QNAP 873a GTX 1650 - No HW transcoding - since X (update)?

Plex Media Server NAS & Devices
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Server Version#:4.145.1
Player Version#:latest - testing multiple
Mar 12, 2025 21:06:12.010 [139838604041016] DEBUG - [Req#217/Transcode] Codecs: hardware transcoding: testing API nvenc for device ‘pci:0000:01:00.0’ (NVIDIA TU117 [GeForce GTX 1650])
Mar 12, 2025 21:06:12.010 [139838604041016] ERROR - [Req#217/Transcode] [FFMPEG] - Cannot load libcuda.so.1
Mar 12, 2025 21:06:12.010 [139838604041016] ERROR - [Req#217/Transcode] [FFMPEG] - Could not dynamically load CUDA
Mar 12, 2025 21:06:12.010 [139838604041016] DEBUG - [Req#217/Transcode] Codecs: hardware transcoding: opening hw device failed - probably not supported by this system, error: Operation not permitted

Nvidia driver - latest 5.2.0.1225
nvkernal - 5.2.3.3006
Nvidia card shows in resource and assigned to QTS mode.

I’m not sure when this stopped working, I just noticed my QNAP was totally dying a death one evening only to realise this hw transcoding has stopped working. This was working for some time perfectly fine so I can only think an update has stopped it.

I’ve read a ton of post, some old, some less old but I’m kinda stuck. I’d really really appreciate if someone could point me in the right direction here. I’ve tried for past week with various versions, updates, reboots, reseating card. I’m just at a total loss.

Any help would be appreciated.

Regards

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Need the full debug logs (including the PMS start) which capture this.

“Operation not permitted” is serious.

Need more info

Using Docker ??

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Thanks for the response. I’ve accidentally put on verbose logging so the logs were silly. Now I can look for something specific if we feel it will help but first i’ve made a bit of a development.

So setup - QNAP QTS (Was 5.2.3.3006)
This is running Plex server from QNAP on 4.1.45.1 (and other versions tried) Not using docker, just the qpkg installer. If this is possible to run a plex server on this device (with decent performance and HW/GPU support) I might need to learn docker and other areas a bit more. I’m fairly weak in these areas currently. Makes sense others might use this method to make it alittle more “standard”

I’ve rebuilt and retried different versions of plex server with no change but decided to bite the bullet and try downgrading QTS itself (not the best idea) after much older version that I had issues with I eventually landed on 5.1.9.2954 (I know this might not mean anything to some people) This is 2 minor releases back and everything started working. (hw) transcoding is back working no problem.

Has anyone else ran into this? I don’t want to be in a situation where I can never upgrade the NAS, and i find it strange that its not working since this is probably the most common NAS and GPU combination out there, at least for the QNAP platform (one of the reason I fixed on it)

Is this purely just “Tough luck” or is there some people who have experienced this and found a work around, or am I just doing something wrong maybe? Should I be really using Docker?

I can try provide some more logs, revert back to breaking this and see, but I’m really hoping, and reaching out to see if there are others having the same experience.

Many thanks

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If you’re having trouble since the QTS update – Give QNAP a ring.

Remember, they provide the matching NVIDIA_GPU_DRV package (hint :wink: )
which needs to be in sync with the kernel.

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Thanks for that… As I couldn’t easily find the GPU driver (still not sure where it is, Kernal is there to download) I was assuming the “update” from the apps store was the latest version, given it said it was. Maybe this is all it is. Seems odd to not show or give and update for that app if it is indeed match.

If anyone has QNAP and this is the issue, aka, you have to manually download and install the corresponding GPU drivers when upgrading QTS, it would be good to hear.

Thanks allot. Much love.

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Yeah the Kernal model is identical to the QTS… Im convinced i updated this but… I will give it another go. Still (Theres 2 apps you need. GPU Driver and the Nvidia Kernal) I can only find a GPU Kernal that matches… maybe this is all thats needed.

Thanks Allot.

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I started up my TVS-1282. I only have the NVIDIA_GPU_DRV

Looks like they combined them

Screenshot from 2025-03-13 16-52-56
Screenshot from 2025-03-13 16-52-56905×552 51.7 KB

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The Kernal seems to be within the firmware itself. That upgraded to the matched version. The GPU driver, like above, suggests an upgrade which is needed. I’ve upgraded to latest version and everything stopped working again. Kernal is correct. CPU driver is correct. Something not working with last 2 version of QTS… at least for me.
Reverting back…

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Alright, time to break out the big guns:

ssh into the QNAP.
sudo bash to get root privs

  1. See if the GPU is seen by QTS
    /sbin/gpuhal_app -l | grep -i nvidia

  2. You’ll see the card slot number it’s using. We want to query it
    /sbin/gpuhal_app -s gpu_id ( the ID is the left-most value it returns from-l`)

  3. Now you want to look at the info returned:

  • driver_installed=1 – the drivers are installed
  • real_status=2 – the GPU is available for QTS (PMS) to use

If you want to follow this sequence closer, it is stored in /etc/init.d/plex.sh

The scripting is written such that PMS probes for a usable GPU every time it’s started.

If it finds a usable GPU, it sets up environment variables for PMS to use that GPU

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Thanks Chuck, I will find time to upgrade and see if this is the issue. I’m going to look at what its showing in its working state first. Strangely… I reverted back (direct this time) to the 5.19 (instead of going to 5.0.1 and upgrading to 5.1.9) and it didn’t work at all. Check everything and restarted plex but got the same errors with plex. I’ve gone back to 5.0.1 and its working (where it didn’t previously) This is getting pretty annoying.

There has to be something more consistent and scientific, like you have mentioned, that can be causing this.

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I use QNAP’s gpuhal_app command to look for and inspect what’s available.

For reference, this is how it should work

[~] # gpuhal_app -l
f:NVIDIA Corporation:GP107 [GeForce GTX 1050 Ti]:external:7
[~] # gpuhal_app -s f
active_status=2,real_status=2,driverqpkg=NVIDIA_GPU_DRV,driver_installed=1,in_used=none,transcode=1,display=1,pcie_slot=1,pcie_vp=1,va_type=none
[~] #

I find the GPU with the first query.
I see what the GPU can do with the second one
– drivers
– transcode
– status (2=available for PMS use)

If you can’t replicate these results – Call QNAP

Ref:

[~] # uname -a
Linux QNAP-TS877 5.10.60-qnap #1 SMP Wed Nov 20 01:54:29 CST 2024 x86_64 GNU/Linux
[~] #
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