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For every $500 you spend, we will provide you with a $500 credit on your account*

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*The maximum is $4000 in credits, Offer valid till November 30th, 2024, New Customers Only, Credit will be applied after purchase and expires after six (6) months

XCP ng GPU Passthrough | A Complete Guide

by | Nov 15, 2024

Are you looking to run high-performance applications, train AI models, or even game on a virtual machine (VM) as smoothly as on a physical machine? XCP ng GPU passthrough might be the solution we need. This powerful virtualization technique lets the VM communicate directly with the physical GPU, delivering near-native performance for graphics and computation-heavy tasks. At Bobcares, with our Server Management Service, we can handle your issues.

Overview
    1. Unlocking XCP ng GPU Passthrough: Power Up the Virtual Machines with GPU Acceleration
    2. Requirements for Setting Up GPU Passthrough in XCP-ng
    3. Step-by-Step Setup for GPU Passthrough in XCP-ng
    4. Troubleshooting Tips
    5. Conclusion

Unlocking XCP ng GPU Passthrough: Power Up the Virtual Machines with GPU Acceleration

What is GPU Passthrough?

GPU passthrough assigns a physical GPU on the host system directly to a VM, bypassing the hypervisor’s emulation layer. This allows the guest operating system to interact with the GPU as if it were installed directly in a physical machine. This technique has grown popular in applications such as:

xcp ng gpu passthrough

  • 3D Modeling, Video Editing, and Gaming: Run graphically intensive software on VMs with performance levels rivaling physical setups.
  • Machine Learning and AI: Speed up model training and other GPU-reliant tasks.
  • Multi-VM GPU Sharing: Dedicated GPU resources for tasks like rendering, scientific calculations, and simulations.

Why Use GPU Passthrough?

GPU passthrough offers several compelling benefits:

  • High Performance: With direct GPU access, VMs perform nearly as fast as on a physical machine, making it ideal for graphics and computation-heavy applications.
  • Efficient Resource Utilization: Offload graphics tasks to the GPU, freeing up CPU power for other work.
  • Enhanced Flexibility: Run high-performance applications in VMs without needing extra physical machines.
  • Multi-OS Capability: Switch between operating systems (e.g., Linux host, Windows guest) seamlessly for various tasks.

Requirements for Setting Up GPU Passthrough in XCP-ng

Before diving into GPU passthrough, we need specific hardware and software configurations. Here’s a checklist:

Hardware Requirements:

Supported CPU: Ensure the host CPU supports Intel VT-d or AMD-Vi (IOMMU) for direct memory access in virtualized environments.

Compatible Motherboard: The motherboard should support IOMMU, enabled through the BIOS/UEFI settings.

GPU Compatibility: Most consumer GPUs (e.g., NVIDIA GeForce, Quadro, AMD Radeon) support passthrough, although GeForce GPUs may show a “Code 43” error in some VMs due to driver limitations.

XCP-ng Software:

Version 8.1 or Above: XCP-ng introduced GPU passthrough support in version 8.1, utilizing the Xen hypervisor’s hardware passthrough features.

BIOS Settings:

Enable IOMMU: Activate VT-d for Intel CPUs or AMD-Vi for AMD CPUs in BIOS.

Configure GPU Isolation: Ensure the GPU is dedicated to the VM by disabling onboard graphics if necessary.

Step-by-Step Setup for GPU Passthrough in XCP-ng

Step 1: Enable IOMMU in BIOS

Reboot into the BIOS/UEFI.

Find and enable VT-d (Intel) or AMD-Vi (AMD) settings.

Save changes and reboot the system.

Step 2: Check IOMMU Support in XCP-ng

After booting into XCP-ng, confirm IOMMU is enabled:

xl info | grep -i “iommu”

If it’s not enabled, recheck BIOS/UEFI settings.

Step 3: Identify the GPU for Passthrough

Run:

lspci | grep VGA

This command lists graphics devices on the host. Note the PCI ID of the GPU we want to pass through (e.g., 01:00.0).

Step 4: Detach GPU from Host (Dom0)

Add the GPU to Xen’s PCI passthrough list by editing /etc/default/grub:

nano /etc/default/grub

Add the PCI ID to xen-pciback.hide:

GRUB_CMDLINE_XEN_DEFAULT=”dom0_mem=4096M,max:4096M dom0_max_vcpus=2 dom0_vcpus_pin iommu=1 xen-pciback.hide=(01:00.0)”

Update GRUB and reboot:

update-grub

Step 5: Attach GPU to VM

With the GPU now available, assign it to a VM via XCP-ng Center or CLI:

In XCP-ng Center: Right-click the VM > Properties > Devices > Add PCI device > Select GPU.

CLI command:

xe vm-param-set uuid= other-config:pci=0/0000:01:00.0

Step 6: Install GPU Drivers on Guest VM

For Windows VMs: Download and install NVIDIA or AMD drivers.

For Linux VMs: Use the package manager to install GPU drivers based on the distribution.

Troubleshooting Tips

  • NVIDIA “Code 43” Error: Often caused by GeForce GPU driver restrictions in VMs. Consider using NVIDIA Quadro, Tesla GPUs, or patched drivers that bypass this check.
  • IOMMU Grouping Issues: Some GPUs might share IOMMU groups with other devices. Try motherboard BIOS updates or adjust kernel parameters to isolate the GPU.
  • BIOS Compatibility: Ensure BIOS is compatible and updated to avoid compatibility issues with IOMMU.

[Searching solution for a different question? We’re happy to help.]

Conclusion

GPU passthrough transforms VMs into high-performance environments capable of handling advanced graphics and computational tasks. Whether we’re an AI researcher, a gamer, or a creative professional, GPU passthrough can boost productivity, flexibility, and efficiency—unlocking new possibilities in virtualized computing.

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