Hi jonp, did you successfully passthrough tour r9290? I can install the latest stable drivers...it is recognized...but does not start properly...it is not accessible.

Hi,

I can confirm I succesfully passthroughed my ATI R9290.

I just added this to my syslinux to hide it from the host:

pci-stub.ids=1002:67b1

If this code was not added it was not possible to install ati drivers in win8.1.

I also changed in my xml cirrus to vga and it is working so far:

<video>
      <model type='vga' vram='9216' heads='1'/>
      <alias name='video0'/>
      <address type='pci' domain='0x0000' bus='0x00' slot='0x01' function='0x0'/>
    </video>

To be honest I have no idea what this change is doing.

Rgds.

Hi, just a performance comparison between my new VM with windows 8.1 (left side and no tunning applied) and my standalone pc with windows 7 (right). I used Windows Index Experience. Both are running on a dedicated SSD.

More specs:

-vm: core i-5 2500K@2500, 8GB ram, win7 utlimate x64

-pc: fx-8350 4Ghz (2 cores), 6GB ram, win8.1pro x64

I would like to get some feedback of you who maybe tried to increase unraid-kvm vm´s performance. Anyone has tried this ? ..

https://access.redhat.com/documentation/en-US/Red_Hat_Enterprise_Linux/7/html/Virtualization_Tuning_and_Optimization_Guide/index.html

http://www.linux-kvm.org/page/Tuning_KVM

My latest xml:

<domain type='kvm' xmlns:qemu='http://libvirt.org/schemas/domain/qemu/1.0'>
  <name>win8 passthrough 2</name>
  <uuid>75d59834-fafe-4426-9549-5b3f0b65609f</uuid>
  <memory unit='KiB'>5859375</memory>
  <currentMemory unit='KiB'>5859375</currentMemory>
  <vcpu placement='static'>2</vcpu>
  <resource>
    <partition>/machine</partition>
  </resource>
  <os>
    <type arch='x86_64' machine='pc-q35-2.1'>hvm</type>
    <boot dev='cdrom'/>
    <boot dev='hd'/>
    <bootmenu enable='yes' timeout='3000'/>
  </os>
  <features>
    <acpi/>
    <apic/>
  </features>
  <cpu mode='host-passthrough'>
  </cpu>
  <clock offset='localtime'/>
  <on_poweroff>destroy</on_poweroff>
  <on_reboot>restart</on_reboot>
  <on_crash>destroy</on_crash>
  <devices>
    <emulator>/usr/bin/qemu-system-x86_64</emulator>
    <disk type='file' device='cdrom'>
      <driver name='qemu' type='raw'/>
      <source file='/mnt/disk1/isos/Win_8_1_64BIT.iso'/>
      <target dev='sdc' bus='sata'/>
      <readonly/>
      <address type='drive' controller='0' bus='0' target='0' unit='2'/>
    </disk>
    <disk type='file' device='cdrom'>
      <driver name='qemu' type='raw'/>
      <source file='/mnt/disk1/isos/virtio-win-0.1-81.iso'/>
      <target dev='sdd' bus='sata'/>
      <readonly/>
      <address type='drive' controller='0' bus='0' target='0' unit='3'/>
    </disk>
    <disk type='file' device='disk'>
      <driver name='qemu' type='qcow2' cache='none' io='native'/>
      <source file='/mnt/vm/w8/w8pass2.qcow2'/>
      <target dev='vda' bus='virtio'/>
      <address type='pci' domain='0x0000' bus='0x02' slot='0x02' function='0x0'/>
    </disk>

    <controller type='usb' index='0' model='ich9-ehci1'>
      <address type='pci' domain='0x0000' bus='0x02' slot='0x05' function='0x7'/>
    </controller>
    <controller type='usb' index='0' model='ich9-uhci1'>
      <master startport='0'/>
      <address type='pci' domain='0x0000' bus='0x02' slot='0x05' function='0x0' multifunction='on'/>
    </controller>


