Windows virtualization with GPU passthrough

[Mrt12]

Good day,
so I would like to run a Windows guest on Proxmox. Basically, this is nothing new and I have done it successfully already many times. However this one seems a bit more special to me. I currently have a single PC that has fast RAM, and a GPU, for finite element simulations. The PC is a complete mess and a nightmare to work on, and also not so easy to backup, and I now have to reinstall it and would use the opportunity to install it as a guest on Proxmox.
Different questions arise.

a) I would pass through the entire graphics card to the guest: NVIDIA Corporation TU104GL [Quadro RTX 4000] (rev a1). I read that there were several problems with GPU passthrough, but is this also the case if I fully pass through the entire device?
b) I would probably use the "host" CPU, to have the best performance. Is it at all a good idea to have the FEM calculation software on a virtual machine, or should I not even try? my main reason is that it would be so much easier if I have to back it up, or later migrate to different hardware (provided I will have the same or equivalent GPU).

Or should I not even waste my time with this and let everything run natively on that PC?

thanks a lot for any hints.

 

[fireon]

I am not familiar with the “finite element simulations” software, but basically your plan should work. Depending on the mainboard, it may not work right away, so I recommend testing it thoroughly beforehand. Here are some important links to the documentation:

https://pve.proxmox.com/wiki/PCI(e)_Passthrough

G

Thread 'Nvidia Error 43 with Quadro RTX4000'

Apr 17, 2023

Hi all,
I am new to this forum but already read alot about the common error43. BUT I got into a situation that I cannot resolve also not with the awnsers of all already creaded threads...

But first things first:

1. System:
Dell R7910
CPU: 2x E5-2690v4
RAM: 128GB DDR4 ECC
GPU: Nvidia Quadro RTX4000 (Slot 4)
Storage: 2x250gb SSD Raid1 ZFS, 6x 500gb ZRaid2 ZFS
OS: PVE 7.4-3

2. KVM config:
bios: ovmf
boot: order=scsi0;net0
cores: 8
cpu: host
efidisk0: data:vm-101-disk-0,efitype=4m,pre-enrolled-keys=1,size=1M
hostpci0: 0000:82:00,pcie=1,romfile=QuadroRTX4000.rom
machine: pc-q35-7.2...

• goeste
• nvidia quadro passthrough gpu r7910 rtx4000
• Replies: 6
• Forum: Proxmox VE: Installation and configuration

And maybe for a new gpu
https://pve.proxmox.com/wiki/NVIDIA_vGPU_on_Proxmox_VE

 

[Mrt12]

Good day,
please excuse my delayed response. I am familiar with both, simulation software, as well as with Proxmox (more or less), but I have never run the two of them in combination. also I have no experience so far with PCI passthrough.

Assuming my mainboard (Supermicro X12SPW) and CPU (Xeon Silver 43... something, I don't remember at the moment) support the PCI passthrough properly, is it still possible that it works with one graphics card and not with another?
Cause I am thinking about setting up a little test system, using a old spare card that I have, leaving the currently running system untouched. Then test the passthrough, see if all works, and then roll out. But the spare card I have is not the same Quadro like the currently operating one.

And maybe for a new gpu
https://pve.proxmox.com/wiki/NVIDIA_vGPU_on_Proxmox_VE

of course ;-) unfortunately, these stuffs are a bit on the more expensive side ;-)

So basically, my question is, if I manage to get PCIe passthrough working with *some* graphics card, will it also work with another as the mechanism is basically always the same?

 

[fireon]

Assuming my mainboard (Supermicro X12SPW) and CPU (Xeon Silver 43... something, I don't remember at the moment) support the PCI passthrough properly, is it still possible that it works with one graphics card and not with another?

Absolutly: https://forum.proxmox.com/threads/p...kup-d3cold-to-d0-after-guest-shutdown.168424/

So basically, my question is, if I manage to get PCIe passthrough working with *some* graphics card, will it also work with another as the mechanism is basically always the same?

Basically YES. I've already looked at a few cards. My motto: “Always test.” And if possible, don't use consumer cards. An RTX A2000 → cheap and enterprise-ready. I have one here, and it has worked with every piece of passthrough-capable hardware out of the box so far.