How to Install nvidia-smi Command on Generic Linux

If you are encountering the “nvidia-smi command not found” error on your Generic Linux system, don’t worry. This tutorial will guide you through the process of installing the nvidia-smi command, which is used for monitoring NVIDIA GPU performance and utilization.

Why nvidia-smi Might Not Be Available

The nvidia-smi command is typically part of the NVIDIA GPU driver package, which may not be included in the default installation of your Generic Linux distribution. This can lead to the command not being found when you try to use it.

Installation Steps

To install the nvidia-smi command on your Generic Linux system, follow these steps:

1. Update Package Repository:

   sudo apt update
   

2. Install NVIDIA GPU Driver Package:

   sudo apt install nvidia-utils
   

3. Verify Installation: After the installation is complete, you should be able to use the nvidia-smi command to check the status of your NVIDIA GPU.

Compatibility with Other Linux Distributions

If you are using a different Linux distribution that does not use the apt package manager, you can adapt the installation steps accordingly:

• For systems using yum (e.g., CentOS, Fedora):

  • Replace sudo apt update with sudo yum update
  • Replace sudo apt install nvidia-utils with the corresponding command for your package manager.

• For systems using pacman (e.g., Arch Linux):

  • Replace sudo apt update with sudo pacman -Syu
  • Replace sudo apt install nvidia-utils with the corresponding command for your package manager.

Conclusion

By following the steps outlined in this tutorial, you should now have successfully installed the nvidia-smi command on your Generic Linux system. This command will allow you to monitor and manage the performance of your NVIDIA GPU, providing valuable insights for optimizing your system’s graphical capabilities.