[A brief synopsis of KVM, HVM, and VFIO]

I would like to ask a question here, as nowhere else seems appropriate:

Can we clone our existing windows PC's windows to a VM running on unraid on that same PC.

Like the this link https://www.google.co.in/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=3&cad=rja&uact=8&ved=0ahUKEwjI7sOArtfMAhVCQI8KHRspBbgQFggsMAI&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.labnol.org%2Fsoftware%2Fcreate-virtual-machine-of-existing-computer%2F10510%2F&usg=AFQjCNFCJbWBa26D34ol6HJPOmmb40Iy8w&sig2=uFiI4KB1_PUIoi7mF8Tsng&bvm=bv.122129774,d.c2I

 

Yes. You can use the tools in your link to create a VHD and then you would follow these steps: http://www.itfromallangles.com/2011/03/linux-kvm-migrating-hyper-v-vhd-images-to-kvm/ to convert it to a file that KVM could use.  Then you copy the file up to your unRAID server and mount the VM.  Another method would be to use some form of backup software (Acronis, Ghost, CloneZilla, etc) to make a backup and then you would configure your VM on unRAID and boot from recovery media for that backup software and just restore it into the VM environment you created.

[$90 Xeon E5-2670 2.6Ghz (8cores / 16threads)]

 

I guess the biggest concerns are:

How many concurrent users will you have? If they all need transcoding you may run out of CPU power... eventually.

Possibly drive access may become a bottle neck depending on if three people are making a request of the same drive at the same time.

 

Regarding GPU passthrough, you tend to either feed HDMI and USB around somehow, or use Steam Streaming to get the video around, which introduces some latency, but not bunches.

 

I currently have ~12 concurrent Plex sessions going at my peak time, but would have more if it didn't completely tax out my HP G5 w/ 2x Xeon dual core 2.6ghz CPUs. They're a mixture of transcode/direct stream, so take that for what it's worth.  I have a feeling w/ this new server is that I'll max out my upstream before I max out the CPUs.

 

With Steam In-Home Streaming, w/ the latency that you get, is it still possible to play multiplayer games, or is it more for just single player local? Not that I play many multiplayer games anymore, but it would be nice to have the option. 

 

Thanks for the response! Lets me know I'm going in the right direction in my thought process.

 

@aptalca: Wouldn't playing from Google Drive just force the data to be streamed to my Plex server, transcoded if need be, and then shot out to the client?

 

Edit: Just read up on cloud sync in Plex.  Didn't realize they had created that feature.  Anyway, upon reading around, it doesn't look like it's very reliable. Not to mention, a lot of those providers will ban your account/delete your content if they find that you're sharing it with multiple people. Doesn't matter if it's ripped, pirated, etc.

[$90 Xeon E5-2670 2.6Ghz (8cores / 16threads)]

So, I've been reading about unRAID for about 3 months and have read over this whole thread and think I'm ready to start ordering parts.  Purpose of my setup is to run Plex for 20+ users at a time, Sonarr, SickRage, Plex.py/PlexWatch/PlexSentry (haven't decided yet), Plex Requests, torrents, and a gaming VM.  Here is my build so far:

 

CPU:  2x Xeon E5-2670v1 (SR0KX)

Motherboard:  ASRock EP2C602-4L/D16

RAM:  8x Samsung 8GB 2Rx4 PC3L-10600R

CPU Cooler:  2x Noctua Cooler NH-U12DXi4

PSU:  EVO SuperNOVA 850watt Platinum

Cache pool:  2x Samsung 850 Pro 256gb SSD

Partiy drive: WD Red 6tb 5400RPM

1st RAID drive  WD Red 4tb 5400RPM

Case  Norco RM-4220

 

My other RAID drives will be coming out of my current Windows file server and will be a mixture of 1TB up to 4TB drives.  I will use the preclear app to make sure all the drives I'll be re-purposing meet the standard before adding them to unRAID. Obviously, I'll need a thumbdrive and some 8087 to SATA breakout cables, but I was going to wait on those until the parts arrived so I can do proper cable management.  Can anyone see anything that I'm missing, or any gotchas that I may be unaware about? I do plan on ordering the GTX 1070 for my gaming VM when it comes out in 3wks or so, but in the meantime I have a Radeon 5870 1gb collecting dust in my old gaming computer that I was going to use to get the VM setup with. How does one game w/ a gaming VM? Do you RDP into it? Steam box stream over the local network?  I obviously don't want to sit next to this monstrosity and play games, so some way to stream to another device would be ideal.  Anyway, any thoughts, suggestions, you're thinking of it all wrong, would be much appreciated.

 

PS: The links aren't necessarily where I'm buying the parts from.  I did find the RAM for cheaper (and a total of 80gb vs 64gb) on eBay.  They're more just for descriptions, etc.