Frequently Encountered Issues - What To Do If You Are Seeing No Display

Overview

Display problems can show up on systems as black screens or system freezes. This guide provides troubleshooting procedures that can be applied to both server and workstation that may help solve issues without requiring any hardware replacements.

Prerequisites

• Access to the system: directly or remotely  

• Root or sudo privileges

• Some knowledge of Linux 

1. Identify Your GPU and Current Driver

1. Check the GPU information, Nvidia driver and CUDA version using the Terminal: nvidia-smi
2. Check the BIOS under Advanced > PCI

2. Use 'nomodeset' for Immediate Display Recovery

The nomodeset kernel parameter can help bypass certain display issues by preventing the kernel from loading video drivers during boot.

For Rocky Linux:

1. Edit the GRUB configuration:sudo vi /etc/default/grub

2. Modify the GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX line to include nomodeset: GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX="nomodeset"

3. Rebuild the GRUB configuration:sudo grub2-mkconfig -o /boot/grub2/grub.cfg

4. Reboot the system:sudo reboot

For Ubuntu:

1. Edit the GRUB configuration:sudo nano /etc/default/grub

2. Modify the GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT line to include nomodeset: GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet splash nomodeset"

3. Update GRUB:sudo update-grub

4. Reboot the system:sudo reboot

3. Check and Reinstall GPU Drivers

Ensure that the appropriate drivers for your GPU are installed and functioning correctly. Reinstalling or updating drivers can resolve many display issues.

Download the Nvidia Driver:
https://www.nvidia.com/Download/index.aspx

Choose your GPU and right click to copy the link address

use wget (replace the link with your specific version):

wget https://us.download.nvidia.com/XFree86/Linux-x86_64/550.78/NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-550.78.run
 

Navigate to the directory where the .run file is saved, modify (chmod) to an executable (+x) and run ./

cd ~/Downloads # Or the actual folder where the file is 
chmod +x NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-550.78.run 
sudo ./NVIDIA-Linux-x86_64-550.78.run

During installation:

• Say Yes to DKMS if asked
• Say Yes to update X configuration (if prompted)
• Say No to 32-bit libraries

Run the Nvidia Installer

Reboot the System: sudo reboot

Once restarted, verify: nvidia-smi

You should see your GPU info and driver version.

4. Check for Kernel Updates or Conflicts

An outdated or incompatible kernel can cause display problems.

• Check the current kernel version:uname -r

• Update the system:

  • For Rocky Linux:sudo dnf update

  • For Ubuntu:sudo apt update && sudo apt upgrade

• Reboot the system:sudo reboot

5. Test Different Display Output Ports and Cables for Workstations

The Workstations has a sticker to indicate the main GPU display port.  If your main GPU display does not work, try the following:

1. Power off the system.

2. Try a different cable or a different display port, like the onboard VGA

3. Power on the system and check if the display works

4. From there, reinstall drivers or check the BIOS/UEFI Settings

6. Additional Hardware Considerations

• BIOS/UEFI Settings:

  • Ensure that the primary display adapter is set to the GPU.

  • Enable SR-IOV 

  • Turn off IOMMU
  • update BIOS settings if needed

• Physical Checks:

  • Verify that the GPU is properly seated in its slot.

  • Ensure all power connectors are securely attached.

  • Inspect for any visible signs of damage or overheating.

When to Seek Additional Support

Consider contacting Exxact Support if:

• Issues persist after performing all the above steps.

• There are signs of physical damage (e.g., burn marks, unusual odors)

Please fill out a Support ticket and run our ESST tool

Exxact Support Portal

Exxact System Support Tool (ESST) – Exxact Corporation