<controller type='sata' index='0'>
      <address type='pci' domain='0x0000' bus='0x00' slot='0x1f' function='0x2'/>
    </controller>
    <controller type='pci' index='0' model='pcie-root'/>
    <controller type='pci' index='1' model='dmi-to-pci-bridge'>
      <address type='pci' domain='0x0000' bus='0x00' slot='0x1e' function='0x0'/>
    </controller>
    <controller type='pci' index='2' model='pci-bridge'>
      <address type='pci' domain='0x0000' bus='0x01' slot='0x01' function='0x0'/>
    </controller>
    <interface type='bridge'>
      <mac address='02:16:3e:1a:b3:4a'/>
      <source bridge='br0'/>
      <model type='virtio'/>
      <address type='pci' domain='0x0000' bus='0x02' slot='0x01' function='0x0'/>
    </interface>
<hostdev mode='subsystem' type='usb' managed='no'>
    <source>
        <vendor id='0x0603'/>
        <product id='0x00f2'/>
	<address bus='8' device='2'/>
     </source>
     </hostdev>
 <hostdev mode='subsystem' type='usb' managed='no'>
     <source>
        <vendor id='0x046d'/>
        <product id='0xc050'/>
	<address bus='8' device='3'/>
    </source>
    </hostdev>
    <input type='mouse' bus='ps2'/>
    <input type='keyboard' bus='ps2'/>
    <graphics type='vnc' port='5900' autoport='no' listen='192.168.0.103'>
      <listen type='address' address='192.168.0.103'/>
    </graphics>
    <video>
      <model type='vga' vram='9216' heads='1'/>
      <address type='pci' domain='0x0000' bus='0x00' slot='0x01' function='0x0'/>
    </video>
    <memballoon model='virtio'>
      <address type='pci' domain='0x0000' bus='0x02' slot='0x03' function='0x0'/>
    </memballoon>
  </devices>
  <qemu:commandline>
    <qemu:arg value='-device'/>
    <qemu:arg value='ioh3420,bus=pcie.0,addr=1c.0,multifunction=on,port=1,chassis=1,id=root.1'/>
    <qemu:arg value='-device'/>
    <qemu:arg value='vfio-pci,host=01:00.0,bus=root.1,addr=00.0,multifunction=on,x-vga=on'/>
    <qemu:arg value='-device'/>
    <qemu:arg value='vfio-pci,host=01:00.1,bus=pcie.0'/>
  </qemu:commandline>
</domain>

Rgds.

Hi, just a performance comparison between my new VM with windows 8.1 (left side and no tunning applied) and my standalone pc with windows 7 (right). I used Windows Index Experience. Both are running on a dedicated SSD.

More specs:

-vm: core i-5 2500K@2500, 8GB ram, win7 utlimate x64

-pc: fx-8350 4Ghz (2 cores), 6GB ram, win8.1pro x64

I would like to get some feedback of you who maybe tried to increase unraid-kvm vm´s performance. Anyone has tried this ? ..

https://access.redhat.com/documentation/en-US/Red_Hat_Enterprise_Linux/7/html/Virtualization_Tuning_and_Optimization_Guide/index.html

http://www.linux-kvm.org/page/Tuning_KVM

My latest xml:

<domain type='kvm' xmlns:qemu='http://libvirt.org/schemas/domain/qemu/1.0'>
  <name>win8 passthrough 2</name>
  <uuid>75d59834-fafe-4426-9549-5b3f0b65609f</uuid>
  <memory unit='KiB'>5859375</memory>
  <currentMemory unit='KiB'>5859375</currentMemory>
  <vcpu placement='static'>2</vcpu>
  <resource>
    <partition>/machine</partition>
  </resource>
  <os>
    <type arch='x86_64' machine='pc-q35-2.1'>hvm</type>
    <boot dev='cdrom'/>
    <boot dev='hd'/>
    <bootmenu enable='yes' timeout='3000'/>
  </os>
  <features>
    <acpi/>
    <apic/>
  </features>
  <cpu mode='host-passthrough'>
  </cpu>
  <clock offset='localtime'/>
  <on_poweroff>destroy</on_poweroff>
  <on_reboot>restart</on_reboot>
  <on_crash>destroy</on_crash>
  <devices>
    <emulator>/usr/bin/qemu-system-x86_64</emulator>
    <disk type='file' device='cdrom'>
      <driver name='qemu' type='raw'/>
      <source file='/mnt/disk1/isos/Win_8_1_64BIT.iso'/>
      <target dev='sdc' bus='sata'/>
      <readonly/>
      <address type='drive' controller='0' bus='0' target='0' unit='2'/>
    </disk>
    <disk type='file' device='cdrom'>
      <driver name='qemu' type='raw'/>
      <source file='/mnt/disk1/isos/virtio-win-0.1-81.iso'/>
      <target dev='sdd' bus='sata'/>
      <readonly/>
      <address type='drive' controller='0' bus='0' target='0' unit='3'/>
    </disk>
    <disk type='file' device='disk'>
      <driver name='qemu' type='qcow2' cache='none' io='native'/>
      <source file='/mnt/vm/w8/w8pass2.qcow2'/>
      <target dev='vda' bus='virtio'/>
      <address type='pci' domain='0x0000' bus='0x02' slot='0x02' function='0x0'/>
    </disk>

