Nsight Systems GPU Metrics Issue on Jetson Orin Nano

Issue Overview

Users are experiencing difficulties when utilizing Nsight Systems to analyze GPU metrics on the Nvidia Jetson Orin Nano Dev board. The primary symptoms include:

• Inability to view NVTX events and CUDA events when running the profiler with root authority.
• The issue arises specifically during the analysis of GPU performance metrics, which is critical for optimizing applications.

The problem occurs consistently when users attempt to run the profiler, indicating a potential underlying issue with permissions or configuration. Users have reported that while running as a root user allows access to GPU metrics, it does not provide visibility into NVTX and CUDA events, which limits the profiling capabilities.

This issue affects user experience significantly, as it hampers the ability to fully leverage the profiling tools for performance tuning and debugging.

Possible Causes

Several potential causes may lead to the observed problems:

• Hardware Incompatibilities: If there are discrepancies between the Jetson Orin Nano’s hardware capabilities and the requirements of Nsight Systems, certain metrics may not be accessible.

• Software Bugs or Conflicts: There may be bugs in Nsight Systems or conflicts with other installed software that prevent proper event logging.

• Configuration Errors: Incorrect settings in Nsight Systems or the Jetson Orin Nano could lead to missing event data.

• Driver Issues: Outdated or incompatible drivers for CUDA or the GPU may restrict access to certain profiling features.

• User Errors or Misconfigurations: Improper setup or execution of Nsight Systems could result in limited functionality.

Troubleshooting Steps, Solutions & Fixes

To address the issues with Nsight Systems on the Jetson Orin Nano, follow these comprehensive troubleshooting steps:

1. Run Nsight Systems with Root Authority:

   • Ensure you are executing Nsight Systems as a root user. This is necessary for accessing certain GPU metrics.
   • Command to run:

     sudo nsight-sys
     

2. Check for NVTX and CUDA Events:

   • After running as root, verify if NVTX and CUDA events are still not visible.
   • If they remain absent, proceed to check configurations.

3. Verify Software and Driver Versions:

   • Ensure that you have the latest versions of Nsight Systems and CUDA drivers installed.
   • Command to check CUDA version:

     nvcc --version
     

4. Review Configuration Settings:

   • Check the configuration settings within Nsight Systems for any incorrect parameters that might limit event visibility.

5. Test Different Applications:

   • Run profiling on different applications to determine if the issue is application-specific or a broader problem with Nsight Systems.

6. Consult Documentation:

   • Refer to Nvidia’s official documentation for Nsight Systems for any known issues or updates that might address this problem.

7. Consider Environmental Factors:

   • Ensure that your Jetson Orin Nano is operating within recommended temperature and power supply conditions, as these can affect performance.

8. Community Support:

   • If issues persist, consider reaching out to Nvidia forums or community support for additional insights or similar experiences from other users.

9. Best Practices for Future Use:

   • Always ensure that your software environment is up-to-date before running profiling tools.
   • Regularly check for updates from Nvidia regarding driver and software compatibility.

By following these steps, users can diagnose and potentially resolve issues related to GPU metrics analysis on their Jetson Orin Nano using Nsight Systems. Further investigation may be required if problems persist despite following these troubleshooting guidelines.