# Nonguix NVIDIA failing to build because of mesa **URL:** \ **Category:** General\ **Created:** [September 16, 2025, 8:08pm UTC](https://forum.systemcrafters.net/t/nonguix-nvidia-failing-to-build-because-of-mesa/1790 "2025-09-16T20:08:02Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![moonling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecb155/32.png) [@moonling](https://forum.systemcrafters.net/u/moonling)\ **Post date:** [September 16, 2025, 8:08pm UTC](https://forum.systemcrafters.net/t/nonguix-nvidia-failing-to-build-because-of-mesa/1790/1 "2025-09-16T20:08:03Z")
Hello, I am trying to install the nvidia drivers on a headless guix server so that I can host a jellyfin container. The machine has an nvidia gpu and no integrated graphics. For context, the system was building and worked before I tried making the changes to my config to add nvidia drivers. Also, `mesa` was failing to build after my initial reconfigure so I did a guix pull. I see this from reconfigure (before and after the pull): ```auto building /gnu/store/2nr23gc8rady4gkxzk690zy6sfcj3v1b-mesa-25.1.3.drv... \ 'configure' phasebuilder for `/gnu/store/2nr23gc8rady4gkxzk690zy6sfcj3v1b-mesa-25.1.3.drv' failed with exit code 1 build of /gnu/store/2nr23gc8rady4gkxzk690zy6sfcj3v1b-mesa-25.1.3.drv failed View build log at '/var/log/guix/drvs/2n/r23gc8rady4gkxzk690zy6sfcj3v1b-mesa-25.1.3.drv.gz'. cannot build derivation `/gnu/store/llsl76kx0chq0pblrm1d0wy2hk65zc2i-nvda-570.18.drv': 1 dependencies couldn't be built building /gnu/store/cjxp5a8sa71n0py3wncv0z9cmrlfywvj-nvidia-firmware-570.181.drv... cannot build derivation `/gnu/store/dc41hmrr6gmrpavvj1is5gg4q10y5fyj-profile.drv': 1 dependencies couldn't be built building /gnu/store/7agqnv9jx7w6ikszxasmrkni2108xkp6-raw-initrd.drv... cannot build derivation `/gnu/store/75c1145znch41vz1sksknmbdz2hgfrx3-system.drv': 1 dependencies couldn't be built guix system: error: build of `/gnu/store/75c1145znch41vz1sksknmbdz2hgfrx3-system.drv' failed ``` I looked at the build log indicated and I see this: ```auto Library m found: YES Message: libdrm 2.4.121 needed because amdgpu has the highest requirement Run-time dependency libdrm_intel found: YES 2.4.124 Run-time dependency libdrm_amdgpu found: YES 2.4.124 Run-time dependency libdrm found: YES 2.4.124 Did not find CMake 'cmake' Found CMake: NO Run-time dependency libudev found: NO (tried pkgconfig and cmake) ../mesa-25.1.3/meson.build:1767:13: ERROR: Failed running '/gnu/store/kl1j1g1p4mv3xz1x19izpbfjilyfrxc3-llvm-for-mesa-18.1.8/b\ in/llvm-config', binary or interpreter not executable. Possibly wrong architecture or the executable bit is not set. ``` I’m not sure why it is trying to build mesa as this is a headless system. I printed out the `%base-packages` and there were no mesa packages in there. These are the changes I made to my config.scm to install and use the nvidia drivers: ```diff (use-modules (gnu) ... + (nongnu packages nvidia) + (nongnu services nvidia) + (nongnu packages nvidia) + (nongnu services nvidia) ... ) ``` ```diff -(use-service-modules networking ssh containers dbus desktop) -(use-package-modules screen ssh) +(use-service-modules linux networking ssh containers dbus desktop) +(use-package-modules linux screen ssh) ``` ```diff (kernel-arguments (list "console=ttyS0,115200" "systemd.unified_cgroup_hierarchy=1" - "cgroup_no_v1=all")) + "cgroup_no_v1=all" + "modprobe.blacklist=nouveau" + "nvidia_drm.modeset=1")) ``` ```diff (packages (cons* screen emacs-no-x emacs-magit ... + mesa-for-nvda + nvda + nvidia-driver %base-packages)) ``` ```diff (services (append (list ... + (service nvidia-service-type) ... ) %base-services))) ``` > **Entire config.scm** > > ```scheme > (use-modules (gnu) > (gnu packages emacs) > (gnu packages emacs-xyz) > (gnu packages containers) > (gnu packages certs) > (gnu packages perl) > (gnu packages commencement) > (gnu packages autotools) > (gnu packages cmake) > (gnu packages linux) > (gnu packages python) > (gnu packages rsync) > (gnu packages freedesktop) > (gnu packages version-control) > (gnu packages mtools) > (gnu packages base) > (gnu packages nfs) > (gnu packages gl) > (gnu packages admin) > (gnu services networking) > (gnu services base) > (nongnu packages linux) > (nongnu packages nvidia) > (nongnu services nvidia) > (gnu system) > (gnu system shadow) > (gnu system file-systems) > (gnu system accounts) > (gnu services containers) > (gnu services dbus) > (gnu services desktop) > (guix packages) > (guix utils) > (srfi srfi-1) > ) > > (use-service-modules linux networking ssh containers dbus desktop) > (use-package-modules linux screen ssh) > > (define (get-admin-user user-list) > (find (lambda (x) > (equal? (user-account-comment x) "Administrator")) > user-list)) > > (define (get-current-admin user-list) > (user-account-name (get-admin-user user-list))) > > (define %homelab-user-accounts > (list > (user-account > (name "jesse") > (comment "Administrator") > (group "users") > (supplementary-groups '("wheel" > "audio" "video" > "netdev" "cgroup" ))) > )) > (define %iptables-rules > ;; Made this by doing the suggested iptables cli commands > ;; then doing iptables-save > iptables.txt > ;; then copying that to here > "# Generated by iptables-save v1.8.11 on Sun Aug 10 23:25:52 2025 > *nat > :PREROUTING ACCEPT [2:300] > :INPUT ACCEPT [2:300] > :OUTPUT ACCEPT [0:0] > :POSTROUTING ACCEPT [0:0] > -A PREROUTING -p tcp -m tcp --dport 80 -j REDIRECT --to-ports 8080 > -A PREROUTING -p tcp -m tcp --dport 443 -j REDIRECT --to-ports 8443 > -A PREROUTING -p tcp -m tcp --dport 222 -j REDIRECT --to-ports 8222 > COMMIT > # Completed on Sun Aug 10 23:25:52 2025 > # Generated by iptables-save v1.8.11 on Sun Aug 10 23:25:52 2025 > *filter > :INPUT ACCEPT [136:33123] > :FORWARD ACCEPT [0:0] > :OUTPUT ACCEPT [32:3402] > COMMIT > # Completed on Sun Aug 10 23:25:52 2025 > ") > (operating-system > (kernel linux) > (firmware (list linux-firmware)) > (host-name "homelab") > (timezone "America/Detroit") > (locale "en_US.utf8") > > (bootloader (bootloader-configuration > (bootloader grub-efi-bootloader) > (targets '("/boot")))) > (kernel-arguments (list "console=ttyS0,115200" > "systemd.unified_cgroup_hierarchy=1" > "cgroup_no_v1=all" > "modprobe.blacklist=nouveau" > "nvidia_drm.modeset=1")) > > (file-systems (cons* (file-system > (device (file-system-label "system-root")) > (mount-point "/") > (type "btrfs")) > (file-system > (device (file-system-label "ESP")) > (mount-point "/boot") > (type "vfat")) > %base-file-systems > )) > > (users (append > %homelab-user-accounts > %base-user-accounts)) > > (packages (cons* screen > emacs-no-x > emacs-magit > emacs-multi-vterm > emacs-geiser-guile > emacs-geiser > emacs-vterm > perl > libtool > gcc-toolchain > ;; make > cmake > iptables > python > git > rsync > rsync > udisks > lvm2 > mtools > podman podman-compose > nfs-utils > smartmontools > lshw > mesa-for-nvda > nvda > nvidia-driver > %base-packages)) > > (services (append (list > (service openssh-service-type > (openssh-configuration > (openssh openssh-sans-x) > (port-number xxxx))) > (service static-networking-service-type > (list (static-networking > (addresses > (list (network-address > (device "eno1") > (value "xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx/xx")))) > (routes > (list (network-route > (destination "default") > (gateway "xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx")))) > (name-servers '("xxx.xxx.xxx.xxx"))) > )) > ;; Services for proprietary NVIDIA drivers > (service nvidia-service-type) > ;; Services for podman ___________________________________________ > (service dbus-root-service-type) > (service elogind-service-type) > (service iptables-service-type > (iptables-configuration > (ipv4-rules (plain-file "iptables.rules" %iptables-rules) > ))) > (service rootless-podman-service-type) > (simple-service 'homelab-subids > subids-service-type > (subids-extension > (subgids > (list > (subid-range (name (get-current-admin > %homelab-user-accounts))))) > (subuids > (list > (subid-range (name (get-current-admin > %homelab-user-accounts)) > (start 100700)))))) > ) > %base-services))) > > ``` > **channels.scm** > > ```scheme > (list (channel > (name 'guix) > (url "https://git.savannah.gnu.org/git/guix.git") > (branch "master") > (introduction > (make-channel-introduction > "9edb3f66fd807b096b48283debdcddccfea34bad" > (openpgp-fingerprint > "BBB0 2DDF 2CEA F6A8 0D1D E643 A2A0 6DF2 A33A 54FA")))) > (channel > (name 'nonguix) > (url "https://gitlab.com/nonguix/nonguix") > (branch "master") > (introduction > (make-channel-introduction > "897c1a470da759236cc11798f4e0a5f7d4d59fbc" > (openpgp-fingerprint > "2A39 3FFF 68F4 EF7A 3D29 12AF 6F51 20A0 22FB B2D5"))))) > > ``` ---
**Author:** ![moonling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecb155/32.png) [@moonling](https://forum.systemcrafters.net/u/moonling)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2025, 4:59pm UTC](https://forum.systemcrafters.net/t/nonguix-nvidia-failing-to-build-because-of-mesa/1790/2 "2025-09-17T16:59:28Z")
For what it’s worth, I removed all of those changes to make sure my system reconfigure worked. It did. Then I just added `nvidia-driver` in to the packages list and that is when `mesa-25.1.3` is being pulled in and I get the same error. So now I know who is pulling it in but I’m not sure if the fix is with the package or with something I’m doing in my config. ---
**Author:** ![moonling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecb155/32.png) [@moonling](https://forum.systemcrafters.net/u/moonling)\ **Post date:** [September 17, 2025, 6:21pm UTC](https://forum.systemcrafters.net/t/nonguix-nvidia-failing-to-build-because-of-mesa/1790/3 "2025-09-17T18:21:35Z")
I’ve also tried throwing all of my packages into a variable: ```scheme (define %homelab-packages (cons* screen emacs-no-x emacs-magit emacs-multi-vterm emacs-geiser-guile emacs-geiser emacs-vterm perl libtool gcc-toolchain cmake iptables python git rsync udisks lvm2 mtools podman podman-compose nfs-utils smartmontools lshw nvidia-driver %base-packages)) ``` Then using the `replace-mesa` function provided by `nongnu packages nvidia`: ```scheme (operating-system ;; ... (packages (replace-mesa %homelab-packages)) ;; ... ) ``` Doing a system reconfigure is still pulling `mesa` and it is failing to build in the same way: ```auto Did not find CMake 'cmake' Found CMake: NO Run-time dependency libudev found: NO (tried pkgconfig and cmake) ../mesa-25.1.3/meson.build:1767:13: ERROR: Failed running '/gnu/store/kl1j1g1p4mv3xz1x19izpbfjilyfrxc3-llvm-for-mesa-18.1.8/b\ in/llvm-config', binary or interpreter not executable. Possibly wrong architecture or the executable bit is not set. ``` Maybe mesa needs libudev? That might be my real issue here. I guess I just expected the package to be built to be `mesa-for-nvidia` because of my usage of `replace-mesa`. ---
