RE: [Xen-users] HVM questions

["Gregory Gee" <gregory.gee@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

>> - I heard that PCI passthrough or what ever it is called  is not
>> supported in HVM. Is that a permanent limitation or will it
>> soon become
>> available?  Unfortunately, I need 1 Windows VM that can use dedicated
>> PCI card.  Since Windows is only supported in HVM, then this is why I
>> ask this question.
>
> Yes, PCI passthrough is currently only supported for Para-virtual
> guests.
> It is expected to be solved (there's no technical limitation for this,
> just that someone has to write some code to support it, basically - and
> the principle is not difficult - just fill in the PCI-table in the guest
> so that the device looks like its there). There are some other
> limitations tho'. If the PCI-card uses direct memory access, you'd need
> to use a para-virtual driver (i.e a driver that is aware of the fact
> that physical memory isn't where the guest-OS thinks it is).
>
> PIO-type card will work fine without special drivers - unfortunately,
> very few PCI-cards are PIO-based...
> --
> Mats

  Interesting.  Mixed answer.  So it sounds like it will be supported, but
for specific PCI cards only or a para-vitual driver(SOL if guest in
Windows I guess?).  Do vendors usually list if a card is PIO?

Thanks,
Greg



_______________________________________________
Xen-users mailing list
Xen-users@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://lists.xensource.com/xen-users