[vfio-users] Hyperthreading and kvm
Jon Panozzo
jonp at lime-technology.com
Sat Aug 22 18:51:39 UTC 2015
You just blew my mind... So are you saying OVMF with Win 7 is possible
using QXL (even with pure efi, not csm)?!? Time to put on the scientist
coat and head back into the lab!!
On Aug 22, 2015 1:32 PM, "Blank Field" <ihatethisfield at gmail.com> wrote:
> If you use gentoo - add the USE flag and emerge -N your qemu again. I
> can't imagine problems with compilation harder than that(except if you're
> crazy enough to run distcc on a heterogenous network to compile your QEMU,
> but then you probably don't need all that virtualization stuff to keep
> yourself busy).
> Read the OVMF whitepaper already, please.
> http://www.linux-kvm.org/downloads/lersek/ovmf-whitepaper-c770f8c.txt
> > Notes about Windows Server 2012 and Windows 8:
> >- QEMU should be started with the "-device qxl-vga,revision=4" option (or
> a later revision, if available).
>
> What it really does as Laszlo Ersek said a while ago:
> Windows 7(and only seven and it's server counterpart!) is not 100% UEFI
> compatible, it uses Video Bios Extension to render graphics after the
> setup. The installation process uses GOP, the real system uses VBE. That's
> why your install runs fine, and then a black screen comes, showing
> absolutely nothing.
> So there was a "shim" or a "stub" or whatever you call it, compatibility
> layer added to OVMF and QEMU's QXL's Device Driver, making it emulate just
> the needed parts of VBE for you to install the true QXL(or AMD/Nvidia GPU
> in our case) drivers and forget about VBE forever.
>
> Therefore, you do NOT need CSM for it to work, since we don't use VGA or
> any legacy stuff we have in CSM, instead, we provide just a tiny shim.
>
> Why you need it to be especially QXL? Because i remember only QXL patches.
> If it works with Cirrus too - nice, it means it's patched too. My setup
> works with QXL.
>
>
> 2015-08-22 21:03 GMT+03:00 José Ramón Muñoz <koalinux at gmail.com>:
>
>> Hi,
>>
>> I still think this is misleading as long as ovmf seems to use
>> seabios for
>> compatibility mode, and all the vgas should then be working correctly. I
>> cannot try qxl though as I have to cross build spice then to have the
>> dependency build to have qxl in qemu.
>>
>> Any other idea?
>>
>> BR.
>>
>> José.
>>
>> On Saturday 22 August 2015 12:21:16 Jonathan Panozzo wrote:
>> > You actually don’t need to use a spice server to use QXL. You can use
>> QXL
>> > as an alternative graphics adapter and still use VNC as the remote
>> graphics
>> > server.
>> > > On Aug 22, 2015, at 12:17 PM, José Ramón Muñoz Pekkarinen
>> <koalinux at gmail.com> wrote:
>> > > Hi,
>> > >
>> > > Is it any other like vmware valid? I didn't try to install spice
>> in my
>> > >
>> > > setup.
>> > >
>> > > BR.
>> > >
>> > > José.
>> > >
>> > > On Saturday 22 August 2015 20:11:01 Blank Field wrote:
>> > >>> -vga cirrus
>> > >>
>> > >> ...
>> > >> dude.
>> > >> You need QXL-VGA. Cirrus is.. deprecated, i think.
