Help for hosts
Why isn't my machine getting rentals?
What to check, in order, and what to do about each.
KernelMachine is preparing an invite-only beta; no launch date is set. This describes how it works at launch. Join the waitlist
Open your machines page. Most answers are written there. Check these in order.
1. It's still getting ready
A new machine isn't offered to renters until it has done all of these, by itself:
- tested its cards (about 5 minutes);
- measured its internet connection (about a minute, while nothing is rented): it needs at least 25 Mbps down and 10 up;
- finished a 2-day trial with no problems (a machine with 8 cards that all pass skips it).
During the beta, a person also approves each new host once. Until then your machines page says Waiting for our approval; we email you, usually within a day.
Until then the machine says Checking itself, and the page lists what's left, including the date it takes rentals from. There's nothing for you to do.
2. It's paused
A paused machine takes no new rentals. Click Take rentals again.
3. It's offline
A machine must be on, connected and checking in with us. The page says when it last checked in. If it's been more than a minute or two, check the PC is on and online. Switching off safely
4. It, or a card, is hidden
A note on the machine, or "Hidden:" in a card's row ("Its share of the machine"), says why. The usual reasons:
- A card was slow or busy in its hardware check. The note says what to fix (often airflow, or other programs using the card when the check ran). It stays hidden until it's checked again after the next restart.
- A card failed its hardware check. It stays hidden until we review it. Email support.
- The machine was removed after 3 problems in 90 days. What to do
5. You're using the card
When programs other than your desktop use more than 1 GB of a card's memory (a game, say), that card is skipped for new rentals. It comes back by itself when you stop.
6. The card can't be listed
- Not enough of the rest of the PC. Each card needs its own memory, processor threads and disk, so a renter's one-click models always have room to load: 18 GB, 4 threads and 100 GB for a 16–20 GB card; 26 GB, 4 threads and 150 GB for a 24 GB card; 36 GB, 6 threads and 200 GB from 32 GB. The machine keeps 4 GB, 2 threads and 150 GB for itself (with its 120 GB cache of one-click models). The page says what to add, for example "Add 10 GB of memory to list all 3 cards".
- Less than 16 GB of card memory, or older than RTX 30-series. Those cards can't be rented.
7. Nobody needs that card right now
Renters pick what they want to do and a size, or a card by name; we pick the machine. Every card of one model has the same price on every machine, set by us, so you can't undercut it. Machines with the card a renter needs take turns, but top hosts get jobs first, especially long ones. Machines that drop more often, and every new machine, get work that's quick to hand to another machine, such as making images or chatting. About top hosts
Sometimes there are simply more cards than renters, especially early on. Your dashboard shows real rentals as they happen. We'd rather tell you this than promise rentals that aren't there.
Testing it yourself?
You never get your own machine when you rent, so your account can't test its own cards.
Updated October 8, 2026. Questions? Email support@kernelmachine.com.