Transit GPU nodes fail DPU bring-up on the Spectrum fabric until a missing software stack is corrected. What is the likely gap?
Select an answer to reveal the explanation.
Short Explanation
An OFED driver issue or a GPU driver problem wouldn't block DPU bring-up like this. Check whether NVIDIA DOCA is missing or misinstalled instead — you'll find that's the classic blocker for DPU feature enablement on Spectrum.
Full Explanation
When transit GPU nodes fail DPU bring-up on the Spectrum fabric until a missing software stack is corrected, the likely gap is missing or incorrect NVIDIA DOCA installation blocking DPU feature enablement. Transit AI nodes with BlueField cannot complete DPU bring-up or enable networking features if DOCA is absent, wrong-version, or incompletely installed—this is a classic Spectrum-side DPU blocker.
Incorrect NVIDIA OFED host driver version blocking RoCE interface initialization fails by concept: an OFED host driver issue affects the host's RoCE stack, not the DPU's DOCA-dependent bring-up or feature enablement on the Spectrum fabric, so it does not address the missing software stack on the DPU. Outdated NVIDIA GPU driver stack limiting CUDA fabric discovery operations fails to match the scenario: a GPU driver problem affects CUDA discovery, not the DPU bring-up or the missing DOCA stack required for DPU feature enablement, and the question specifies a missing software stack as the gap. Mismatched NVIDIA MFT toolkit release slowing DPU firmware image activation may matter for firmware workflows, but it does not explain DPU bring-up failure on the GPU nodes when the missing stack is DOCA.
Exam caveat: DPU feature enablement on Spectrum-attached hosts depends on correct DOCA installation; do not misattribute bring-up failure to host OFED, GPU driver, or MFT toolkit issues without checking DOCA first.
Operational check: on failing transit GPU nodes, verify DOCA packages and version against the municipal standard, repair or reinstall as needed, reboot or restart DPU services per runbook, confirm DPU features enable, and only then re-test Spectrum-path bring-up.