>> > >>
>> > >> 2015-08-22 20:02 GMT+03:00 José Ramón Muñoz <koalinux at gmail.com>:
>> > >>> Hi,
>> > >>>
>> > >>> I gave it a try today with no success. The launch command
>> was:
>> > >>> /qemu-system-x86_64 -enable-kvm -vga cirrus -cpu host -smp
>> > >>> 4,cores=4,threads=1
>> > >>> -m 4096 \
>> > >>>
>> > >>> -netdev user,id=user.0 -device e1000,netdev=user.0 \
>> > >>> -usb -usbdevice tablet \
>> > >>> -drive
>> > >>> if=pflash,format=raw,readonly,file=/usr/share/edk2.git/ovmf-
>> > >>>
>> > >>> x64/OVMF_CODE-with-csm.fd \
>> > >>>
>> > >>> -drive if=pflash,format=raw,file=/usr/share/edk2.git/ovmf-
>> > >>>
>> > >>> x64/Windows_ovmf_vars_x64.fd \
>> > >>>
>> > >>> -drive
>> > >>>
>> > >>>
>> file=/dev/koalita/koalitavm,format=raw,cache=none,aio=native,if=virtio
>> > >>>
>> > >>> I tried to launch it using the virtio disk, the ide disk, and
>> > >>>
>> > >>> empty disk
>> > >>> with the windows 7 installer, and even without disk to see if the
>> cdrom
>> > >>> launchs ok.
>> > >>>
>> > >>> Best regards.
>> > >>>
>> > >>> José.
>> > >>>
>> > >>> On Wednesday 19 August 2015 23:23:43 Blank Field wrote:
>> > >>>> The need of Q35 is overrated. Usually you need it for booting from
>> sata
>> > >>>> controllers or something.
>> > >>>> For our use 440fx works better.
>> > >>>> I've used windows 7 on my machine. All you need to do is to follow
>> the
>> > >>>
>> > >>> OVMF
>> > >>>
>> > >>>> whitepaper:
>> > >>>>
>> http://www.linux-kvm.org/downloads/lersek/ovmf-whitepaper-c770f8c.txt
>> > >>>>
>> > >>>> 2015-08-19 20:35 GMT+03:00 José Ramón Muñoz <koalinux at gmail.com>:
>> > >>>>> Hi,
>> > >>>>>
>> > >>>>> Sorry for not replying to all, I wrote from the phone and
>> > >>>>> sometimes
>> > >>>>>
>> > >>>>> happens.
>> > >>>>>
>> > >>>>> About the ovmf stuff, I would give it a try just in case I
>> > >>>
>> > >>> didn't
>> > >>>
>> > >>>>> read the
>> > >>>>> Alex Williamson post that explained that I need windows > win7 to
>> be
>> > >>>
>> > >>> able
>> > >>>
>> > >>>>> to
>> > >>>>> use it. I'm still not planning to upgrade it to windows 10.
>> > >>>>>
>> > >>>>> How about q35? I tried to launch it but it seems to yield a
>> > >>>>>
>> > >>>>> beautiful
>> > >>>>> BSOD because of the ati drivers not being expanded. Do anyone
>> uses it
>> > >>>>> regularly?
>> > >>>>>
>> > >>>>> BR.
>> > >>>>>
>> > >>>>> José.
>> > >>>>>
>> > >>>>> On Wednesday 19 August 2015 20:12:23 Blank Field wrote:
>> > >>>>>> Please, use the reply-all button. Include "vfio-users at redhat.com
>> "
>> > >>>>>
>> > >>>>> address
>> > >>>>>
>> > >>>>>> in the "to:" field.
>> > >>>>>>
>> > >>>>>>> So, I got it right that using OVMF my setup can work reliably?
>> > >>>>>>> I
>> > >>>>>>> was
>> > >>>>>>
>> > >>>>>> considering to build it but it seems to be not so straight
>> forward
>> > >>>>>> in
>> > >>>>>> Gentoo.
>> > >>>>>>
>> > >>>>>> I haven't tried doing this on gentoo, but you can try using
>> "alien"
>> > >>>
>> > >>> to
>> > >>>
>> > >>>>> use
>> > >>>>>
>> > >>>>>> RPMs from kraxel.org
>> > >>>>>> https://www.kraxel.org/repos/
>> > >>>>>> Also, i recall there was just plain binary files builds from
>> > >>>>>> jenkins,
>> > >>>>>
>> > >>>>> lurk
>> > >>>>>
>> > >>>>>> around and see if you can make yourself an ebuild with an
>> overlay.
>> > >>>>>> Also, there's a xen-tools package which has OVMF USE-flag, try
>> > >>>>>
>> > >>>>> researching
>> > >>>>>
>> > >>>>>> this.
