# \`nvidia-smi\` Doesn't display Tesla Series GPU

**URL:** https://discourse.nixos.org/t/nvidia-smi-doesnt-display-tesla-series-gpu/58476
**Category:** Help
**Created:** [January 8, 2025, 3:55am UTC](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/nvidia-smi-doesnt-display-tesla-series-gpu/58476 "2025-01-08T03:55:14Z")
**Posts on this page:** 1
**Showing post:** 2

<div class="post-metadata">

### Author: ![ParkedHampster](https://discourse.nixos.org/user_avatar/discourse.nixos.org/parkedhampster/32/30341_2.png) [@ParkedHampster](https://discourse.nixos.org/u/ParkedHampster)
#### Post date: [January 8, 2025, 5:37pm UTC](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/nvidia-smi-doesnt-display-tesla-series-gpu/58476/2 "2025-01-08T17:37:38Z")

</div>

In conversation with a friend directly, some questions were raised, notable:

> What is the error message that comes from uncommenting the `datacenter.enable = true;` line?

> **Output with hardware.nvidia.datacenter:**
>
> ```bash
> # nixos-rebuild switch
> building Nix...
> building the system configuration...
> error:
> … while calling the 'head' builtin
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/attrsets.nix:1:35741:
> … while evaluating the attribute 'value'
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/modules.nix:1:33591:
> … while evaluating the option `system.build.toplevel':
> 
> … while evaluating definitions from `/nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/nixos/modules/system/activation/top-level.nix':
> 
> … while evaluating the option `warnings':
> 
> … while evaluating definitions from `/nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/nixos/modules/system/boot/systemd.nix':
> 
> … while evaluating the option `systemd.services.nvidia-fabricmanager.serviceConfig':
> 
> … while evaluating definitions from `/nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/nixos/modules/hardware/video/nvidia.nix':
> 
> (stack trace truncated; use '--show-trace' to show the full, detailed trace)
> 
> error: lib.meta.getExe': The first argument is of type set, but it should be a derivation instead.
> 
> ```