**Author:** ![moonling](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/ecb155/32.png) [@moonling](https://forum.systemcrafters.net/u/moonling)\ **Post date:** [September 18, 2025, 12:59pm UTC](https://forum.systemcrafters.net/t/nonguix-nvidia-failing-to-build-because-of-mesa/1790/4 "2025-09-18T12:59:54Z")
I tried making a package variant that deleted the gui related libraries, since I’m headless: ```scheme (define-module (homelab packages nvidia) #:use-module (nongnu packages nvidia) #:use-module (nongnu packages linux) #:use-module (guix packages) #:use-module (guix utils)) (define-public nvidia-driver-headless (package (inherit nvidia-driver) (name "nvidia-driver-headless") (synopsis "Proprietary NVIDIA driver (headless variant)") (description "This variant of the proprietary NVIDIA driver removes dependencies on X11, Wayland, Mesa, and EGL backends.") (inputs (modify-inputs (package-inputs nvidia-driver) (delete "mesa-for-nvda" "egl-gbm" "egl-x11" "egl-wayland" "wayland"))))) ``` I added this to my list of packages, no other changes to my `config.scm`. On a system reconfigure I still get the issue that mesa fails to build: ```auto substitute: looking for substitutes on 'https://bordeaux.guix.gnu.org'... 100.0% substitute: looking for substitutes on 'https://ci.guix.gnu.org'... 100.0% The following derivations will be built: /gnu/store/2nr23gc8rady4gkxzk690zy6sfcj3v1b-mesa-25.1.3.drv /gnu/store/zvfvq48rnbz5y22cldnplnfs3473xpdl-nvidia-driver-headless-570.181.drv /gnu/store/852d418gbfzckvwgcaqi56952xqwrp1c-profile.drv /gnu/store/mwkq2wpbrgflbpqzvlslp5xjlgv4gvgm-provenance.drv /gnu/store/2zb0wsh1gcdp3rfqadzz0fjdy5w32cx6-system.drv /gnu/store/ddkhb7fbi7f60s9asnzr4bk0a7818jdn-grub.cfg.drv building /gnu/store/mwkq2wpbrgflbpqzvlslp5xjlgv4gvgm-provenance.drv... building /gnu/store/2nr23gc8rady4gkxzk690zy6sfcj3v1b-mesa-25.1.3.drv... / 'configure' phasebuilder for `/gnu/store/2nr23gc8rady4gkxzk690zy6sfcj3v1b-mesa-25.1.3.drv' failed with exit code 1 build of /gnu/store/2nr23gc8rady4gkxzk690zy6sfcj3v1b-mesa-25.1.3.drv failed View build log at '/var/log/guix/drvs/2n/r23gc8rady4gkxzk690zy6sfcj3v1b-mesa-25.1.3.drv.gz'. cannot build derivation `/gnu/store/zvfvq48rnbz5y22cldnplnfs3473xpdl-nvidia-driver-headless-570.181.drv': 1 dependencies couldn't be built cannot build derivation `/gnu/store/852d418gbfzckvwgcaqi56952xqwrp1c-profile.drv': 1 dependencies couldn't be built cannot build derivation `/gnu/store/2zb0wsh1gcdp3rfqadzz0fjdy5w32cx6-system.drv': 1 dependencies couldn't be built guix system: error: build of `/gnu/store/2zb0wsh1gcdp3rfqadzz0fjdy5w32cx6-system.drv' failed ``` The inputs for the nonguix `nvidia-driver` are: ```scheme (native-inputs (list patchelf-0.16)) (inputs (list egl-gbm egl-wayland egl-x11 `(,gcc "lib") glibc mesa-for-nvda openssl openssl-1.1 wayland)) ``` After the ones I deleted, the ones left are `(gcc "lib")`, `glibc`, `openssl`, and `openssl-1.1`. I don’t see where `mesa` is being pulled in.