[Intel-gfx] [GVT-g] [ANNOUNCE] 2017-Q3 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-q3-xengt-stable-4.9)
-    Kernel: https://github.com/01org/gvt-linux/ (tag: 2017-q3-gvt-stable-4.12)
-    Qemu: https://github.com/01org/igvtg-qemu (tag: 2017-q3-stable-2.9.0)


This update consists of:
-    Kernel version upgraded to 4.12 from 4.11.
-    Live migration feature preliminary supported.
-    QoS feature preliminary supported.
-    IOMMU feature supported.
-    OVMF feature supported.
-    VGPU reset feature optimization, with related issues be fixed.
-    Supported server platforms: Intel(r) Xeon(r) E3_v4, E3_v5 and E3_v6 with Intel Graphics processor, E3_v6 is new supported platform.
-    Supported client platforms: Intel(r) Core(tm) 5th generation (code name: Broadwell), 6th generation (code name: Skylake) and 7th generation (code name: Kabylake), 7th generation is new supported platform.
-    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 configure vgt_low_gm_sz=128 / 256 / 512 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.
-    Some 3rd party applications/tools like 3DMark which including special DirectX12 feature test ,it will trigger Guest VM GPU reset.
-    In corner case, Guest Windows 7 32bit VM may be killed automatically by Xen when Guest VM runs into TDR. This issues happens only on Broadwell platform. The workaround is to disable part of viridian feature in Guest VM hvm file by adding viridian=["all", "!apic_assist"].
-    In corner case, Linux Guest VM may GPU hang while running special Intel-GPU-Tools test case on it.
-    For live migration feature, we cannot migrate Guest Windows VM when Guest VM memory is 2048M or 4096M, user is recommended to configure Guest VM memory to 1024MB.


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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