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Since NVIDIA does not release CUDA for in-maintenance versions of Fedora, the process of setting up the CUDA toolkit on Fedora has become quite involved. This guide should help mere mortals install CUDA for development in a Fedora 39 toolbox environment, without affecting the host system.
2025-01-09 11:32:06 +00:00

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Setting Up CUDA on Fedora

In this guide we setup Nvidia CUDA in a toolbox container. This guide is applicable for:

Table of Contents

Prerequisites

  • Toolbox Installed on the Host System Fedora Silverblue and Fedora Workstation both have toolbox by default, other distributions may need to install the toolbox package.
  • NVIDIA Drivers and Graphics Card installed on Host System (optional) To run CUDA program, such as llama.cpp, the host should be setup to access your NVIDIA hardware. Fedora Hosts can use the RPM Fusion Repository.
  • Internet connectivity to download packages.

Monitoring NVIDIA CUDA Repositories

Before proceeding, it is advisable to check if NVIDIA has updated their CUDA repositories for your Fedora version. NVIDIA's repositories can be found at:

As of the latest update, these repositories do not contain the cuda meta-package or are missing essential components.

Using the Fedora 39 CUDA Repository

Since the newer repositories are incomplete, we'll use the Fedora 39 repository:

Note: Fedora 39 is no longer maintained, so we recommend using a toolbox environment to prevent system conflicts.

Creating a Fedora Toolbox Environment

This guide focuses on Fedora hosts, but with small adjustments, it can work for other hosts. Using a Fedora 39 toolbox allows us to install the necessary packages without affecting the host system.

Note: Toolbox is available for other systems, and even without Toolbox, it is possible to use Podman or Docker.

We do not recommend installing on the host system, as Fedora 39 is out-of-maintenance, and instead you should upgrade to a maintained version of Fedora for your host.

  1. Create a Fedora 39 Toolbox:

    toolbox create --image registry.fedoraproject.org/fedora-toolbox:39 --container fedora-toolbox-39-cuda

  2. Enter the Toolbox:

    toolbox enter --container fedora-toolbox-39-cuda

    Inside the toolbox, you have root privileges and can install packages without affecting the host system.

Installing Essential Development Tools

  1. Synchronize the DNF Package Manager:

    sudo dnf distro-sync

  2. Install the Default Text Editor (Optional):

    sudo dnf install vim-default-editor --allowerasing

    The --allowerasing flag resolves any package conflicts.

  3. Install Development Tools and Libraries:

    sudo dnf install @c-development @development-tools cmake

    This installs essential packages for compiling software, including gcc, make, and other development headers.

Adding the CUDA Repository

Add the NVIDIA CUDA repository to your DNF configuration:

sudo dnf config-manager --add-repo https://developer.download.nvidia.com/compute/cuda/repos/fedora39/x86_64/cuda-fedora39.repo

After adding the repository, synchronize the package manager again:

sudo dnf distro-sync

Installing nvidia-driver-libs

Attempt to install nvidia-driver-libs:

sudo dnf install nvidia-driver-libs

Explanation:

  • nvidia-driver-libs contains necessary NVIDIA driver libraries required by CUDA.
  • This step might fail due to conflicts with existing NVIDIA drivers on the host system.

Manually Resolving Package Conflicts

If the installation fails due to conflicts, we'll manually download and install the required packages, excluding conflicting files.

1. Download the nvidia-driver-libs RPM

sudo dnf download --arch x86_64 nvidia-driver-libs

You should see a file similar to:

nvidia-driver-libs-560.35.05-1.fc39.x86_64.rpm

2. Attempt to Install the RPM

sudo dnf install nvidia-driver-libs-560.35.05-1.fc39.x86_64.rpm

Expected Error:

Installation may fail with errors pointing to conflicts with egl-gbm and egl-wayland.

Note: It is important to carefully read the error messages to identify the exact paths that need to be excluded.

3. Download Dependencies

sudo dnf download --arch x86_64 egl-gbm egl-wayland

4. Install egl-gbm with Excluded Paths

Exclude conflicting files during installation:

sudo rpm --install --verbose --hash \
  --excludepath=/usr/lib64/libnvidia-egl-gbm.so.1.1.2 \
  --excludepath=/usr/share/egl/egl_external_platform.d/15_nvidia_gbm.json \
  egl-gbm-1.1.2^20240919gitb24587d-3.fc39.x86_64.rpm

Explanation:

  • The --excludepath option skips installing files that conflict with existing files.
  • Adjust the paths based on the error messages you receive.

