NCP-AIO Installation and Deployment Practice Question
An administrator is preparing to install the NVIDIA GPU Operator on a new Kubernetes cluster. The cluster uses containerd as the container runtime. Which prerequisite must be satisfied on each GPU node before the operator can successfully deploy the driver container?
⚠ Common exam trap
The trap here is assuming the NVIDIA Container Toolkit or driver must be preinstalled, when the operator handles those components and instead requires kernel headers for module compilation.
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
The Linux kernel headers for the running kernel must be available on the node.
The driver container builds NVIDIA kernel modules on the host, which requires kernel headers and a compiler toolchain matching the running kernel. Without these, the container cannot compile the modules and the driver fails to load. This prerequisite is essential for any node where the operator manages the driver, and it is often overlooked during cluster preparation.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
The Linux kernel headers for the running kernel must be available on the node.
Why this is correct
The driver container compiles the NVIDIA kernel modules against the running kernel, so the matching kernel headers and build tools must be present. Without them, the driver build fails and the GPU cannot be initialized. This is a fundamental prerequisite for any node where the operator will install the driver via container.
- ✗
The node must have the `nvidia.com/gpu.present` label applied manually by the administrator.
Why it's wrong here
This label is typically applied automatically by Node Feature Discovery (NFD) when it detects NVIDIA GPUs. Manual application is not required and could be overwritten. The operator relies on NFD to identify GPU nodes, so administrators do not need to label nodes themselves for standard installations.
- ✗
The NVIDIA Container Toolkit must be installed manually on each node.
Why it's wrong here
The GPU Operator is designed to install and manage the NVIDIA Container Toolkit automatically. Manual installation is not a prerequisite and can conflict with the operator's lifecycle management. The operator deploys the toolkit as part of its reconciliation, so preinstalling it is unnecessary and may cause version mismatches.
- ✗
The node must have the NVIDIA driver preinstalled at the exact version specified by the operator.
Why it's wrong here
The GPU Operator's driver container installs the driver, so preinstallation is not required. In fact, having a preinstalled driver can conflict with the containerized driver. The operator expects to manage the driver lifecycle, and preinstalling a specific version would bypass that management and potentially cause mismatches.
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JA
Written and reviewed by Johnson Ajibi, MSc IT Security
Senior Network & Security Engineer · founder of Courseiva
Last reviewed September 2026 · checked against the official NVIDIA exam blueprint
This NCP-AIO practice question is part of Courseiva's free NVIDIA certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the NCP-AIO exam.