[Xen-users] Re: PCI Passthrough

[Christian Tramnitz <chris.ace@xxxxxxx>]

Nick Couchman wrote:
> A question that I think I probably know the answer to, but I want to 
> verify.  Do PCI Passthrough to HVM domUs require VTd or IOMMU?  From 
> what I've read in various places around the Internet, the answer is yes, 
> but it's never been explicitly stated.  I have a multi-port PCI serial 
> card on a non-VTd-capable machine that I want to passthrough to a 
> Windows domU.  PCI passthrough would be the easiest option, except for 
> the lack of VTd.  I tried doing something with the IRQ and IOPORTS to 
> pass it through, but I ended up with a device type "Xen Ioports" in my 
> Windows domU and couldn't really get the correct driver installed.  Any 
> hints would be appreciated - even if it's to say, "Sorry, you're out of 
> luck - go buy a machine with VTd."
>
> Thanks!
>
> -Nick
PCI passthrough to HVM domU requires VT-d.

BUT there are experimental patches to passthrough devices to the FIRST 
HVM domU, i.e. here: 
http://permalink.gmane.org/gmane.comp.emulators.xen.devel/70672
However this is completely untested and will not just apply and work out 
of the box. Due to its nature its very unlikely that passthrough to HVM 
without VT-d will ever make it into Xen at all.
So if you're looking for a real solution rather than a quick hack, then 
I can only tell you "Sorry, you're out of luck - go buy a machine with 
VTd." ;-)
I just updated the Wiki today with some boards and chipsets known to 
work (or having problems), have a look here:
http://wiki.xensource.com/xenwiki/VTdHowTo



Best regards,
   Christian


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