    <controller type='usb' index='0' model='ich9-ehci1'>
      <address type='pci' domain='0x0000' bus='0x02' slot='0x05' function='0x7'/>
    </controller>
    <controller type='usb' index='0' model='ich9-uhci1'>
      <master startport='0'/>
      <address type='pci' domain='0x0000' bus='0x02' slot='0x05' function='0x0' multifunction='on'/>
    </controller>


<controller type='sata' index='0'>
      <address type='pci' domain='0x0000' bus='0x00' slot='0x1f' function='0x2'/>
    </controller>
    <controller type='pci' index='0' model='pcie-root'/>
    <controller type='pci' index='1' model='dmi-to-pci-bridge'>
      <address type='pci' domain='0x0000' bus='0x00' slot='0x1e' function='0x0'/>
    </controller>
    <controller type='pci' index='2' model='pci-bridge'>
      <address type='pci' domain='0x0000' bus='0x01' slot='0x01' function='0x0'/>
    </controller>
    <interface type='bridge'>
      <mac address='02:16:3e:1a:b3:4a'/>
      <source bridge='br0'/>
      <model type='virtio'/>
      <address type='pci' domain='0x0000' bus='0x02' slot='0x01' function='0x0'/>
    </interface>
<hostdev mode='subsystem' type='usb' managed='no'>
    <source>
        <vendor id='0x0603'/>
        <product id='0x00f2'/>
	<address bus='8' device='2'/>
     </source>
     </hostdev>
 <hostdev mode='subsystem' type='usb' managed='no'>
     <source>
        <vendor id='0x046d'/>
        <product id='0xc050'/>
	<address bus='8' device='3'/>
    </source>
    </hostdev>
    <input type='mouse' bus='ps2'/>
    <input type='keyboard' bus='ps2'/>
    <graphics type='vnc' port='5900' autoport='no' listen='192.168.0.103'>
      <listen type='address' address='192.168.0.103'/>
    </graphics>
    <video>
      <model type='vga' vram='9216' heads='1'/>
      <address type='pci' domain='0x0000' bus='0x00' slot='0x01' function='0x0'/>
    </video>
    <memballoon model='virtio'>
      <address type='pci' domain='0x0000' bus='0x02' slot='0x03' function='0x0'/>
    </memballoon>
  </devices>
  <qemu:commandline>
    <qemu:arg value='-device'/>
    <qemu:arg value='ioh3420,bus=pcie.0,addr=1c.0,multifunction=on,port=1,chassis=1,id=root.1'/>
    <qemu:arg value='-device'/>
    <qemu:arg value='vfio-pci,host=01:00.0,bus=root.1,addr=00.0,multifunction=on,x-vga=on'/>
    <qemu:arg value='-device'/>
    <qemu:arg value='vfio-pci,host=01:00.1,bus=pcie.0'/>
  </qemu:commandline>
</domain>

Rgds.

 

Just to clarify, the Windows Experience Index in Windows 7 and Windows 8.1 are on different scales, so you can't compare Win 7 scores to Win 8.1 with any degree of accuracy.  You could only do this test on 8.1 physical against 8.1 virtual.  I will tell you I score pretty much the same as a VM as I do bare-metal.

Thx for clarifying that Jon.

 

I formatted my ssd (mounted outside the array) with xfs. It stores my vm´s images. I also created a new .img file (instead of a .qcow2)

<disk type='file' device='disk'>
      <driver name='qemu' type='raw'/>
      <source file='/mnt/vm/w8/w8vm3.img'/>
      <backingStore/>
      <target dev='vda' bus='virtio'/>
       </disk>

and did a new windows 8.1 reinstall. Now when I copy a file from my standalone pc to my win8.1 vm I get 90/100MBs. Before I only got 25MBs.

 

Rgds.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another item to try boosting your speeds is to apply the 'no copy on write' flag to the directory where you will have your VM images at on your BTRFS.

