I see alot of people referencing GPUs now.  I assume they are PCIe GPUs rather than CPU Embedded.  My question is, what is your GPUs primary purpose?  I may be looking to rebuild a server and may want to expand its capabilities.

 

Thanks

VMs

Could you be more specific?  I run a couple VMs without a GPU at all.  What function does your VM do for you?  If it is something graphic intensive like gaming, how is this accomplished? RDP and other protocols would be too slow.

Don't actually have a VM or graphics card in my server. See here

Attach a monitor to your GPU and play games locally.

I passthrough mine to a Win8.1 VM that I use to play games. 8GB of RAM and all four cores to that VM. Works great with video output to the TV or via Steam in-home streaming to my Mac!

Interesting.  It never crossed my mind to eliminate a desktop like this.  Funny, I have my Desktop computer, which does almost nothing, pretty close to my Unraid server.  The built in virtualization in Unraid supports GPU passthrough right?  Are you still able to use the onboard video to see the unraid console, or are all of you doing this through Vmware?

I was reading this post because I have the same question.  I'm about to build a new unraid 6 server and I'm not sure I understand what you can do with the GPU.  If I don't plan on locally gaming on the server, is it worth using a GPU?  I saw spencers' post and I want to confirm.  You can actually boot the vm from say an older Macbook and assign the GPU resources to a windows VM and game using the server hardware?

I drew a picture.. I know it's awesome!

 

SO basically, I start my unRAID server and unRAID starts (woot). After unRAID finishes booting up it automatically starts my VM's. Once that happens 3 VM's start; Windows 10, OS X, Ubuntu. Now one person can physically be using the Windows VM like a normal desktop and a second person can be using the OS X VM at the same time.

 

Are you still able to use the onboard video to see the unraid console, or are all of you doing this through Vmware?

Yes, I use my onboard Intel graphics to view the unRAID console. I just have to switch the input on one of my monitors from DVI to VGA.

 

Interesting.  It never crossed my mind to eliminate a desktop like this.  Funny, I have my Desktop computer, which does almost nothing, pretty close to my Unraid server.  The built in virtualization in Unraid supports GPU passthrough right?  Are you still able to use the onboard video to see the unraid console, or are all of you doing this through Vmware?

Yeah, I had plans to build a separate gaming rig until unRAID 6 came along. The built-in virtualization supports GPU passthrough as long as you have a motherboard and CPU that supports VT-d. I have the onboard VGA graphics displaying the console and the GPU HDMI displaying my Windows VM.

 

If I don't plan on locally gaming on the server, is it worth using a GPU?  I saw spencers' post and I want to confirm.  You can actually boot the vm from say an older Macbook and assign the GPU resources to a windows VM and game using the server hardware?

 

You're close, but have some things mixed up. I'm booting a Windows VM on the server (with the GPU installed) and streaming the game from Windows to my Mac.  Here's the thing... I can only do this through Steam in-home streaming. So I'm limited to only playing games that are available on Steam. Valve is the only company I know that does streaming. If I wanted to play any games that are not on Steam, I have to play locally in front of the TV.

So if I am planning on keeping the server in a closet then it's not worth installing a GPU unless I run games through the Steam client? 

I can only do this through Steam in-home streaming. So I'm limited to only playing games that are available on Steam. Valve is the only company I know that does streaming. If I wanted to play any games that are not on Steam, I have to play locally in front of the TV.

 

You can add non-steam games to Steam manually and stream them.  It doesn't work with every single game out there, but definitely some.  I used this method to play games from Origin this way.  How do you do it?  Open steam on the system you're streaming FROM and from the games menu, click "Add a non-Steam game to my library."

If i have my server in my closet, has anyone found a good way of transmitting USB and HDMI over network? This is to allow me to have a monitor and USB hub anywhere and just use the closet-server for everything?

 

http://www.startech.com/uk/AV/Extenders/HDMI/HDMI-over-IP-Extender-with-Audio~IPUSB2HD2

 

There is this, but damn its pricey!

We use HDMI over ethernet at work....  my experience of it is pretty poor so I would definitely do some research before buying anything.

 

We have problems with resolutions and  the adaptors breaking mostly.  The structured cabling in some of our locations is pretty ropey however so that might be partly to blame.

Thanks for the advice! I guess i'm looking for a way to take HDMI + USB over distance...

You can add non-steam games to Steam manually and stream them.  It doesn't work with every single game out there, but definitely some.  I used this method to play games from Origin this way.  How do you do it?  Open steam on the system you're streaming FROM and from the games menu, click "Add a non-Steam game to my library."

Sweet. I'll give that a shot for a couple non-Steam games I have on my VM.

This was a helpful post, I now know that I need to have my Unraid machine next to my desk in my office if I want to game on it and to do that I need to run CAT cable from my router upstairs otherwise PLEX playback and D/L speeds in other Dockers will suffer over my current setup of Powerline adaptors.

Thanks for the advice! I guess i'm looking for a way to take HDMI + USB over distance...

 

HDMI isn't an issue => you can run cables 100' or longer with no problem (the cables are, however, a bit pricey when you get over 100').    USB is more problematic -- you'll need to use a USB over Ethernet adapter, which can also be very pricey.    This is the most economical extender I've seen: 

https://www.cdw.com/shop/products/APC-USB-OVER-Cat5e-6-Active-Extension-Up-to-150ft/1980732.aspx?enkwrd=APC-4902&pfm=gln

 

Note that it only works at USB v1.1 rates -- USB v2 extenders cost FAR more => but that is plenty fast enough for a keyboard/mouse.

 

 

 

 

The USB over network is about $6 on ebay search for item 361191909906. I got it and it works for me on a 50 ft CAT6 network cable.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/361191909906?ru=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fsch%2Fi.html%3F_from%3DR40%26_sacat%3D0%26_nkw%3D361191909906%26_rdc%3D1

The USB over network is about $6 on ebay search for item 361191909906. I got it and it works for me on a 50 ft CAT6 network cable.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/361191909906?ru=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ebay.com%2Fsch%2Fi.html%3F_from%3DR40%26_sacat%3D0%26_nkw%3D361191909906%26_rdc%3D1

 

Very nice find -- that's an amazing price for an extender.    I have absolutely NO use for one, but just ordered a couple anyway just to have them handy 

I drew a picture.. I know it's awesome!

 

SO basically, I start my unRAID server and unRAID starts (woot). After unRAID finishes booting up it automatically starts my VM's. Once that happens 3 VM's start; Windows 10, OS X, Ubuntu. Now one person can physically be using the Windows VM like a normal desktop and a second person can be using the OS X VM at the same time.

 

Are you still able to use the onboard video to see the unraid console, or are all of you doing this through Vmware?

Yes, I use my onboard Intel graphics to view the unRAID console. I just have to switch the input on one of my monitors from DVI to VGA.

 

 

This. except use HDMI cable for audio too

And maybe a lot of drilling and long cable lol if you want computers in separate rooms.

 

 

This was a helpful post, I now know that I need to have my Unraid machine next to my desk in my office if I want to game on it and to do that I need to run CAT cable from my router upstairs otherwise PLEX playback and D/L speeds in other Dockers will suffer over my current setup of Powerline adaptors.

 

 

You don't need to have the unRaid machine right next to you. I have mine down in a media closet in my basement. I have HDMI and ethernet run all over the house terminating in that media closet, so can get my gaming on pretty much anywhere. I have had success with HDMI runs of 50 feet so far. Actually, 60' if you count the 50' run through the wall and then 5' per side to the devices. USB over Cat5 goes exceptionally longer.

 

Hide that unRaid box and game anywhere.