On 30/03/2012 07:03, Wei Huang wrote: > On 03/29/2012 04:29 PM, Casey DeLorme wrote: >> David, >> >> XenServer VGA Passthrough requires a paid/licensed copy, which costs >> $2500, a bit out of my price range for experimentation. Important to >> note that the feature is not a part of the 30-day trial license. >> >> However, Citrix recently visited my college and I was able to preview >> hardware access on a laptop one of the employees had, where they >> swapped between Ubuntu and Windows with a hotkey, and various >> hardware components including onboard GPU and the WebCam were accessible. >> >> In testing XenServer, I can say that if I had a business, that's the >> product I would use. In the past month having tried Xen and ESXi, I >> was astonished with the ease of use for XenServer. >> >> As for Catalyst, version 12.2 (the latest currently) worked for me. >> >> Important to note that until I followed Andrews advice to omit the >> Catalyst Control Center, the installation resulted in a BSOD. > I saw similar issue whiling playing with XenClient. After discussing > with AMD GPU driver team, the conclusion was that the installer has a > bug. But I have not received any further update from them. Also manual > driver installation (after many tries) did fix problem for me. >> >> The solution, select "Custom" installation and uncheck the CCC. >> After the installation your first reboot should run some follow-up >> updates via cmd, you need to reboot a second time for fully >> functional drivers. >> >> Also, I had underscan on my monitor so I went out on a limb and >> re-ran the setup for Catalyst, and was able to get CCC installed with >> a second run through, which allowed me to fix my underscan issue. >> >> My conclusion is that the CCC requires some driver functionality that >> isn't available until after you install the drivers, this could be on >> all systems or it might be related to how HVM's handle the PCI >> devices, that much I can't say. >> >> >> >> Teo, >> >> I could be spouting nonsense, and if so I'm sure Wei can correct me, >> but I am pretty sure AMD engineers have been contributing to Xen for >> a while, and some patches have already been applied. Obviously it >> isn't flawless, I myself haven't gotten video at boot time, only at >> the login screen. >> > This is because VBIOS patch wasn't applied. But as I said before, my > VBIOS wasn't universal enough to put it as a production patch. So I am > hesitant to put it out. Dear Wei Huang at AMD Corporation, Please put your Xen VGA Passthrough patch out so that all of us can have a try. Thank you very much. -- Yours sincerely, Mr. Teo En Ming (Zhang Enming) Singapore >> Mine works on 4.1.2, but it is possible that 4.1.0 had less of these >> "patches" hence Sebastien's post. >> >> Also, I apologize as I did not properly word my opinion before. VGA >> Passthrough is new "for consumer components". In 2010 the number of >> desktop (not server) boards boasting VT-d functionality could >> probably be counted on one hand. To my understanding that means the >> technology is at most 3 years old, still a baby in my opinion. >> >> I didn't mean that the technology hadn't been implemented into >> various Hypervisors, just that it is clearly not a perfected feature. >> If you consider 3 years of consumer availability, dates become >> important when researching. Sebastien's post was May 2011, just shy >> of one year ago, and Thomas's was in 2010. >> >> There are newer patches still for ATI in Xen 4.2, which I intend to >> test over the next week. I have NOT gotten ATI to work at boot time, >> video starts at the login screen. >> >> I agree with Wei that drivers can contribute to BSOD's and errors, >> but when an install doesn't fail but the hardware reacts the same as >> before, I would like to assume the driver is irrelative. >> > Have you looked at XenClient project? It has a customized ATI > component which allows you to switch between VMs flawlessly. I think > it is the most mature Xen solution for GPU passthru in client area. Dear Wei Huang at AMD Corporation, May I know what is the XenClient project? >> >> ~Casey >> >> On Thu, Mar 29, 2012 at 4:11 PM, Wei Huang > > wrote: >> >> On 03/29/2012 01:35 PM, Teo En Ming (Zhang Enming) wrote: >>> Dear Casey DeLorme, >>> >>> This guy, Sebastien Gauthier, also has the same problems as us. >>> He was using Xen 4.1.0 and an ATI Radeon 4550. He applied Mr. >>> Wei