 

To do this use the following command, chattr +C. Change this to be suitable for your setup. For mine I have a cache only share called 'domains' that has two storage pools under it, one for media .iso files (/media) and one for the actual VM disks (/images).

 

For the directories:

chattr +C /mnt/cache/domains /mnt/cache/domains/images /mnt/cache/domains/media

 

Woops, it seems like you have to do something more extensive to fix it on existing files:

 

In accordance with the note above, you can use the following trick to disable CoW on existing files in a directory:

 

$ mv /path/to/dir /path/to/dir_old

$ mkdir /path/to/dir

$ chattr +C /path/to/dir

$ cp -a /path/to/dir_old/* /path/to/dir

$ rm -rf /path/to/dir_old

 

Make sure that the data are not used during this process. Also note that mv or cp --reflink as described below will not work.

 

 

 

Hi!

 

I am really enjoying running my windows 8.1_VM in 6b10a. So far it works solid as my main computer in my tests.

 

My passthroughed r9290 is outputting video (up to 1080p) and audio (up to dts-master audio hd) with only 2 cores and 2/4gb ram assigned to this vm. My movies are located in my old Unraid Tower (still have not tried movies located in the new/same Unraid Tower).

 

I have installed:

-antivirus

-office

-mozilla

-mpc-hc for video watching.

 

Since my goal is to run only my Unraid Tower (no other pc´s at home any more), I was wondering if I could tell Unraid to start the array automatically upon pressing START button (cold start)?SOLVED: Just go to "disk settings" and mark "autostart".

 

I still need to try origin and bf4 this week to check for gaming performance.

 

Also, maybe someone solved how to plug-unplug an usb stick in an easy way. If not, I guess in order to plug/unplug an usb-stick I will need to install SNAP to mount it and make it accesible to my vm. Am I right?

 

Rgds.

 

EDIT: i am running my vm from an SSD formatted as XFS and my image is a .img (raw) file. I will post later transfer speeds achieved in my tests if anyone is interested.

 

Hi again,

 

Can anyone point me out how to config my thin client (i borrowed one to test it: hp t410) to be able to acces my windows8.1_vm?

 

More info on the thin client: http://www8.hp.com/us/en/thin-clients/t410.html

 

It gives me 4 connection options: browser, vmware view, citrix and rdp.

 

I managed to access unraid using the browser option. But I really have no idea how to connect to my VM.

 

Any help is welcome!

 

Rgds.

SOLVED.

 

Also, maybe someone solved how to plug-unplug an usb stick in an easy way. If not, I guess in order to plug/unplug an usb-stick I will need to install SNAP to mount it and make it accesible to my vm. Am I right?

SOLVED: Thank you Archedraft for your great tutorial : http://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?topic=36768.0. I confirm it is working for me under my win8.1 vm.

 

Rgds.

Good to see another Win8 user having a usb pci controller pass through. On my Win7 Pro KVM I have been unable to pass through the usb pci controller. All my usb devices are working well except for one HD cam which I need to manually diconnect and reconnect when I start my VM. Read your thread from the beginning, good rewards for the hard work. Congratulations for getting everything working

 

Also, maybe someone solved how to plug-unplug an usb stick in an easy way. If not, I guess in order to plug/unplug an usb-stick I will need to install SNAP to mount it and make it accesible to my vm. Am I right?

SOLVED: Thank you Archedraft for your great tutorial : http://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?topic=36768.0. I confirm it is working for me under my win8.1 vm.

 

Rgds.

Hi,

Just a question. I followed for the first time this sequence: push unraid power button>array starts+array automounts shares+vmmgr autostart+my VM autostarts. Nothing else is running.

How can I automate that when I close my VM (win8.1) also unraid is safely shutdown?

Any help is appreciated!

Rgds.

You could create a batch file in windows that ssh'ed into unRAID and typed "powerdown". The only negative is you would either have to type your unRAID password each time you ran the .bat file to ssh into unRAID or store your password in the .bat file but that is not very secure...

You could create a batch file in windows that ssh'ed into unRAID and typed "powerdown". The only negative is you would either have to type your unRAID password each time you ran the .bat file to ssh into unRAID or store your password in the .bat file but that is not very secure...

Hi Arch, I think I found how to solve this: http://lime-technology.com/forum/index.php?topic=31735.330. Just need some time to try it. Thx for support.