Overview of the Error
- The error "Dynamic library libcudart.so not found" typically arises when TensorFlow is unable to locate the CUDA Runtime library in its expected location. The library `libcudart.so` is a critical component for running TensorFlow operations on CUDA-enabled GPUs, as it enables the interaction between the software and the NVIDIA GPU hardware.
- Certain pre-built TensorFlow packages require this library to be available at runtime to leverage GPU acceleration, and the absence of this file leads to the mentioned error.
Possible Causes
- Cuda Toolkit Not Installed: The CUDA Toolkit is required as it contains the necessary files, such as `libcudart.so`, necessary for GPU processing. If not installed, TensorFlow won't find the dynamic library.
- Incorrect Environment Path: Even if the CUDA Toolkit is installed, TensorFlow requires the path to the `libcudart.so` to be in the system's library path (`LD_LIBRARY_PATH` on Linux, for instance). Without this path set correctly, the error can occur.
- Version Mismatch: There might be a mismatch between the TensorFlow version and the installed CUDA version. TensorFlow's compatibility with CUDA versions is strictly constrained to specific ranges, such as TensorFlow 2.0 may require CUDA 10.0.
- Missing Symbolic Links: Sometimes, symbolic links, which point to the libcudart.so, might be missing or incorrectly set. If TensorFlow looks for a specific version of the `libcudart.so` which is not sym-linked to the version available, this will cause an error.
- Installation Errors: Errors during CUDA Toolkit and dependencies' installation could leave the system in a partially configured state. This scenario often results in missing files, including `libcudart.so`.
- Operating System Limitations: Some operating systems, particularly lesser-known or outdated distributions, might have inherent limitations or quirks in handling CUDA libraries, causing TensorFlow to be unable to find or utilize `libcudart.so` properly.
Code Configuration
- If TensorFlow is configured within a programming environment or script without appropriate parameters pointing to the CUDA libraries, it may result in the error being encountered.
- The use of environment variables in scripts to set paths dynamically can sometimes not be correctly recognized if there's an error in the script logic or execution flow.
export LD_LIBRARY_PATH=$LD_LIBRARY_PATH:/usr/local/cuda/lib64
Dependency Conflicts
- Conflicts between system-installed CUDA libraries and those required by TensorFlow's wheel package can result in TensorFlow attempting to link to the wrong `libcudart.so` version or location.
- Multiple installations of NVIDIA driver versions can also create conflicts where TensorFlow might be pointing to a non-existent or incorrect CUDA library location.