Huang's patch. After installing the latest ATI/AMD Catalyst >>> drivers, he got a BSOD with Xen VGA Passthrough to Windows 7. >>> >>> Please read Sebastien Gauthier's case here: >>> >>> http://readlist.com/lists/lists.xensource.com/xen-users/11/59090.html >>> >>> Hence Sebastien Gauthier reported Xen VGA Passthrough with >>> PARTIAL SUCCESS, like us. >>> >>> Dear Tobias Geiger, >>> >>> You were saying that with ATI VGA cards, you do not need to >>> apply any Xen VGA Passthrough patches. But this guy Sebastien >>> Gauthier applied Mr. Wei Huang's patches to Xen 4.1.0 and got a >>> BSOD after installing ATI Catalyst drivers. Sebastien Gauthier >>> did not get 100% success with Xen VGA Passthrough to Windows 7 >>> using an ATI VGA card. >>> >> Hi Teo, >> >> The VBIOS patch I sent out did not work for all ATI cards. The >> patch itself assumed certain behavior of GPU VBIOS. But this >> doesn't apply to every GPU generation. From this perspective, my >> patch isn't universal. Also there are many factors, some of which >> are not in control by us (like graphics driver), can contribute >> to BSOD you mentioned. I am not in a position to debug it for >> everyone's card (as I don't have all cards). >> >> Thanks, >> -Wei >> >>> -- >>> Yours sincerely, >>> >>> Mr. Teo En Ming (Zhang Enming) >>> Singapore >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> On 29/03/2012 23:50, Teo En Ming (Zhang Enming) wrote: >>>> On 29/03/2012 12:29, Casey DeLorme wrote: >>>>> My mistake for not hitting "Reply to All", sorry. >>>> >>>> No worries Casey. >>>> >>>>> >>>>> It might be of some value to mention that my tests were with >>>>> Windows 7, I have no interest in using XP anymore. Also, I >>>>> did all of my testing through remote VNC, not once did I >>>>> actually get video, even 2D, working. >>>> >>>> I bought 2 copies of Windows XP Home Edition in the past >>>> because it is cheap, at S$145. I did not buy Windows 7 because >>>> it is expensive. I got video working all right, but only 2D. I >>>> cannot get 3D graphics working. >>>> >>>>> However, my errors are exactly as you described: >>>>> >>>>> 1. Windows recognizes the model (GTX 460), not "unknown PCI >>>>> device". >>>>> 2. Device code 43. >>>>> 3. No resources assigned to the device. >>>> >>>> We have the same set of errors. >>>> >>>>> >>>>> Might be worth mentioning, I was able to run the latest nVidia >>>>> driver installation without errors, but after rebooting there >>>>> was no change, same error code, still no video. >>>> >>>> Same situation here with the latest NVIDIA drivers. But I only >>>> have 2D video working. I can't get 3D video to work. >>>> >>>>> To me this would be evidence that driver version isn't a >>>>> problem, but then again I didn't have anything actually working. >>>> >>>> I agree that driver version isn't a problem. Something is wrong >>>> somewhere. >>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> I am an IT student in college, so my experience is limited to >>>>> mostly programming with very little knowledge of the >>>>> inner-workings of hardware. So, forgive me for being unable >>>>> to help with regards to memory addresses on the cards. >>>> >>>> I am hoping that Intel engineers and Xen developers would be >>>> able to help. >>>> >>>>> >>>>> I've been using *nix for about 4 years, and Windows since I my >>>>> age was a single digit. I have had experience setting up >>>>> server features such as web, database, and application servers >>>>> but I am still green when it comes to kernel or hardware >>>>> configuration. >>>> >>>> I started learning Linux/UNIX since the year 2005, that is >>>> about 7 years ago. I started using Windows when it was version >>>> 3.1. I love compiling the latest Linux kernel and assembling my >>>> own computer hardware. >>>> >>>>> >>>>> My Xen adventure began 35 days ago, and it is no exaggeration >>>>> to say that in those 35 days I have learned more about linux >>>>> than I had in the past two years. I like challenges as much >>>>> as the next IT person, but I ran out of time and ideas for >>>>> debugging my nVidia problems. The nVidia stretch of my >>>>> adventure lasted for 24 days through 54 fresh linux >>>>> installations accompanied by over 200~ pages worth of >>>>> documented failures and not a single pixel sighted. >>>> >>>> Why not make your documentation into PDF? It is a very popular >>>> document format. >>>> >>>>> >>>>> The ATI card took