Skip to content
View in the app

A better way to browse. Learn more.

Unraid

A full-screen app on your home screen with push notifications, badges and more.

To install this app on iOS and iPadOS
  1. Tap the Share icon in Safari
  2. Scroll the menu and tap Add to Home Screen.
  3. Tap Add in the top-right corner.
To install this app on Android
  1. Tap the 3-dot menu (⋮) in the top-right corner of the browser.
  2. Tap Add to Home screen or Install app.
  3. Confirm by tapping Install.

VM Management with Pass-Through GPU

Featured Replies

I'm not sure if this question has been asked before, I didn't see it when I searched.  I've been running Unraid for a couple years, but just started getting into the VM side.  I've predominantly used Hyper-V or ESXI for VMs in the past, so the Unraid side is new to me.  

 

I currently run my server headless, in a server closet in my basement.  If I pass-through a GPU to accelerate the graphics in a gaming VM or Mac Catalina VM, how do I administer the VM, like a Type 1 Hypervisor (Hyper-V, ESXI), and perform boot functions and other administrative tasks? I am not able to connect a monitor directly to the VM.  

39 minutes ago, Mason736 said:

I'm not sure if this question has been asked before, I didn't see it when I searched.  I've been running Unraid for a couple years, but just started getting into the VM side.  I've predominantly used Hyper-V or ESXI for VMs in the past, so the Unraid side is new to me.  

 

I currently run my server headless, in a server closet in my basement.  If I pass-through a GPU to accelerate the graphics in a gaming VM or Mac Catalina VM, how do I administer the VM, like a Type 1 Hypervisor (Hyper-V, ESXI), and perform boot functions and other administrative tasks? I am not able to connect a monitor directly to the VM.  

Using the Unraid GUI over the network, in a sense similar to IPMI.

  • Author

Yes, but when you pass the GPU through, without hooking up to a monitor, how to you get to the post screen, enter BIOS, etc...?

1 minute ago, Mason736 said:

Yes, but when you pass the GPU through, without hooking up to a monitor, how to you get to the post screen, enter BIOS, etc...?

Accessing BIOS, Post Screen etc. are pre-boot activities, which would certainly be pre-passthrough.

Once booted, you can't arbitrarily go back to the BIOS screen without a reboot (regardless whether there's a monitor or not, or a GPU or not).

So whether you pass through the GPU or not has no bearing over those activities.

 

If you are asking about how to access BIOS without a monitor then that's a functionality of the motherboard so you need to check the motherboard manual I guess.

  • Author

Im sorry, I don't think you're understanding the question.  I am speaking specifically about a VM, not the metal unraid runs on itself.  With Hyper-V, regardless of whether you pass through a GPU, same with V-Sphere, you can access the VM, and have full KVM usage with keyboard and mouse support.

 

In unraid, if you pass-through a GPU, and don't have a monitor connected to the GPU for the VM, it appears there is no way to obtain a KVM like usage as a Type 1 Hypervisor.  

 

I've tried virt-manager as well, but when you pass through a GPU, without connecting to a monitor, you can't access the display of the VM until it boots to change the boot order (access Clover for instance on a Catalina VM), or do other administrative tasks.

21 minutes ago, Mason736 said:

Im sorry, I don't think you're understanding the question.  I am speaking specifically about a VM, not the metal unraid runs on itself.  With Hyper-V, regardless of whether you pass through a GPU, same with V-Sphere, you can access the VM, and have full KVM usage with keyboard and mouse support.

 

In unraid, if you pass-through a GPU, and don't have a monitor connected to the GPU for the VM, it appears there is no way to obtain a KVM like usage as a Type 1 Hypervisor.  

 

I've tried virt-manager as well, but when you pass through a GPU, without connecting to a monitor, you can't access the display of the VM until it boots to change the boot order (access Clover for instance on a Catalina VM), or do other administrative tasks.

Ok, get it now. The answer is "sort of no".

The VNC display feature would do what you are describing but it doesn't work with a GPU passed through hence "sort of no".

  • Author

Wonderful, thanks for the clarification.

  • 2 weeks later...

If I'm passing through a GPU in a VM, I have to have a monitor connected to that GPU in order to see the VM?

Archived

This topic is now archived and is closed to further replies.

Account

Navigation

Search

Search

Configure browser push notifications

Chrome (Android)
  1. Tap the lock icon next to the address bar.
  2. Tap Permissions → Notifications.
  3. Adjust your preference.
Chrome (Desktop)
  1. Click the padlock icon in the address bar.
  2. Select Site settings.
  3. Find Notifications and adjust your preference.