[Bug 2150845] [NEW] Ubuntu 26.04 linux kernel has non-functional nova-core GPU driver enabled, breaking systems with Nvidia GPUs

Public bug reported: The Linux 7.0 kernel that ships with Ubuntu 26.04 has CONFIG_NOVA_CORE=m when it should be disabled. The NOVA_CORE driver (drivers/gpu/nova-core) is an early development GPU driver that is non-functional but still binds to all Nvidia GPU PCI devices that are Turing and later. That is, the driver will probe and initialize the GPU, but has no other functionality. It is currently under heavy development, but will not be a viable driver until 2027 at the earliest. The current configuration for the 7.0 kernel enables CONFIG_NOVA_CORE and CONFIG_DRM_NOVA. Both drivers should be disabled. The Kconfig for NOVA_CORE even defaults to n to avoid this exact problem, and the Help page tells you that the driver might be non- functional: config NOVA_CORE tristate "Nova Core GPU driver" depends on 64BIT depends on PCI depends on RUST select AUXILIARY_BUS select RUST_FW_LOADER_ABSTRACTIONS default n help Choose this if you want to build the Nova Core driver for Nvidia GPUs based on the GPU System Processor (GSP). This is true for Turing and later GPUs. This driver is work in progress and may not be functional. If M is selected, the module will be called nova_core. There was no reason for Canonical to believe that this driver should be enabled. ProblemType: Bug DistroRelease: Ubuntu 26.04 Package: linux-image-7.0.0-15-generic 7.0.0-15.15 ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 7.0.0-15.15-generic 7.0.0 Uname: Linux 7.0.0-15-generic x86_64 ApportVersion: 2.34.0-0ubuntu2 Architecture: amd64 AudioDevicesInUse: USER PID ACCESS COMMAND /dev/snd/seq: ttabi 1804 F.... pipewire CasperMD5CheckResult: pass CurrentDesktop: ubuntu:GNOME Date: Sun May 3 22:59:30 2026 InstallationDate: Installed on 2026-05-04 (0 days ago) InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 26.04 "Resolute Raccoon" - Release amd64 (20260423.1) Lsusb: Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub Bus 001 Device 002: ID 0e0f:0003 VMware, Inc. Virtual Mouse Bus 001 Device 003: ID 0e0f:0002 VMware, Inc. Virtual USB Hub Lsusb-t: /: Bus 001.Port 001: Dev 001, Class=root_hub, Driver=uhci_hcd/2p, 12M |__ Port 001: Dev 002, If 0, Class=Human Interface Device, Driver=usbhid, 12M |__ Port 002: Dev 003, If 0, Class=Hub, Driver=hub/7p, 12M MachineType: VMware, Inc. VMware Virtual Platform ProcEnviron: LANG=en_US.UTF-8 PATH=(custom, no user) SHELL=/bin/bash TERM=xterm-256color XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set> ProcFB: 0 vmwgfxdrmfb ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-7.0.0-15-generic root=UUID=b3efd09a-4437-446a-983c-83ae393052ba ro debian-installer/custom-installation=/custom find_preseed=/preseed.cfg auto preseed/file=/floppy/preseed.cfg automatic-ubiquity noprompt priority=critical locale=en_US console-setup/modelcode=evdev crashkernel=2G-4G:320M,4G-32G:512M,32G-64G:1024M,64G-128G:2048M,128G-:4096M RfKill: SourcePackage: linux UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install) dmi.bios.date: 03/24/2025 dmi.bios.release: 4.6 dmi.bios.vendor: Phoenix Technologies LTD dmi.bios.version: 6.00 dmi.board.name: 440BX Desktop Reference Platform dmi.board.vendor: Intel Corporation dmi.board.version: None dmi.chassis.asset.tag: No Asset Tag dmi.chassis.type: 1 dmi.chassis.vendor: No Enclosure dmi.chassis.version: N/A dmi.ec.firmware.release: 0.0 dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnPhoenixTechnologiesLTD:bvr6.00:bd03/24/2025:br4.6:efr0.0:svnVMware,Inc.:pnVMwareVirtualPlatform:pvrNone:rvnIntelCorporation:rn440BXDesktopReferencePlatform:rvrNone:cvnNoEnclosure:ct1:cvrN/A:sku:pfa: dmi.product.name: VMware Virtual Platform dmi.product.version: None dmi.sys.vendor: VMware, Inc. ** Affects: linux (Ubuntu) Importance: Undecided Status: New ** Tags: amd64 apport-bug resolute wayland-session -- You received this bug notification because you are subscribed to linux in Ubuntu. Matching subscriptions: Bgg, Bmail, Nb https://bugs.launchpad.net/bugs/2150845 Title: Ubuntu 26.04 linux kernel has non-functional nova-core GPU driver enabled, breaking systems with Nvidia GPUs Status in linux package in Ubuntu: New Bug description: The Linux 7.0 kernel that ships with Ubuntu 26.04 has CONFIG_NOVA_CORE=m when it should be disabled. The NOVA_CORE driver (drivers/gpu/nova-core) is an early development GPU driver that is non-functional but still binds to all Nvidia GPU PCI devices that are Turing and later. That is, the driver will probe and initialize the GPU, but has no other functionality. It is currently under heavy development, but will not be a viable driver until 2027 at the earliest. The current configuration for the 7.0 kernel enables CONFIG_NOVA_CORE and CONFIG_DRM_NOVA. Both drivers should be disabled. The Kconfig for NOVA_CORE even defaults to n to avoid this exact problem, and the Help page tells you that the driver might be non- functional: config NOVA_CORE tristate "Nova Core GPU driver" depends on 64BIT depends on PCI depends on RUST select AUXILIARY_BUS select RUST_FW_LOADER_ABSTRACTIONS default n help Choose this if you want to build the Nova Core driver for Nvidia GPUs based on the GPU System Processor (GSP). This is true for Turing and later GPUs. This driver is work in progress and may not be functional. If M is selected, the module will be called nova_core. There was no reason for Canonical to believe that this driver should be enabled. ProblemType: Bug DistroRelease: Ubuntu 26.04 Package: linux-image-7.0.0-15-generic 7.0.0-15.15 ProcVersionSignature: Ubuntu 7.0.0-15.15-generic 7.0.0 Uname: Linux 7.0.0-15-generic x86_64 ApportVersion: 2.34.0-0ubuntu2 Architecture: amd64 AudioDevicesInUse: USER PID ACCESS COMMAND /dev/snd/seq: ttabi 1804 F.... pipewire CasperMD5CheckResult: pass CurrentDesktop: ubuntu:GNOME Date: Sun May 3 22:59:30 2026 InstallationDate: Installed on 2026-05-04 (0 days ago) InstallationMedia: Ubuntu 26.04 "Resolute Raccoon" - Release amd64 (20260423.1) Lsusb: Bus 001 Device 001: ID 1d6b:0001 Linux Foundation 1.1 root hub Bus 001 Device 002: ID 0e0f:0003 VMware, Inc. Virtual Mouse Bus 001 Device 003: ID 0e0f:0002 VMware, Inc. Virtual USB Hub Lsusb-t: /: Bus 001.Port 001: Dev 001, Class=root_hub, Driver=uhci_hcd/2p, 12M |__ Port 001: Dev 002, If 0, Class=Human Interface Device, Driver=usbhid, 12M |__ Port 002: Dev 003, If 0, Class=Hub, Driver=hub/7p, 12M MachineType: VMware, Inc. VMware Virtual Platform ProcEnviron: LANG=en_US.UTF-8 PATH=(custom, no user) SHELL=/bin/bash TERM=xterm-256color XDG_RUNTIME_DIR=<set> ProcFB: 0 vmwgfxdrmfb ProcKernelCmdLine: BOOT_IMAGE=/boot/vmlinuz-7.0.0-15-generic root=UUID=b3efd09a-4437-446a-983c-83ae393052ba ro debian-installer/custom-installation=/custom find_preseed=/preseed.cfg auto preseed/file=/floppy/preseed.cfg automatic-ubiquity noprompt priority=critical locale=en_US console-setup/modelcode=evdev crashkernel=2G-4G:320M,4G-32G:512M,32G-64G:1024M,64G-128G:2048M,128G-:4096M RfKill: SourcePackage: linux UpgradeStatus: No upgrade log present (probably fresh install) dmi.bios.date: 03/24/2025 dmi.bios.release: 4.6 dmi.bios.vendor: Phoenix Technologies LTD dmi.bios.version: 6.00 dmi.board.name: 440BX Desktop Reference Platform dmi.board.vendor: Intel Corporation dmi.board.version: None dmi.chassis.asset.tag: No Asset Tag dmi.chassis.type: 1 dmi.chassis.vendor: No Enclosure dmi.chassis.version: N/A dmi.ec.firmware.release: 0.0 dmi.modalias: dmi:bvnPhoenixTechnologiesLTD:bvr6.00:bd03/24/2025:br4.6:efr0.0:svnVMware,Inc.:pnVMwareVirtualPlatform:pvrNone:rvnIntelCorporation:rn440BXDesktopReferencePlatform:rvrNone:cvnNoEnclosure:ct1:cvrN/A:sku:pfa: dmi.product.name: VMware Virtual Platform dmi.product.version: None dmi.sys.vendor: VMware, Inc. 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