me a day, less than 12 hours of relatively >>>>> easy debugging by comparison to the aforementioned testing. I >>>>> do fully understanding financial constraints, but it is a >>>>> working solution and worth mentioning. I do not know what the >>>>> prices are like in Singapore, but in the states I was able to >>>>> buy an ATI Radeon HD 6870 for $160. For me it came down to >>>>> weighing my objectives against my curiosity. >>>> >>>> That ATI Radeon HD 6870 would cost me $279, I think. >>>> >>>>> >>>>> If you do continue your nVidia endeavors I wish you success, >>>>> but as in my former email VGA passthrough is a new frontier, >>>>> not even Guru's like David may not be able to help beyond >>>>> their own hardware experiences. >>>> >>>> I don't think VGA passthrough is a new frontier. Oracle >>>> VirtualBox and Linux KVM supports VGA passthrough as well. Xen >>>> ATI VGA Passthrough works out of the box, as Tobias Geiger >>>> suggested, but NVIDIA requires patches. >>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> Documentation is one problem I agree with you on 100%. I came >>>>> into this knowing relatively little about Linux & hardware, >>>>> and nothing about Xen, and most every guide I found assumed I >>>>> had been in a deep relationship with Linux for many years and >>>>> had a basic understanding of Xen commands. >>>> >>>> I started learning Xen since the year 2007, which is about 5 >>>> years ago. >>>> >>>>> >>>>> Like you, I intend to use those documented failures as well as >>>>> my recent success to create a comprehensive guide with >>>>> photographs, screen captures, and perhaps even videos going >>>>> from "assembled computer" to "Complete Xen Dom0 /w HVM & VGA >>>>> Passthrough". Provided the wiki will allow me to upload the >>>>> screenshots, I'll be certain to post it there. >>>> >>>> I will be looking forward to your documentation and videos. >>>> Right now Xen wiki allows uploading image files and PDF files. >>>> Why not create a PDF document and share it with all of us? It >>>> is known as portable document format and is very popular, but >>>> it appears that xen mailing lists don't like PDF format. >>>> >>>> _*I don't like wiki pages because anybody can edit and >>>> fundamentally mess up the wiki pages, even providing bogus and >>>> erroneous information. That's why I don't like creating wiki >>>> pages. Anybody can edit and mess up the information you have >>>> painstakingly created on the wiki pages. So please take note.*_ >>>> >>>> -- >>>> Yours sincerely, >>>> >>>> Mr. Teo En Ming (Zhang Enming) >>>> Singapore >>>> >>>> >>>>> >>>>> ~Casey >>>>> >>>>> On Wed, Mar 28, 2012 at 10:21 PM, Teo En Ming (Zhang Enming) >>>>> >>>> > wrote: >>>>> >>>>> Dearest Casey DeLorme, >>>>> >>>>> Thank you very very much for your kind feedback and input. >>>>> I would also like to thank Mr. Tobias Geiger, again, for >>>>> providing his suggestion on exposing the fourth memory >>>>> region in tools/firmware/hvmloader/acpi/dsdt.asl. _In any >>>>> case, either exposing the first 3 memory regions only or >>>>> exposing all the 4 memory regions does not work._ Sadly, >>>>> Tobias Geiger is unable to help me further. >>>>> >>>>> I have asked Jean David Techer, what about the 4th PCI >>>>> memory region? Why only expose the first 3 PCI memory >>>>> regions? I don't understand, of course. Jean David Techer >>>>> did not reply to my question. >>>>> >>>>> I have decided to post your prompt reply to the xen-users >>>>> and xen-devel mailing lists, in case people think that I >>>>> am finding fault with Jean David Techer, or trying to >>>>> irritate him, or trying to make him angry, or trying to >>>>> aggravate him. Jean David Techer replied me with an email >>>>> saying that I _spent too much time_ and _too bent_ on >>>>> solving the yellow exclamation mark glitch for my NVIDIA >>>>> Geforce 8400GS in Device Manager in Windows 8 Consumer >>>>> Preview and Windows XP Home Edition, and that I sent >>>>> *_stupid_* requests. Stupid requests? Did he read my >>>>> emails carefully, word by word? >>>>> >>>>> Casey DeLorme, please, can I confirm with you again that >>>>> you are getting the following errors after applying Jean >>>>> David Techer's Xen 4.2-unstable VGA Passthrough patches: >>>>> >>>>> *_(1) Yellow exclamation mark besides your NVIDIA GTX 460 >>>>> in Device Manager >>>>> (2) Windows has stopped this device because it has >>>>> reported