Software Installation Guide for GIGABYTE AI TOP Utility

Quick guide from the manual

This guide provides instructions for installing the GIGABYTE AI TOP Utility on Windows 11 using the Windows Subsystem for Linux (WSL). The process involves setting up WSL, configuring system memory, installing necessary Linux dependencies, setting up GPU drivers (NVIDIA or AMD), and finally installing the utility software. An optional procedure for mounting an NVMe SSD for large model training is also included.

Prerequisites and WSL Setup

Before beginning, ensure you are running Windows 11 and have WSL2 installed. If you have previous versions of Ubuntu installed, uninstall them via Applications. To install the environment:

• Open the Microsoft Store on Windows.
• Search for and install Ubuntu 22.04.5 LTS.
• Update WSL by opening Windows PowerShell as Administrator and running the command: wsl --update.

Configuring WSL System Memory

By default, WSL2 allocates up to 50% of total system RAM. You can manually adjust this by editing the .wslconfig file:

1. Open Windows PowerShell as Administrator.
2. Run the command: cd ~
3. Run the command: notepad .\.wslconfig
4. Add the following lines to the file: memory=192GB (adjust to your needs) and swap=8GB (optional).
5. Save the file and restart WSL by running: wsl --shutdown, then launch WSL again.

Installing Dependencies and Software

After booting Ubuntu and creating your user account, update the package index and install required dependencies:

• Run: sudo apt update, sudo apt upgrade, and sudo apt install -f.
• Install the list of missing dependencies provided in the manual (e.g., dbus, libnss3, libatk1.0-0, etc.).
• Install VcXsrv (XLaunch.exe) for graphical support. When running VcXsrv, ensure you select 'Disable access control' and allow it through the Windows Firewall.
• Install the Linux version of Google Chrome inside the WSL environment using wget and the provided .deb package link.

GPU Driver and CUDA Installation

Locate the driver files (nvidia_driver_cuda.sh or amd_driver_rocm.sh) in the AI_TOP_Utility_ver_x_x folder. Copy the appropriate file to your WSL home directory (e.g., \\wsl.localhost\Ubuntu-22.04\home\username). Open the Ubuntu terminal and run the script using: bash ./[driver_filename].sh.

Installing AI TOP Utility

Place the gigabyte-ai-top-utility-4.0.0.deb file in your WSL home directory. Open the Ubuntu terminal and run: sudo dpkg -i gigabyte-ai-top-utility-4.0.0.deb. To launch the GUI, run: /opt/gigabyte-ai-top-utility/gigabyte-ai-top-utility --no-sandbox.

Mounting SSD for WSL

If model sizes exceed VRAM/DRAM capacity, you can mount an NVMe SSD:

1. Mount the drive in Windows PowerShell (Administrator) using: wsl --mount \\.\PHYSICALDRIVE1 --type ext4.
2. In the AI TOP Utility Settings tab, enter your OS password and click 'Mount'.
3. If mounting fails, ensure the SSD is formatted as EXT4, not NTFS.