Server VM GPU

[DiamondShark286]

I recently built a new pc and since then have wanted to install something like KVM for virtual machines the only limiting factor is the fact that I do not have a second gpu or integrated graphics to run the vm of of. I want to run Ubuntu server(or some other server OS) xo it doesn't need to be a good gpu just needs to output a frame to a screen I am hoping for something fairly cheap and if possible not bottlenecking my other gpu here is my current build https://pcpartpicker.com/list/FvKdvV.

[Lord Nicoll]

22 minutes ago, Tb428 said:

I recently built a new pc and since then have wanted to install something like KVM for virtual machines the only limiting factor is the fact that I do not have a second gpu or integrated graphics to run the vm of of. I want to run Ubuntu server(or some other server OS) xo it doesn't need to be a good gpu just needs to output a frame to a screen I am hoping for something fairly cheap and if possible not bottlenecking my other gpu here is my current build https://pcpartpicker.com/list/FvKdvV.

You don't need a GPU for a virtual machine, there are lots of ways of displaying a VM's desktop. 

[DiamondShark286]

1 minute ago, Lord Nicoll said:

You don't need a GPU for a virtual machine, there are lots of ways of displaying a VM's desktop. 

how would I do it without one

[Elerek]

The host gpu and vm gpu have nothing to do with one another. They cannot bottleneck each other in any way. Just grab the cheapest thing you can find.

[Elerek]

2 minutes ago, Tb428 said:

how would I do it without one

If you run the vm without it's own gpu, it'll use a software emulated gpu. That's fine if you just want productivity stuff, but not much else. I assumed you wanted more than that.

[beanhubbleday]

https://www.pny.com/GeForce_GT_710_1024MB_DDR3_PCI-E_2_0_Low_Profile We us ethese for simple workstations at work to support more monitors however I agree with this:

4 minutes ago, Lord Nicoll said:

You don't need a GPU for a virtual machine, there are lots of ways of displaying a VM's desktop. 

But my link is a very cheap option if you cannot get it o work without one  and it won't bottleneck your other GPU.

[DiamondShark286]

1 minute ago, Elerek said:

The host gpu and vm gpu have nothing to do with one another. They cannot bottleneck each other in any way. Just grab the cheapest thing you can find.

but the cpu only supports 16 pcie lanes so the gpu would run at 8x unless you can ind one that uses a 1x or pci slot(do they even make either of these?)

[Elerek]

I run my evga 1070 off of 8 lanes just fine.

If all you want from your vm is a small server, just use emulated graphics. I read it as you wanted the ubuntu server as the host...

[Lord Nicoll]

8 minutes ago, Tb428 said:

how would I do it without one

Are you running the virtual machine off a Linux or Windows machine?

[DiamondShark286]

2 minutes ago, Elerek said:

I run my evga 1070 off of 8 lanes just fine.

If all you want from your vm is a small server, just use emulated graphics. I read it as you wanted the ubuntu server as the host...

sorry if I wasn't clear I want to run Ubuntu server along side Windows 10 with KVM

[DiamondShark286]

1 minute ago, Lord Nicoll said:

Are you running the virtual machine off a Linux or Windows machine?

I am currently running windows but I want to switch to a KVM based OS like unraid but free

[Elerek]

1 minute ago, Tb428 said:

sorry if I wasn't clear I want to run Ubuntu server along side Windows 10 with KVM

alongside or on top of?

 

host  --windows vm

         --linux vm

 

or

 

windows host  --linux vm

 

?

[DiamondShark286]

1 minute ago, Elerek said:

alongside or on top of?

 

host  --windows vm

         --linux vm

 

or

 

windows host  --linux vm

 

?

along side if possible that is why I wanted the second gpu I could otherwise just use VMware or virtual box

[Lord Nicoll]

1 minute ago, Tb428 said:

I am currently running windows but I want to switch to a KVM based OS like unraid but free

Oh, those OSes aren't meant to be used on a client end. I use VMware ESXi but all the control is done on a client software on another PC, with PCI-e pass through and guess OS management. The server has NO I/O options directly from the machine, just a few BIOS like settings.  

[Elerek]

1 minute ago, Tb428 said:

I am currently running windows but I want to switch to a KVM based OS like unraid but free

Then you'll need a second gpu unless you're okay with having to ssh to the host system like I do.

I've got 2 windows vms, one with a 1060, the other with a 1070, both on x8 lanes, running on top of ubuntu server via kvm. The server has no gpu, so I ssh in from the vms or my phone to control it.

[Elerek]

Again though, it literally makes no difference to the vms what gpu the host has, throw some $5 30 year old gpu from ebay on it and you'll be fine

 

edit: spelling derp

[DiamondShark286]

2 minutes ago, Lord Nicoll said:

Oh, those OSes aren't meant to be used on a client end. I use VMware ESXi but all the control is done on a client software on another PC, with PCI-e pass through and guess OS management. The server has NO I/O options directly from the machine, just a few BIOS like settings.  

I know I just want to run two virtual machines along side each other like in linus's video where he ran  freenas alongside windows 

[DiamondShark286]

sorry guys just realised I was forgetting that I could just ssh into the ubuntu server vm but thanks for all the help.

 

[Elerek]

 

2 minutes ago, Tb428 said:

sorry guys just realised I was forgetting that I could just ssh into the ubuntu server vm but thanks for all the help.

 

haha, don't sweat it. Just set up your host how you like before you pass the gpu into the vm.

Make sure everything works (including the vm with software gpu) first, then edit the vm config to have the gpu and go from there.

If you don't blacklist your gpu on the host, you might be able to get the host to use it when the vm is off, allowing you to have full gui on the host server for maintenance, but that's not guaranteed to work.