5. Install egl-wayland with Excluded Paths

sudo rpm --install --verbose --hash \
  --excludepath=/usr/share/egl/egl_external_platform.d/10_nvidia_wayland.json \
  egl-wayland-1.1.17^20241118giteeb29e1-5.fc39.x86_64.rpm

6. Install nvidia-driver-libs with Excluded Paths

sudo rpm --install --verbose --hash \
  --excludepath=/usr/share/glvnd/egl_vendor.d/10_nvidia.json \
  --excludepath=/usr/share/nvidia/nvoptix.bin \
  nvidia-driver-libs-560.35.05-1.fc39.x86_64.rpm

Note:

  • Replace the paths with the ones causing conflicts in your installation if they differ.
  • The --verbose and --hash options provide detailed output during installation.

Finalizing the Installation of nvidia-driver-libs

After manually installing the dependencies, run:

sudo dnf install nvidia-driver-libs

You should receive a message indicating the package is already installed:

Package nvidia-driver-libs-3:560.35.05-1.fc39.x86_64 is already installed.
Dependencies resolved.
Nothing to do.
Complete!

Installing the CUDA Meta-Package

Now that the driver libraries are installed, proceed to install CUDA:

sudo dnf install cuda

This installs the CUDA toolkit and associated packages.

Configuring the Environment

To use CUDA, add its binary directory to your system's PATH.

  1. Create a Profile Script:

    sudo sh -c 'echo "export PATH=\$PATH:/usr/local/cuda/bin" >> /etc/profile.d/cuda.sh'

    Explanation:

    • We add to /etc/profile.d/ as the /etc/ folder is unique to this particular container, and is not shared with other containers or the host system.
    • The backslash \ before $PATH ensures the variable is correctly written into the script.

  2. Make the Script Executable:

    sudo chmod +x /etc/profile.d/cuda.sh

  3. Source the Script to Update Your Environment:

    source /etc/profile.d/cuda.sh

    Note: This command updates your current shell session with the new PATH. The /etc/profile.d/cuda.sh script ensures that the CUDA binaries are available in your PATH for all future sessions.

Verifying the Installation

To confirm that CUDA is correctly installed and configured, check the version of the NVIDIA CUDA Compiler (nvcc):

nvcc --version

You should see output similar to:

nvcc: NVIDIA (R) Cuda compiler driver
Copyright (c) 2005-2024 NVIDIA Corporation
Built on Tue_Oct_29_23:50:19_PDT_2024
Cuda compilation tools, release 12.6, V12.6.85
Build cuda_12.6.r12.6/compiler.35059454_0

This output confirms that the CUDA compiler is accessible and indicates the installed version.

Conclusion

You have successfully set up CUDA on Fedora within a toolbox environment using the Fedora 39 CUDA repository. By manually resolving package conflicts and configuring the environment, you can develop CUDA applications without affecting your host system.

Troubleshooting

  • Installation Failures:

    • If you encounter errors during installation, carefully read the error messages. They often indicate conflicting files or missing dependencies.
    • Use the --excludepath option with rpm to exclude conflicting files during manual installations.

  • Driver Conflicts:

    • Since the host system may already have NVIDIA drivers installed, conflicts can arise. Using the toolbox environment helps isolate these issues.

  • Environment Variables Not Set:

    • If nvcc is not found after installation, ensure that /usr/local/cuda/bin is in your PATH.
    • Run echo $PATH to check if the path is included.
    • Re-source the profile script or open a new terminal session.

Additional Notes

  • Updating CUDA in the Future:

    • Keep an eye on the official NVIDIA repositories for updates to your Fedora version.
    • When an updated repository becomes available, adjust your dnf configuration accordingly.

  • Building llama.cpp:

    • With CUDA installed, you can follow these build instructions for llama.cpp to compile it with CUDA support.
    • Ensure that any CUDA-specific build flags or paths are correctly set in your build configuration.

  • Using the Toolbox Environment:

    • The toolbox environment is isolated from your host system, which helps prevent conflicts.
    • Remember that system files and configurations inside the toolbox are separate from the host. By default the home directory of the user is shared between the host and the toolbox.

Disclaimer: Manually installing and modifying system packages can lead to instability of the container. The above steps are provided as a guideline and may need adjustments based on your specific system configuration. Always back up important data before making significant system changes, especially as your home folder is writable and shared with he toolbox.

Acknowledgments: Special thanks to the Fedora community and NVIDIA documentation for providing resources that assisted in creating this guide.

References