Build and install btop with GPU monitoring enabled on NVIDIA DGX Spark (aarch64) ARM systems

This guide explains how to build btop with GPU support on NVIDIA DGX Spark (ARM / aarch64) systems.

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Full credit

This approach is based entirely on the work shared by:

• Author: haven-jeon
• Original forum post:
  https://forums.developer.nvidia.com/t/btop-for-dgx-spark/356729

All technical credit belongs to the original author.
This document is only a consolidated, copy-paste friendly reference.

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Why this is needed

Upstream btop has historically focused GPU support on x86_64 systems.

DGX Spark uses:

• Architecture: aarch64
• NVIDIA GPU via NVML

Because of this, standard builds may not expose GPU metrics on ARM platforms.

The referenced fork enables GPU support for aarch64 builds.

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Build instructions

1. Clone the fork

git clone https://github.com/haven-jeon/btop.git
cd btop

2. Install dependency

sudo apt install lowdown

3. Build

gmake -j$(nproc)

GPU support should be auto-detected for aarch64.

4. Install

sudo gmake install

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If btop is not found after install

This is usually caused by install location or PATH issues.

Check where it was installed

find /usr -name btop 2>/dev/null

Common result:

/usr/local/bin/btop

Refresh bash command cache

hash -r

Run directly

/usr/local/bin/btop

Add to PATH (if required)

echo 'export PATH="/usr/local/bin:$PATH"' >> ~/.bashrc
source ~/.bashrc
hash -r

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Verify GPU support

Inside btop:

1. Press Esc
2. Go to Options → View
3. Enable Show GPU(s)

Depending on keybinds, you may also use:

5

to toggle GPU panels.

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Optional: install to /usr/bin instead

If you prefer /usr/bin/btop:

gmake clean
gmake -j$(nproc)
sudo gmake install PREFIX=/usr
hash -r

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Recommended monitoring workflow (DGX Spark)

btop gives a good system overview, but GPU diagnostics are still better in nvtop.

Install:

sudo apt install nvtop

Typical setup:

btop   → CPU / RAM / IO overview
nvtop  → detailed GPU monitoring

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Troubleshooting quick checks

Confirm NVIDIA visibility

nvidia-smi

Confirm binary location

command -v btop
which -a btop

Confirm PATH

echo "$PATH"

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Attribution reminder

Please refer to and support the original source:

https://forums.developer.nvidia.com/t/btop-for-dgx-spark/356729