problems. (Code 43) >>>>> (3) This device isn't using any resources because it has a >>>>> problem._* >>>>> >>>>> Jean David Techer insists that our technical issues are >>>>> due to a NVIDIA driver problem. He insists that you have >>>>> to install NVIDIA driver versions 275.33 WHQL and 275.50 >>>>> BETA. Any other NVIDIA driver versions (above 280.XX) will >>>>> not work, according to Jean David Techer. *_However, I >>>>> have tried installing NVIDIA driver versions 275.33 and >>>>> 275.50 from www.softpedia.com , >>>>> as he suggested, but it caused my Windows XP Home Edition >>>>> HVM virtual machine to be destroyed/terminated/crash after >>>>> a few minutes and my dom0 to crash as well._* NVIDIA >>>>> driver versions 275.33 and 275.50 for Windows XP 32-bit is >>>>> not available from the official NVIDIA website. >>>>> >>>>> So it is definitely not a NVIDIA driver problem. I suspect >>>>> that the technical issue has to do with *_MMIO BARs >>>>> pBAR:vBAR 1:1 matching_*. I don't think there is any >>>>> problem with vgabios-pt.bin extracted out from our NVIDIA >>>>> VGA cards, because I have performed a "hexdump -C" on my >>>>> extracted VGA BIOS EEPROM, or Electrically Erasable >>>>> Programmable Read Only Memory. >>>>> >>>>> Secondly, it does seem strange that Jean David Techer was >>>>> able to attain *_100%_*, ie. *_perfect success_* with Xen >>>>> 4.2-unstable VGA Passthrough to his Windows XP 32-bit and >>>>> 64-bit HVM domU. Have you watched his Youtube video? It is >>>>> only 4 minutes. Please do watch Jean David Techer's >>>>> Youtube video at the following URL: >>>>> >>>>> Jean David Techer's Xen 4.2-unstable VGA Passthrough to >>>>> Windows XP x64 HVM domU Youtube video link: >>>>> *_http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SaYO0ERW44_* >>>>> >>>>> I am *_appalled_* and *_baffle__d_* that he has attained >>>>> *_100% success_* while both of us have only attained >>>>> *_partial succes__s_* (*_i.e. less than 100%_*) on Xen >>>>> 4.2-unstable VGA Passthrough to Windows 8 Consumer Preview >>>>> and Windows XP. >>>>> >>>>> *_Solving the yellow exclamation mark issue is important >>>>> because we would not be able to run 3D graphics benchmarks >>>>> and play 3D games without solving it. I am not sending >>>>> silly emails about some yellow marks, as Jean David Techer >>>>> suggested. I can't even run Unigine Heaven DX11, and >>>>> 3dmark11 3D display benchmarks, because of the yellow >>>>> exclamation mark for NVIDIA Geforce 8400 GS in Device >>>>> Manager._* >>>>> >>>>> Casey DeLorme, with your report on relatively easy success >>>>> with ATI VGA cards, I think I would go the ATI way, but I >>>>> would have to spend a few hundred dollars compared to my >>>>> cheap SGD$44 NVIDIA Geforce 8400 GS card. And while >>>>> deciding to go the ATI way, I would also like to continue >>>>> troubleshooting with the NVIDIA problem, because I >>>>> consider it to be a technical challenge. >>>>> >>>>> In essence, Jean David Techner is considered to be a >>>>> "boss", or business owner, or proprietor, or >>>>> technopreneur, or entrepreneur, or technical support >>>>> officer, or customer support officer, or IT helpdesk >>>>> engineer, providing services like his forward-ported Xen >>>>> 4.2-unstable VGA Passthrough patches and the documentation >>>>> on his blog. I repost Jean David Techer's official website >>>>> here: >>>>> >>>>> Jean David Techer's Xen 4.2-unstable VGA Passthrough blog: >>>>> *_http://www.davidgis.fr/blog/index.php?2011/12/07/860-xen-42unstable-patches-for-vga-pass-through_* >>>>> >>>>> Jean David Techer's official website is his business venture. >>>>> >>>>> Basically, I am Jean David Techer's *_"customer"_*, trying >>>>> to obtain technical support from him. Of course, he is >>>>> *_not obliged_* to provide technical support to me since >>>>> he is providing *_free_* services. It is, after all, an >>>>> open source software project. Nobody is obliged to provide >>>>> anybody with technical support. *_To do Jean David Techer >>>>> justice, he replied most of my questions while avoiding >>>>> some of my questions._* >>>>> >>>>> Finally, I have also failed to obtain technical support >>>>> from Xen developers like Ian Campbell from *_Citrix >>>>> Corporation_* and Konrad Wilk from *_Oracle Corporation_*. >>>>> _*I have always provided all the steps which I have taken, >>>>> the configuration files and necessary documentation, and >>>>> kernel messages and error logs*_ to xen-users and >>>>> xen-devel mailing lists, but they keep insisting I did not >>>>> provide the information they required. I wondered why. I >>>>> think they did not read my emails carefully. They told me >>>>> they would not reply to me any more if I do not provide >>>>> the information they requested. _*But the problem is that >>>>> I have always provided information they requested!