> **Above with --show-trace**
>
> ```bash
> # nrs --show-trace
> building Nix...
> building the system configuration...
> error:
> … from call site
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/nixos/default.nix:1:277:
> … while calling anonymous lambda
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/attrsets.nix:1:35596:
> … while calling the 'head' builtin
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/attrsets.nix:1:35741:
> … while calling anonymous lambda
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/attrsets.nix:1:27631:
> … from call site
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/attrsets.nix:1:27748:
> … while calling anonymous lambda
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/modules.nix:1:9031:
> … while evaluating the attribute 'value'
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/modules.nix:1:33591:
> … while evaluating the option `system.build.toplevel':
> 
> … while evaluating the attribute 'mergedValue'
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/modules.nix:1:34959:
> … while evaluating a branch condition
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/modules.nix:1:34979:
> … while evaluating the attribute 'values'
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/modules.nix:1:34766:
> … while evaluating a branch condition
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/modules.nix:1:34612:
> … while calling the 'any' builtin
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/modules.nix:1:34615:
> … while evaluating the attribute 'values'
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/modules.nix:1:38484:
> … while calling the 'concatMap' builtin
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/modules.nix:1:38493:
> … while calling the 'concatMap' builtin
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/modules.nix:1:34231:
> … while calling anonymous lambda
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/modules.nix:1:34242:
> … while calling the 'map' builtin
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/modules.nix:1:34255:
> … while evaluating definitions from `/nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/nixos/modules/system/activation/top-level.nix':
> 
> … from call site
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/modules.nix:1:34372:
> … while calling 'dischargeProperties'
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/modules.nix:1:37119:
> … while evaluating a branch condition
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/modules.nix:1:37128:
> … while evaluating the attribute 'value'
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/modules.nix:1:24665:
> … from call site
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/nixos/modules/system/activation/top-level.nix:1:2760:
> … while calling 'showWarnings'
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/trivial.nix:1:16786:
> … from call site
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/trivial.nix:1:16791:
> … while calling 'foldr'
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/lists.nix:1:1920:
> … from call site
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/lists.nix:1:2069:
> … while calling 'fold''
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/lists.nix:1:1973:
> … while evaluating a branch condition
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/lists.nix:1:1984:
> … while calling the 'length' builtin
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/lists.nix:1:1946:
> … from call site
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/nixos/modules/system/activation/top-level.nix:1:2773:
> … while calling anonymous lambda
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/attrsets.nix:1:27631:
> … from call site
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/attrsets.nix:1:27748:
> … while calling anonymous lambda
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/modules.nix:1:9031:
> … while evaluating the attribute 'value'
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/modules.nix:1:33591:
> … while evaluating the option `warnings':
> 
> (10 duplicate frames omitted)
> 
> … while evaluating definitions from `/nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/nixos/modules/system/boot/systemd.nix':
> 
> … from call site
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/modules.nix:1:34372:
> … while calling 'dischargeProperties'
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/modules.nix:1:37119:
> … while evaluating a branch condition
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/modules.nix:1:37128:
> … while evaluating the attribute 'value'
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/modules.nix:1:24665:
> … while calling the 'concatLists' builtin
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/nixos/modules/system/boot/systemd.nix:1:13423:
> … while calling anonymous lambda
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/attrsets.nix:1:24457:
> … from call site
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/attrsets.nix:1:24463:
> … while calling anonymous lambda
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/nixos/modules/system/boot/systemd.nix:1:13473:
> … while calling the 'concatLists' builtin
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/nixos/modules/system/boot/systemd.nix:1:13724:
> … from call site
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/nixos/modules/system/boot/systemd.nix:1:13753:
> … while calling 'optional'
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/lists.nix:1:14530:
> … while evaluating a branch condition
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/lists.nix:1:14536:
> … in the left operand of the AND (&&) operator
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/nixos/modules/system/boot/systemd.nix:1:13781:
> … from call site
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/nixos/modules/system/boot/systemd.nix:1:13515:
> … while calling anonymous lambda
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/attrsets.nix:1:27631:
> … from call site
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/attrsets.nix:1:27748:
> … while calling anonymous lambda
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/modules.nix:1:9031:
> … while evaluating the attribute 'value'
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/modules.nix:1:33591:
> … while evaluating the option `systemd.services.nvidia-fabricmanager.serviceConfig':
> 
> … while evaluating the attribute 'mergedValue'
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/modules.nix:1:34959:
> … from call site
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/modules.nix:1:35055:
> … while calling 'merge'
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/types.nix:1:19811:
> … while calling the 'mapAttrs' builtin
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/types.nix:1:19825:
> … from call site
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/types.nix:1:19851:
> … while calling 'filterAttrs'
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/attrsets.nix:1:15891:
> … while calling the 'removeAttrs' builtin
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/attrsets.nix:1:15900:
> … while calling the 'filter' builtin
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/attrsets.nix:1:15917:
> … while calling anonymous lambda
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/attrsets.nix:1:15925:
> … in the argument of the not operator
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/attrsets.nix:1:15933:
> … from call site
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/attrsets.nix:1:15933:
> … while calling anonymous lambda
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/types.nix:1:19867:
> … from call site
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/attrsets.nix:1:15943:
> … while calling anonymous lambda
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/types.nix:1:19902:
> … while evaluating the attribute 'optionalValue'
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/modules.nix:1:35609:
> … while evaluating a branch condition
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/modules.nix:1:35631:
> (8 duplicate frames omitted)
> 
> … while evaluating definitions from `/nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/nixos/modules/hardware/video/nvidia.nix':
> 
> … from call site
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/modules.nix:1:34372:
> … while calling 'dischargeProperties'
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/modules.nix:1:37119:
> … while evaluating a branch condition
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/modules.nix:1:37128:
> … while evaluating the attribute 'value'
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/types.nix:1:20091:
> … from call site
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/nixos/modules/hardware/video/nvidia.nix:1:30380:
> … while calling 'getExe'
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/meta.nix:1:8960:
> … from call site
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/meta.nix:1:8963:
> … while calling 'getExe''
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/meta.nix:1:10272:
> … in the condition of the assert statement
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/meta.nix:1:10279:
> … from call site
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/meta.nix:1:10286:
> … while calling 'assertMsg'
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/asserts.nix:1:700:
> … in the right operand of the OR (||) operator
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/asserts.nix:1:710:
> … while calling the 'throw' builtin
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/asserts.nix:1:713:
> error: lib.meta.getExe': The first argument is of type set, but it should be a derivation instead.
> 
> ```

The idea to use `hardware.nvidia.datacenter.enable = true;` came from this post from 2022:

> [@How to use NVIDIA V100/A100 GPUs?](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/how-to-use-nvidia-v100-a100-gpus/17754):
>
> AFAIU the current NVIDIA driver packaged is 495.44. However this driver [doesn’t support important “data center” GPUs](https://www.nvidia.com/Download/driverResults.aspx/181274/en-us), esp. V100’s and A100’s. For example, nvidia-smi works just fine on an g4dn.xlarge instance (T4), but fails to detect the GPU on a p3.2xlarge instance (V100): ❯ nvidia-smi No devices were found How does one use V100s/A100s in NixOS? It looks like there are drivers readily [available here](https://www.nvidia.com/Download/driverResults.aspx/161771/en-us).