>> > >>>>>> And i think i saw an user-created portage overlay with the OVMF
>> > >>>
>> > >>> package
>> > >>>
>> > >>>>> in
>> > >>>>>
>> > >>>>>> there.
>> > >>>>>>
>> > >>>>>> I think plain libvirt and virt-manager should already be in the
>> main
>> > >>>>>> portage tree.
>> > >>>>>>
>> > >>>>>> 2015-08-19 6:16 GMT+03:00 José Ramón Muñoz Pekkarinen <
>> > >>>>>
>> > >>>>> koalinux at gmail.com>:
>> > >>>>>>> Hi,
>> > >>>>>>>
>> > >>>>>>> So, I got it right that using OVMF my setup can work
>> reliably?
>> > >>>
>> > >>> I
>> > >>>
>> > >>>>> was
>> > >>>>>
>> > >>>>>>> considering to build it but it seems to be not so straight
>> forward
>> > >>>
>> > >>> in
>> > >>>
>> > >>>>>>> Gentoo.
>> > >>>>>>>
>> > >>>>>>> BR.
>> > >>>>>>>
>> > >>>>>>> José
>> > >>>>>>>
>> > >>>>>>> On Aug 19, 2015 3:09 AM, "Blank Field" <
>> ihatethisfield at gmail.com>
>> > >>>>>
>> > >>>>> wrote:
>> > >>>>>>>> Well, that sounds like the first time i've got it working.
>> > >>>>>>>> Sooo, i've managed to make it work back then with just x-vga
>> and
>> > >>>>>>>> qemu.
>> > >>>>>>>> It worked. Sometimes.
>> > >>>>>>>> Sometimes it crashed the host.
>> > >>>>>>>> Sometimes it froze the VM and messed up the GPU.
>> > >>>>>>>> I did a foolish research with no results whatsoever, but i've
>> > >>>>>>>> made
>> > >>>>>>>> one
>> > >>>>>>>> observation - if the firefox is started and it eats a ton of
>> > >>>
>> > >>> memory,
>> > >>>
>> > >>>>>>>> i
>> > >>>>>>>> have
>> > >>>>>>>> better chances to run the VM right.
>> > >>>>>>>> However, i've dropped that way and went the OVMF way, avoiding
>> > >>>>>>>> the
>> > >>>>>
>> > >>>>> VGA.
>> > >>>>>
>> > >>>>>>>> Check the dmesg, maybe you're more lucky than me with the
>> > >>>
>> > >>> motherboard
>> > >>>
>> > >>>>> and
>> > >>>>>
>> > >>>>>>>> it's just the GPU that freezes. Also, i'd check the
>> temperatures.
>> > >>>>>>>>
>> > >>>>>>>> 2015-08-19 0:25 GMT+03:00 José Ramón Muñoz <koalinux at gmail.com
>> >:
>> > >>>>>>>>> Hi,
>> > >>>>>>>>>
>> > >>>>>>>>> I'm using and APU a8-7650k, and apart that from time to
>> > >>>
>> > >>> time
>> > >>>
>> > >>>>> the
>> > >>>>>
>> > >>>>>>>>> win7
>> > >>>>>>>>> guest decides to freeze, so many times during boot time, and
>> > >>>>>>>>> ocassionally
>> > >>>>>>>>> during gaming, I'm fairly happy with the performance. The
>> passed
>> > >>>>>
>> > >>>>> through
>> > >>>>>
>> > >>>>>>>>> gpu
>> > >>>>>>>>> is a HD5670 and I managed to play games like MGS Ground
>> Zeroes,
>> > >>>>>
>> > >>>>> Blades
>> > >>>>>
>> > >>>>>>>>> of
>> > >>>>>>>>> times, and currently DAO: Origins.
>> > >>>>>>>>>
>> > >>>>>>>>> Best regards.
>> > >>>>>>>>>
>> > >>>>>>>>> José.
>> > >>>>>>>>>
>> > >>>>>>>>> On Wednesday 19 August 2015 00:09:09 Blank Field wrote:
>> > >>>>>>>>>> Use "Reply All" button. Include the mailing list in the "to:"
>> > >>>>>
>> > >>>>> field.
