# "Nvidia-smi has failed " on Ubuntu 20.04

**URL:** <https://forums.developer.nvidia.com/t/nvidia-smi-has-failed-on-ubuntu-20-04/209308>\
**Category:** Linux\
**Tags:** driver\
**Created:** [March 24, 2022, 3:39pm UTC](https://forums.developer.nvidia.com/t/nvidia-smi-has-failed-on-ubuntu-20-04/209308 "2022-03-24T15:39:05Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![lab2022](https://developer.download.nvidia.com/images/forums/profile-default-devtalk-84.png) [@lab2022](https://forums.developer.nvidia.com/u/lab2022)\
**Post date:** [March 24, 2022, 3:39pm UTC](https://forums.developer.nvidia.com/t/nvidia-smi-has-failed-on-ubuntu-20-04/209308/1 "2022-03-24T15:39:05Z")

</div>

Hi everyone,

I was recently asked to install the latest Nvidia driver (510) to use nvidia-smi command line on Ubuntu 20.04.

I encountered this error output when launching nvidia-smi :

```auto
$ nvidia-smi

NVIDIA-SMI has failed because it couldn't communicate with the NVIDIA driver. Make sure that the latest NVIDIA driver is installed and running.

$ sudo modprobe nvidia

modprobe: ERROR: could not insert 'nvidia': No such device

$ grep nvidia /etc/modprobe.d/* /lib/modprobe.d/*
/etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-framebuffer.conf:blacklist nvidiafb
/etc/modprobe.d/blacklist-nouveau-nvidiafb.conf:blacklist nvidiafb
/lib/modprobe.d/nvidia-kms.conf:# This file was generated by nvidia-prime
/lib/modprobe.d/nvidia-kms.conf:options nvidia-drm modeset=1

$ dkms status
nvidia, 510.54, 5.14.0-1029-oem, x86_64: installed

```

As suggested on forums, I have tried in vain to :

- reinstall other drivers versions
- remove some blacklists files from /etc/modprobe.d
- update initramfs
- prime-select Nvidia
- set gcc version to the older one (11 → 9.4)
- reboot after each of those previous steps.

Could anyone help me please? Here is the bug report :

[nvidia-bug-report.log.gz](https://forums.developer.nvidia.com/uploads/short-url/pXvNNPjYTgZ6b0lIG065uz5Fbk7.gz) (16.4 MB)

In the bug report, it seems that this error is printed over and over :

```auto
Mar 23 06:23:06 apprenti kernel: [73379.624826] nvidia-nvlink: Unregistered the Nvlink Core, major device number 508
Mar 23 06:23:07 apprenti kernel: [73380.109484] nvidia-nvlink: Nvlink Core is being initialized, major device number 508
Mar 23 06:23:07 apprenti kernel: [73380.110910] NVRM: The NVIDIA GPU 0000:01:00.0
Mar 23 06:23:07 apprenti kernel: [73380.110910] NVRM: (PCI ID: 10de:2204) installed in this system has
Mar 23 06:23:07 apprenti kernel: [73380.110910] NVRM: fallen off the bus and is not responding to commands.
Mar 23 06:23:07 apprenti kernel: [73380.111022] NVRM: The NVIDIA probe routine failed for 1 device(s).
Mar 23 06:23:07 apprenti kernel: [73380.111024] NVRM: None of the NVIDIA devices were initialized.

```

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![generix](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/nvidia/user_avatar/forums.developer.nvidia.com/generix/32/16024_2.png) [@generix](https://forums.developer.nvidia.com/u/generix)\
**Post date:** [March 24, 2022, 6:27pm UTC](https://forums.developer.nvidia.com/t/nvidia-smi-has-failed-on-ubuntu-20-04/209308/2 "2022-03-24T18:27:37Z")

</div>

Due to the log flood, the cause is invisible. Please check if using a 5.10 kernel helps:  
[https://forums.developer.nvidia.com/t/ubuntu-20-04-4-hp-zbook-studio-g8-mobile-workstation-driver-fails/208836/3?u=generix](https://forums.developer.nvidia.com/t/ubuntu-20-04-4-hp-zbook-studio-g8-mobile-workstation-driver-fails/208836/3)

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![lab2022](https://developer.download.nvidia.com/images/forums/profile-default-devtalk-84.png) [@lab2022](https://forums.developer.nvidia.com/u/lab2022)\
**Post date:** [March 28, 2022, 10:06am UTC](https://forums.developer.nvidia.com/t/nvidia-smi-has-failed-on-ubuntu-20-04/209308/3 "2022-03-28T10:06:37Z")

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Hi,

It finally works! I have replaced my 5.14.0 Linux kernel with a 5.10.0 one.  
I have updated the Nvidia drivers with no error this time.

The link you gave was very clear. Thank you so much!