A bit more specifically, the idea to use `nvidia-container-toolkit` came from there, and the `datacenter` option was explicitly mentioned when `hardware.nvidia-container-toolkit.enable = true;` is set, as having that and running `nixos-rebuild switch` results in the following:

> **Output with nvidia-container-toolkit:**
>
> ```bash
> # nixos-rebuild switch
> building Nix...
> building the system configuration...
> error:
> … while calling the 'head' builtin
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/attrsets.nix:1:35741:
> … while evaluating the attribute 'value'
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/modules.nix:1:33591:
> … while evaluating the option `system.build.toplevel':
> 
> … while evaluating definitions from `/nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/nixos/modules/system/activation/top-level.nix':
> 
> (stack trace truncated; use '--show-trace' to show the full, detailed trace)
> 
> error:
> Failed assertions:
> - `nvidia-container-toolkit` requires nvidia datacenter or desktop drivers: set `hardware.nvidia.datacenter.enable` or add "nvidia" to `services.xserver.videoDrivers`
> 
> ```

> **Above but with --show-trace**
>
> ```bash
> # nrs --show-trace
> building Nix...
> building the system configuration...
> error:
> … from call site
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/nixos/default.nix:1:277:
> … while calling anonymous lambda
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/attrsets.nix:1:35596:
> … while calling the 'head' builtin
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/attrsets.nix:1:35741:
> … while calling anonymous lambda
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/attrsets.nix:1:27631:
> … from call site
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/attrsets.nix:1:27748:
> … while calling anonymous lambda
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/modules.nix:1:9031:
> … while evaluating the attribute 'value'
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/modules.nix:1:33591:
> … while evaluating the option `system.build.toplevel':
> 
> … while evaluating the attribute 'mergedValue'
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/modules.nix:1:34959:
> … while evaluating a branch condition
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/modules.nix:1:34979:
> … while evaluating the attribute 'values'
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/modules.nix:1:34766:
> … while evaluating a branch condition
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/modules.nix:1:34612:
> … while calling the 'any' builtin
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/modules.nix:1:34615:
> … while evaluating the attribute 'values'
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/modules.nix:1:38484:
> … while calling the 'concatMap' builtin
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/modules.nix:1:38493:
> … while calling the 'concatMap' builtin
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/modules.nix:1:34231:
> … while calling anonymous lambda
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/modules.nix:1:34242:
> … while calling the 'map' builtin
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/modules.nix:1:34255:
> … while evaluating definitions from `/nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/nixos/modules/system/activation/top-level.nix':
> 
> … from call site
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/modules.nix:1:34372:
> … while calling 'dischargeProperties'
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/modules.nix:1:37119:
> … while evaluating a branch condition
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/modules.nix:1:37128:
> … while evaluating the attribute 'value'
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/lib/modules.nix:1:24665:
> … while calling the 'throw' builtin
> at /nix/var/nix/profiles/per-user/root/channels/nixos/nixos/modules/system/activation/top-level.nix:1:2659:
> error:
> Failed assertions:
> - `nvidia-container-toolkit` requires nvidia datacenter or desktop drivers: set `hardware.nvidia.datacenter.enable` or add "nvidia" to `services.xserver.videoDrivers`
> 
> ```

I still see this as an option here:

> **[hardware.nvidia.datacenter.enable - MyNixOS](https://mynixos.com/nixpkgs/option/hardware.nvidia.datacenter.enable)**
>
> NixOS option hardware.nvidia.datacenter.enable declared in nixpkgs. Whether to enable Data Center drivers for NVIDIA cards on a NVLink topology.

But I’m not sure how much of an authority that is

---

_[View the full topic](https://discourse.nixos.org/t/nvidia-smi-doesnt-display-tesla-series-gpu/58476)._