>> > >>>>>
>> > >>>>>>>>>>> I'm currently running an A10-5700 with a discrete Nvidia
>> > >>>>>>>>>>> card,
>> > >>>>>>>>>>> and
>> > >>>>>>>>>
>> > >>>>>>>>> I've
>> > >>>>>>>>>
>> > >>>>>>>>>> got a LMDE2 install in which I'm preparing to do an
>> > >>>
>> > >>> experimental
>> > >>>
>> > >>>>> W10
>> > >>>>>
>> > >>>>>>>>> VM.
>> > >>>>>>>>>
>> > >>>>>>>>>> So, according to your experience, I shouldn't expect much
>> with
>> > >>>>>>>>>> this
>> > >>>>>>>>>> processor, then?
>> > >>>>>>>>>> http://pastebin.com/rEhebfQM
>> > >>>>>>>>>> It will work. But it has taken a year for me to figure out
>> how
>> > >>>
>> > >>> to
>> > >>>
>> > >>>>> make
>> > >>>>>
>> > >>>>>>>>> it
>> > >>>>>>>>>
>> > >>>>>>>>>> work.
>> > >>>>>>>>>> The pastebin link is my currently working domain xml.
>> > >>>>>>>>>> Two asus HD7750 on an asus F2A55+Athlon X4 750k (Trinity).
>> > >>>>>>>>>> The kernel and module parameters are:
>> > >>>>>>>>>> options kvm-amd npt=1 nested=0
>> > >>>>>>>>>> options kvm ignore_msrs=0 allow_unsafe_assigned_interrupts=0
>> > >>>>>>>>>> options vfio_iommu_type1 disable_hugepages=1
>> > >>>>>
>> > >>>>> allow_unsafe_interrupts=0
>> > >>>>>
>> > >>>>>>>>>> CMDLINE:
>> > >>>>>>>>>> nofb pci-stub.ids=1022:780d,1002:683f,1002:aab0
>> > >>>>>>>>>> enable_mtrr_cleanup
>> > >>>>>>>>>> amd_iommu_dump=1 iommu=pt acpi_enforce_resources=lax
>> > >>>>>>>>>>
>> > >>>>>>>>>> Try doing it with nested=1
>> > >>>>>>>>>>
>> > >>>>>>>>>> If you will use libvirt, that should work 100%, as i have
>> > >>>
>> > >>> almost
>> > >>>
>> > >>>>> the
>> > >>>>>
>> > >>>>>>>>> same
>> > >>>>>>>>>
>> > >>>>>>>>>> CPU.
>> > >>>>>>>>>>
>> > >>>>>>>>>> 2015-08-18 23:57 GMT+03:00 ALG Bass <olorin12 at gmail.com>:
>> > >>>>>>>>>>> Gotcha. So it would be better if I got the i7.
>> > >>>>>>>>>>> I'm currently running an A10-5700 with a discrete Nvidia
>> > >>>
>> > >>> card,
>> > >>>
>> > >>>>> and
>> > >>>>>
>> > >>>>>>>>> I've
>> > >>>>>>>>>
>> > >>>>>>>>>>> got a LMDE2 install in which I'm preparing to do an
>> > >>>
>> > >>> experimental
>> > >>>
>> > >>>>> W10
>> > >>>>>
>> > >>>>>>>>> VM.
>> > >>>>>>>>>
>> > >>>>>>>>>>> So, according to your experience, I shouldn't expect much
>> > >>>
>> > >>> with
>> > >>>
>> > >>>>> this
>> > >>>>>
>> > >>>>>>>>>>> processor, then?
>> > >>>>>>>>>>>
>> > >>>>>>>>>>> On Tue, Aug 18, 2015 at 3:46 PM, Blank Field <
>> > >>>>>>>>>
>> > >>>>>>>>> ihatethisfield at gmail.com>
>> > >>>>>>>>>
>> > >>>>>>>>>>> wrote:
>> > >>>>>>>>>>>> Hyperthreading on host means MORE cores which you can
>> > >>>
>> > >>> commit to
>> > >>>
>> > >>>>> the
>> > >>>>>
>> > >>>>>>>>> VM.
