Error: “Could not initialize plugin '/usr/lib64/vmware/plugin/libnvidia-vgx.so' for vGPU "<profile_name>"” when powering on VM

Products

• VMware vCenter Server
• VMware vSphere ESXi

Issue/Introduction

• Unable to power on the virtual machine using a nvidia graphics card.
• vpxd.log shows errors similar to the following:

The amount of graphics resource available in the parent resource pool is insufficient for the operation.
An error was received from the ESX host while powering on VM <VM_name>
Failed to start the virtual machine.
Module 'DevicePowerOn' power on failed.
Could not initialize plugin '/usr/lib64/vmware/plugin/libnvidia-vgx.so' for vGPU '<profile_name>'.
No graphics device is available for vGPU '<profile_name>'.

Could not initialize plugin 'libnvidia-vgx.so' for vGPU 'nvidia_a2-16q'. Failed to start the virtual machine. Module PCIPluginLate power on failed.

Environment

ESXi 7.x, 8.x, 8.U3

vCenter Server 6.5.x, 7.0.x, 8.x, 8.U3

Cause

The default GPU mode is set to Shared (vSGA) instead of Shared Direct (vGPU).

Resolution

 

Change the GPU mode to Shared Direct (vGPU):

1. Select the ESXi host within the vCenter UI.
2. Select the Configure tab.
3. Click Graphics.
4. Select each GPUs that must use vGPU.
5. Click Edit to modify the Graphics device settings.
6. Select Shared Direct for vGPU.
7. Restart the xorg service via dcli or reboot the ESXi host:
   /etc/init.d/xorg restart

Note: Xorg service is no longer required for Nvidia vGPU profiles in vSphere 7.0 U1

 

If the issue still persist, please contact your hardware vendor.

Additional Information

Covers VMs using the following GPUs:

•  NVIDIA A2