[Intel-gfx] [GVT-g] [ANNOUNCE] 2017-Q2 release of XenGT (Intel GVT-g for Xen)

[Xu, Terrence]

Hi all,

We are pleased to announce an update of Intel GVT-g for Xen.

Intel GVT-g is a full GPU virtualization solution with mediated pass-through, starting from 4th generation Intel Core(TM) processors with Intel processor graphics. A virtual GPU instance is maintained for each VM, with part of performance critical resources directly assigned. The capability of running native graphics driver inside a VM, without hypervisor intervention in performance critical paths, achieves a good balance among performance, feature, and sharing capability. GVT-g for Xen hypervisor is XenGT.


Repositories
-    Xen :  https://github.com/01org/igvtg-xen (tag: 2017-q2-xengt-stable-4.9)
-    Kernel: https://github.com/01org/gvt-linux/ (tag: 2017-q2-gvt-stable-4.11)
-    Qemu: https://github.com/01org/igvtg-qemu (tag: 2017-q2-stable-2.9.0)


This update consists of:
-    GVT-g upgraded to new architecture which has been upstreamed from kernel 4.10.
-    QEMU version upgraded to 2.9 from 2.3.
-    Xen version upgraded to 4.9 from 4.6.
-    Supported server platforms: Intel(r) Xeon(r) E3_v4 and E3_v5 with Intel Graphics processor. 
-    Supported client platforms: Intel(r) Core(tm) 5th generation (code name: Broadwell) and 6th generation (code name: Skylake). 
-    Validated Guest OS: Windows7 32bit, Window7 64bit, Windows8.1 64bit, Windows10 64bit and Linux.
-    GVT-g only supports remote display not local display by this release. 
-    Remote protocol: only guest-side remoting protocol is supported, host-side remoting connection like SPICE is working in progress. For example, user can use X11VNC for Guest Linux VM or TightVNC for Guest Windows VM.


Limitation or known issues:
-    GVT-g can support maximum 7 Guest VMs due to host graphics resource limitation. When user runs 7 VMs simultaneously, host OS can only run in text mode.
-    In order to support Guest Windows7 32bit VM, user is recommended to add vgt_low_gm_sz=128 in HVM file because Guest Windows7 32bit VM needs more graphics resource than other Guest VM.
-    In order to support Guest VM high resolution and screen resolution adjustable in Guest Windows8.1 64bit VM and Guest Windows10 64bit VM, user is recommended to configure vgt_low_gm_sz=64 / 128 / 256 / 512 in HVM file to get larger VM aperture size.
-    In corner case, Guest Windows 8.1 64bit VM may be killed automatically by Xen when Guest VM runs into TDR. This issues happens only on Broadwell platform.
-    In corner case, Guest Windows VMs may be killed automatically by Xen when user shutdowns the last launched Guest Windows VM. This issues happens only on Broadwell platform.
-    In corner case, Guest Linux VM virtual display screen may freeze and not be able to recover when Guest VM runs into a TDR, but the Guest VM is still running and alive which can be accessed through SSH.


Setup guide:
https://github.com/01org/gvt-linux/wiki/GVTg_Setup_Guide


This is the first GVT-g community release based on new Upstream architecture design, refer to the following document for new architecture introduction:
https://01.org/igvt-g/documentation/intel-gvt-g-new-architecture-introduction


Please subscribe to join the mailing list if you want to learn more about GVT-g project: 
https://lists.01.org/mailman/listinfo/igvt-g
Please subscribe to join the mailing list if you want to contribute/review latest GVT-g upstream patches:
https://lists.freedesktop.org/mailman/listinfo/intel-gvt-dev


Official GVT-g portal: 
https://01.org/igvt-g


More information about background, architecture and others about Intel GVT-g, can be found at:
https://01.org/igvt-g
https://www.usenix.org/conference/atc14/technical-sessions/presentation/tian
http://events.linuxfoundation.org/sites/events/files/slides/XenGT-Xen%20Summit-v7_0.pdf
http://events.linuxfoundation.org/sites/events/files/slides/XenGT-Xen%20Summit-REWRITE%203RD%20v4.pdf
https://01.org/xen/blogs/srclarkx/2013/graphics-virtualization-xengt


Note: 
The XenGT project should be considered a work in progress. As such it is not a complete product nor should it be considered one. Extra care should be taken when testing and configuring a system to use the XenGT project.



Thanks
Terrence
Tel: +86-21-6116 5390
MP: +86-1356 4367 024
Mail: terrence.xu at intel.com

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