*_ I >>>>> think they missed some of my emails, or did not read my >>>>> emails carefully enough. I am an *_ardent supporter_* and >>>>> *_SERIOUS software tester_* for open source Xen >>>>> virtualization/hypervisor but they treated me lightly. _*I >>>>> always read my emails WORD BY WORD.*_ I have even went to >>>>> the point of making a video on the *_BUG_* and uploading >>>>> my video to Youtube. The video is only THREE minutes. >>>>> >>>>> _*As everybody says, a picture is worth a thousand words. >>>>> A video is worth a BILLION words!*_ >>>>> >>>>> I have also failed to obtain technical support from Xen >>>>> developers regarding Xen 4.2-unstable VGA Passthrough. >>>>> >>>>> I am hoping Xen 4.2 would have official support for Xen >>>>> VGA Passthrough for both NVIDIA and ATI cards. >>>>> >>>>> Casey DeLorme, thank you very much once again. I will be >>>>> making changes to my Xen, Linux Kernel and Xen VGA >>>>> Passthrough Documentation and will be releasing Version >>>>> 1.7 shortly. Jean David Techer's documentation assumes >>>>> some level of advanced Linux technical knowledge, so I am >>>>> writing documentation on my own so that everybody, not >>>>> just advanced Linux and Xen users, can follow. I have made >>>>> references to Jean David Techer's documentation in my own >>>>> documentation. >>>>> >>>>> I would be very happy if people would use my >>>>> documentation. Of course, it satisfies my ego and my >>>>> vanity. Haha. >>>>> >>>>> I have been un-employed for nearly three years now, and I >>>>> would hesitate to spend a few hundred dollars on an ATI >>>>> VGA card. I quit my job as an IT engineer 3 years ago >>>>> because my father suffered from lacunar infarct, or more >>>>> commonly known as stroke. My NVIDIA Geforce 8400 GS costs >>>>> only S$44. Please understand why I hesitate to buy an ATI >>>>> VGA card. The cheapest one costs SGD$279. >>>>> >>>>> I have a diploma in Mechanical+Electronics engineering >>>>> from Singapore Polytechnic and a Bachelor's degree in >>>>> Mechanical Engineering from the National University of >>>>> Singapore. But I do not have qualifications in Computer >>>>> Science or Information Technology. I have worked as an >>>>> Information Technology engineer in Defense Science and >>>>> Technology Agency, Ministry of Defense, Singapore, >>>>> National Computer Systems Pte Ltd, Asiasoft Online Pte >>>>> Ltd, and Ishinemax Singapore Pte Ltd. >>>>> >>>>> Google search terms: Frenchman Jean David Techer, >>>>> Singaporean Teo En Ming's Xen, Linux Kernel and Xen VGA >>>>> Passthrough Documentation, Xen 4.2-unstable VGA >>>>> Passthrough to Windows 8 Consumer Preview and Windows XP >>>>> HVM Virtual Machines >>>>> >>>>> Thank you very much for reading my lengthy email. I am >>>>> always courteous, saying "Please help me. Please. Please. >>>>> Please." and "Thank you very much for your kind >>>>> assistance" in my emails. >>>>> >>>>> Thank you very much. >>>>> >>>>> -- >>>>> Yours sincerely, >>>>> Mr. Teo En Ming (Zhang Enming) >>>>> Singapore Citizen >>>>> >>>>> cc: His Excellency The Prime Minister Mr. Lee Hsien Loong, >>>>> Prime Minister's Office, Republic of Singapore >>>>> >>>>> On 29/03/2012 03:53, Casey DeLorme wrote: >>>>>> Hi Teo, >>>>>> >>>>>> I tried David's patch files a while ago *_without >>>>>> success_*. I had Xen compiled with the patch files and >>>>>> my GTX 460 VGA BIOS rom, _*but I got the same as you, >>>>>> either a BSOD or Code 43 in Device Manager.*_ >>>>>> >>>>>> You sound plenty competent, but it's important to >>>>>> remember that you are pioneering a technology that for >>>>>> consumers is still in its infancy. Very few people are >>>>>> testing this with consumer equipment, so finding results >>>>>> seems to be a rarity. >>>>>> >>>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> >>>>> _______________________________________________ >>>>> Xen-users mailing list >>>>> Xen-users@lists.xen.org >>>>> http://lists.xen.org/xen-users >>>>> >>>>> >>>> >>>> >>> >>> >> >> >