Ubuntu Nvidia display out problems

Operating Systems & Open Source Linux
1

I am trying to get ubuntu up and running on my HPE ProLiant DL580 G9 and I am running into a host of issues. My biggest problem is that while I was able to force the system to accept the 550 driver I do not get any video out on my gpu’s. Well to clarify I do have signal as the HPE logo is up on the screen like it is trying to boot but nothing else. To compound this the ILO video is working so I can log in and get things working and test but no matter what I do I can not get the system to properly detect the displays.

±----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| NVIDIA-SMI 550.40.07 Driver Version: 550.40.07 CUDA Version: 12.4 |
|-----------------------------------------±-----------------------±---------------------+
| 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 GeForce RTX 4070 … Off | 00000000:04:00.0 Off | N/A |
| 52% 76C P2 193W / 220W | 486MiB / 12282MiB | 82% Default |
| | | N/A |
±----------------------------------------±-----------------------±---------------------+
| 1 NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 … Off | 00000000:41:00.0 Off | N/A |
| 57% 73C P2 164W / 220W | 336MiB / 12282MiB | 95% Default |
| | | N/A |
±----------------------------------------±-----------------------±---------------------+
| 2 NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 … Off | 00000000:81:00.0 Off | N/A |
| 58% 72C P2 189W / 220W | 486MiB / 12282MiB | 96% Default |
| | | N/A |
±----------------------------------------±-----------------------±---------------------+
| 3 NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 … Off | 00000000:C1:00.0 Off | N/A |
| 62% 76C P2 166W / 220W | 336MiB / 12282MiB | 99% Default |
| | | N/A |
±----------------------------------------±-----------------------±---------------------+

±----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+
| Processes: |
| GPU GI CI PID Type Process name GPU Memory |
| ID ID Usage |
|=========================================================================================|
| 0 N/A N/A 4855 C …e/0x23-8.0.3/Core_23.fah/FahCore_23 472MiB |
| 0 N/A N/A 8194 G /usr/lib/xorg/Xorg 4MiB |
| 1 N/A N/A 7821 C …it/22-0.0.20/Core_22.fah/FahCore_22 322MiB |
| 1 N/A N/A 8194 G /usr/lib/xorg/Xorg 4MiB |
| 2 N/A N/A 4860 C …e/0x23-8.0.3/Core_23.fah/FahCore_23 472MiB |
| 2 N/A N/A 8194 G /usr/lib/xorg/Xorg 4MiB |
| 3 N/A N/A 4848 C …it/22-0.0.20/Core_22.fah/FahCore_22 322MiB |
| 3 N/A N/A 8194 G /usr/lib/xorg/Xorg 4MiB |
±----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

2

This is why most of us say, don’t run Nvidia on Linux if you have a choice in the matter!

That said your kernel version is probably just not new enough for that particular card. I would suggest running the Ubuntu 24.04 LTS pre release beta or simply wait until the release in April for this one.

Also you might get partial success with the NVK drivers but those are highly experimental and not suited for general use yet.

Sorry I cannot bring better news.

2 Likes
3

Hi, some things that may work:

  1. Try an older version of the nvidia driver. I usually run a version or three back from newest! Also, ubuntu often has a few different types for each version (words like open, metapackage, server). Look for the one that says “propietary, tested” as that is often the most reliable, but try a few.
  2. I’m assuming you are installing through the GUI in “additional drivers” rather than download an rpm/deb from nvidia? I’d avoid download versions, although they can be ok.
  3. Have a look in your BIOS, sometimes there is a setting for which GPU to use. I had this in a Lenovo workstation, was a real pain to get a new install working as had to switch back and forth betwen built in GPU and nvidia GPUs in the BIOS and with monitor cables.
  4. Black list the Nouveau driver. Disable Nouveau - NVIDIA Docs
  5. Try with just a single GPU.
  6. If your motherboard has error codes, have a look at the manual.
  7. Boot into safe mode. This will often work as avoids GPU driver issues. It would be unusual for this to fail given what you have said about what does work. Once in safe mode, you can configure drivers as needed, then try booting as normal.

The fact you get the initial logo (when the BIOS is in control of video) then it disappears is indicative of some sort of driver issue. Followed by BIOS GPU setting if my Lenovo experience is worth anything.

I’ve been running nvidia in linux for many years (centos, rhel, ubuntu) and it’s mostly fine once I worked with the above.

1 Like
4

For anyone coming along after me this seemed to have been a case of very slow driver support. After letting the system chill for a few months I was able to install a newer driver and get things working. Windows was fine day one but ubuntu was a no go.

1 Like