5.4
NVIDIA Windows driver 385.41 385.90 386.09 386.37 386.57
NVIDIA Linux driver version 384.73 384.99 384.111 384.137 384.155

This requirement does not apply to the NVIDIA vGPU software license sever. All releases of NVIDIA vGPU software are compatible with all releases of the license server.

1.1. Updates in Release 5.0

New Features in Release 5.0

  • Software enforcement of licensing requirements
  • Miscellaneous bug fixes

Hardware and Software Support Introduced in Release 5.0

  • Support for GPUs based on the NVIDIA® Pascal™ architecture

1.2. Updates in Release 5.1

New Features in Release 5.1

  • Miscellaneous bug fixes

1.3. Updates in Release 5.2

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

1.4. Updates in Release 5.3

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

1.5. Updates in Release 5.4

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

2. Validated Platforms

This release family of NVIDIA vGPU software provides support for several NVIDIA GPUs on validated server hardware platforms, Red Hat Enterprise Linux with KVM hypervisor software versions, and guest operating systems.

2.1. Supported NVIDIA GPUs and Validated Server Platforms

This release of NVIDIA vGPU software provides support for the following NVIDIA GPUs on Red Hat Enterprise Linux with KVM, running on validated server hardware platforms:

  • Tesla M6
  • Tesla M10
  • Tesla M60
  • Tesla P4
  • Tesla P6
  • Tesla P40
  • Tesla P100
  • Since 5.1: Tesla P100 12GB

For a list of validated server platforms, refer to NVIDIA GRID Certified Servers.

2.2. Hypervisor Software Releases

This release supports only the hypervisor software releaese listed in the table.

Note: If a specific release, even an update release, is not listed, it’s not supported.
Software Releases Supported Notes

Red Hat Enterprise Linux with KVM

7.0, 7.1 Only the following NVIDIA GPUs are supported:
  • Tesla M6
  • Tesla M10
  • Tesla M60

Red Hat Enterprise Linux with KVM

7.2 through 7.4 All NVIDIA GPUs that support NVIDIA vGPU software are supported.

2.3. Guest OS Support

NVIDIA vGPU software supports several Windows releases and Linux distributions as a guest OS using GPU pass-through.

Note:

Use only a guest OS release that is listed as supported by NVIDIA vGPU software with your virtualization software. To be listed as supported, a guest OS release must be supported not only by NVIDIA vGPU software, but also by your virtualization software. NVIDIA cannot support guest OS releases that your virtualization software does not support.

In pass-through mode, GPUs based on the Pascal architecture support only 64-bit guest operating systems. No 32-bit guest operating systems are supported in pass-through mode for these GPUs.

Windows Guest OS Support

Note: Red Hat Enterprise Linux with KVM supports Windows guest operating systems only under specific Red Hat subscription programs. For details, see Certified guest operating systems for Red Hat Enterprise Linux with KVM.

NVIDIA vGPU software supports only the Windows releases listed as a guest OS on Red Hat Enterprise Linux with KVM.

Note: If a specific release, even an update release, is not listed, it’s not supported.
  • Windows Server 2012 R2
  • Windows Server 2008 R2 on Tesla M6, Tesla M10, and Tesla M60 GPUs only
  • Windows 10 RTM (1507), November Update (1511), Anniversary Update (1607), Creators Update (1703) (64-bit)
  • Windows 10 RTM (1507), November Update (1511), Anniversary Update (1607), Creators Update (1703) (32-bit) on Tesla M6, Tesla M10, and Tesla M60 GPUs only
  • Windows 8.1 Update (64-bit)
  • Windows 8.1 Update (32-bit) on Tesla M6, Tesla M10, and Tesla M60 GPUs only
  • Windows 7 on Tesla M6, Tesla M10, and Tesla M60 GPUs only

2.3.2. Linux Guest OS Support

NVIDIA vGPU software supports only the 64-bit Linux distributions listed as a guest OS on Red Hat Enterprise Linux with KVM.

Note: If a specific release, even an update release, is not listed, it’s not supported.

CentOS is not a certified guest OS for Red Hat Enterprise Linux with KVM.

  • Since 5.4: Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.5
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 7.0-7.4
  • Since 5.4: CentOS 7.5
  • CentOS 7.0-7.4
  • Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.6
  • CentOS 6.6

3. NVIDIA Software Security Updates

For more information about NVIDIA’s vulnerability management, visit the NVIDIA Product Security page.

NVIDIA Software Security Updates in Release 5.2

CVE ID NVIDIA Issue Number Description
CVE-2017-5753 CVE-2017-5753

Computer systems with microprocessors utilizing speculative execution and branch prediction may allow unauthorized disclosure of information to an attacker with local user access via a side-channel analysis.

NVIDIA Software Security Updates in Release 5.3

No NVIDIA software security updates are reported in this release for Red Hat Enterprise Linux with KVM.

NVIDIA Software Security Updates in Release 5.4

No NVIDIA software security updates are reported in this release for Red Hat Enterprise Linux with KVM.

4. Known Issues

4.1. 5.1, 5.2 Only: Issues in remote desktop sessions if a license is acquired after a session is started

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

4.2. License settings configured through a GPO are ignored

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

4.3. Licensing pop-up windows contain the text microsoft.explorer.notification

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

4.4. 5.2 Only: The license expires prematurely in Linux guest VMs

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

4.6. Multiple display heads are not detected by Ubuntu 14.04 guest VMs

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

4.7. Since 5.1: On GPUs based on the Pascal architecture, Ubuntu 16.04 VMs run slowly after acquiring a license

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

4.8. Resolution is not updated after a VM acquires a license and is restarted

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

4.9. A segmentation fault in DBus code causes nvidia-gridd to exit on Red Hat Enterprise Linux and CentOS

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

4.10. Since 5.1: No Manage License option available in NVIDIA X Server Settings by default

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.

Note: Do not use this workaround with Red Hat Enterprise Linux 6.8 and 6.9 or CentOS 6.8 and 6.9. To prevent a segmentation fault in DBus code from causing the nvidia-gridd service from exiting, the GUI for licensing must be disabled with these OS versions.
  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

4.11. Since 5.1: The nvidia-gridd service fails because the required configuration is not provided

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

4.12. Since 5.1: The Apply button is disabled after change to unlicensed mode

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

4.13. Licenses remain checked out when VMs are forcibly powered off

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

Notices

Notice

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OpenCL

OpenCL is a trademark of Apple Inc. used under license to the Khronos Group Inc.

Trademarks

NVIDIA, the NVIDIA logo, NVIDIA GRID, vGPU, Pascal, Quadro, and Tesla are trademarks or registered trademarks of NVIDIA Corporation in the U.S. and other countries. Other company and product names may be trademarks of the respective companies with which they are associated.