Skip to content

docs: DRA updates for 26.7.0 - #458

Open
mikemckiernan wants to merge 4 commits into
NVIDIA:mainfrom
mikemckiernan:mmck-dra
Open

docs: DRA updates for 26.7.0#458
mikemckiernan wants to merge 4 commits into
NVIDIA:mainfrom
mikemckiernan:mmck-dra

Conversation

@mikemckiernan

@mikemckiernan mikemckiernan commented Aug 10, 2026

Copy link
Copy Markdown
Member

Signed-off-by: Mike McKiernan <mmckiernan@nvidia.com>
@github-actions

Copy link
Copy Markdown

Documentation preview

https://nvidia.github.io/cloud-native-docs/review/pr-458

Signed-off-by: Mike McKiernan <mmckiernan@nvidia.com>
Comment thread gpu-operator/dra-intro-install.rst Outdated
Comment thread gpu-operator/dra-intro-install.rst Outdated
This functionality replaces the traditional GPU allocation method used by the NVIDIA Kubernetes Device Plugin.
* ComputeDomains: an abstraction for secure `Multi-Node NVLink (MNNVL) <https://docs.nvidia.com/multi-node-nvlink-systems/index.html>`_ for NVIDIA GB200 and similar systems.
GPU Operator management of DRA is available as a technology preview.
Technology preview features are not supported in production environments and are not functionally complete.

Copy link
Copy Markdown

Choose a reason for hiding this comment

The reason will be displayed to describe this comment to others. Learn more.

As per our decision, these two lines should be replaced with some version of this:

GPU Operator supports the DRA Driver as a modern alternative to the Device Plugin, but certain features of the DRA Driver are in alpha and not fully supported. As such, the DRA Driver does not currently provide full feature parity with the Device Plugin and it is important that users gain awareness of the features that are not yet implemented or fully supported in the DRA Driver before selecting it for their production needs.

Copy link
Copy Markdown
Member Author

Choose a reason for hiding this comment

The reason will be displayed to describe this comment to others. Learn more.

Changed, but not verbatim. The subject of your text is the software, the subject of my proposal is the reader ("you").

Comment thread gpu-operator/dra-intro-install.rst Outdated

.. _known-issues:
The DRA Driver for NVIDIA GPUs and the NVIDIA Kubernetes Device Plugin provide alternative mechanisms for allocating NVIDIA GPU resources.
The mechanisms do not provide feature parity.

Copy link
Copy Markdown

Choose a reason for hiding this comment

The reason will be displayed to describe this comment to others. Learn more.

I put a version of this above under the important note that replaces the previously discussed Tech Preview statement

Copy link
Copy Markdown

Choose a reason for hiding this comment

The reason will be displayed to describe this comment to others. Learn more.

I think the about feature parity is duplicated now, in two back to back sections!

The mechanisms do not provide feature parity.
A cluster can have either a ``GPUCluster`` resource for DRA or a ``ClusterPolicy`` resource for the Device Plugin, but not both.

Use DRA for workloads that have the following requirements:

Copy link
Copy Markdown

Choose a reason for hiding this comment

The reason will be displayed to describe this comment to others. Learn more.

Is this a good approach? Bear in mind that these are not parallel alternatives that depend on user needs, but rather DRA is on track to permanently replace the device plugin, but is still not as mature. If we wanted to use this type of comparison, we would have to focus on still missing features in DRA, and for its alpha features say that use device plugin if you requires supported production usage of the feature, and basically nothing else.

Copy link
Copy Markdown
Member Author

Choose a reason for hiding this comment

The reason will be displayed to describe this comment to others. Learn more.

I thought it was a good approach. My first thought was to focus on the needs of the user and answer "why would I want to use the DRA driver?"

Regarding the "focus on still missing features..." and the result that folks might prefer to use the device plugin--isn't that an honest assessment?

What do you propose? It doesn't have to be my way.

Copy link
Copy Markdown

Choose a reason for hiding this comment

The reason will be displayed to describe this comment to others. Learn more.

Yes, that's fine, but the way to think about it, IMO, is that "folks might prefer to use the device plugin" for "a while longer". At some point, device plugin will be deprecated and they will have to move. So giving them information to decide if they are ready to make the switch at this point is a good idea. However, it's a question of when to switch and not if to switch.

Copy link
Copy Markdown
Member Author

Choose a reason for hiding this comment

The reason will be displayed to describe this comment to others. Learn more.

My expectation is that this documentation is gradually updated as the DRA is gradually updated to meet parity. The language gets stronger as development progresses.

Comment thread gpu-operator/dra-intro-install.rst
Comment thread gpu-operator/gpu-driver-upgrades.rst Outdated
Comment thread gpu-operator/install-gpu-operator-air-gapped.rst Outdated
Comment thread gpu-operator/getting-started.rst Outdated
Comment thread gpu-operator/gpu-driver-configuration.rst Outdated
Comment thread gpu-operator/install-gpu-operator-air-gapped.rst Outdated
Signed-off-by: Mike McKiernan <mmckiernan@nvidia.com>
Signed-off-by: Mike McKiernan <mmckiernan@nvidia.com>
Sign up for free to join this conversation on GitHub. Already have an account? Sign in to comment

Labels

None yet

Projects

None yet

Development

Successfully merging this pull request may close these issues.

2 participants