>> > >>>>>>>>>
>> > >>>>>>>>>>>> More cores = more performance.
>> > >>>>>>>>>>>> It is good for you.
>> > >>>>>>>>>>>> For the host it doesn't matter logical or physical. For the
>> > >>>
>> > >>> VM,
>> > >>>
>> > >>>>>>>>> you'd
>> > >>>>>>>>>
>> > >>>>>>>>>>>> want to pin "pairs" of cores, so there would be less CPU
>> > >>>
>> > >>> cache
>> > >>>
>> > >>>>>>>>> issues.
>> > >>>>>>>>>
>> > >>>>>>>>>>>> Like, assign a core and it's sibling instead of two
>> > >>>>>>>>>>>> separate
>> > >>>>>
>> > >>>>> cores.
>> > >>>>>
>> > >>>>>>>>>>>> I use AMD Athlon X4 750k which is based off A10-5700, and
>> > >>>
>> > >>> it's
>> > >>>
>> > >>>>>>>>> working
>> > >>>>>>>>>
>> > >>>>>>>>>>>> very unstable.
>> > >>>>>>>>>>>> The only way to get it working - use OVMF without VGA and
>> > >>>>>>>>>>>> do
>> > >>>>>>>>>>>> not
>> > >>>>>>>>>>>> use
>> > >>>>>>>>>>>> hugepages.
>> > >>>>>>>>>>>> That's all.
>> > >>>>>>>>>>>>
>> > >>>>>>>>>>>> P.S.
>> > >>>>>>>>>>>> Oh well, here we go again.
>> > >>>>>>>>>>>>
>> > >>>>>>>>>>>> 2015-08-18 22:26 GMT+03:00 ALG Bass <olorin12 at gmail.com>:
>> > >>>>>>>>>>>>> Hi all, new to this list, kvm, and vfio. I've been
>> > >>>
>> > >>> researching
>> > >>>
>> > >>>>>>>>> this for
>> > >>>>>>>>>
>> > >>>>>>>>>>>>> about a week.
>> > >>>>>>>>>>>>> I'm also going to be building a computer in the near
>> > >>>
>> > >>> future,
>> > >>>
>> > >>>>>>>>>>>>> so
>> > >>>>>>>>>
>> > >>>>>>>>> I've got
>> > >>>>>>>>>
>> > >>>>>>>>>>>>> a quick two part question:
>> > >>>>>>>>>>>>> Does the hyperthreading on i7 series Intel processors make
>> > >>>
>> > >>> a
>> > >>>
>> > >>>>>>>>> significant
>> > >>>>>>>>>
>> > >>>>>>>>>>>>> difference in running Windows in a VM, such that it's a
>> > >>>>>
>> > >>>>> noticeable
>> > >>>>>
>> > >>>>>>>>>>>>> increase
>> > >>>>>>>>>>>>> in performance over an i5? And, does anyone here run
>> > >>>
>> > >>> Windows
>> > >>>
>> > >>>>> in a
>> > >>>>>
>> > >>>>>>>>> VM
>> > >>>>>>>>>
>> > >>>>>>>>>>>>> using
>> > >>>>>>>>>>>>> an AMD A-series APU like the 7700k, and how is the
>> > >>>>>>>>>>>>> performance?
>> > >>>>>>>>>>>>>
>> > >>>>>>>>>>>>> Thank you!
>> > >>>>>>>>>>>>>
>> > >>>>>>>>>>>>> _______________________________________________
>> > >>>>>>>>>>>>> vfio-users mailing list
>> > >>>>>>>>>>>>> vfio-users at redhat.com
>> > >>>>>>>>>>>>> https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/vfio-users
>> > >
>> > > _______________________________________________
>> > > vfio-users mailing list
>> > > vfio-users at redhat.com
>> > > https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo/vfio-users
>>
>>
>
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