VMWare W11 on Linux Hosts enable 3d and Hardware acceleration

jimbo45 · Aug 9, 2021

Hi folks
Those running W11 as a VM on Linux Hosts may need to ensure BOTH these lines are present in the VM's config file (the .vmx file)
Add with any text editor :

mks.enable3d = "TRUE"
mks.gl.allowBlacklistedDrivers = "TRUE"

The double quotes are correct

If you run the same VM on a WINDOWS HOST - the same VM will run (99.9999% of time) without change on either Linux of Windows Hosts -- remove those 2 lines in the .vmx file on Windows Hosts otherwise s the VM will error on starting.

Note also choose the I MOVED IT option and not the I COPIED IT one otherwise you will need to re-activate Windows. (Or copy the GUUID before powering on the ist time).

On Linux HOSTS VMWare wks 16 and the VMWarePlayer will run without issue even if you have the KVM/QEMU Hypervisor running - VM's created under both Virtual software platforms can co-exist and run concurrently.

Cheers
jimbo

Hopachi · Aug 20, 2021

That should apply on a Windows host as well...

Do you have the rounded corners in the UI of the VM?

For me the extra eye-candy are not relevant since I use AeroLite theme but those may provide indication that 3D accel is active.
Not sure... there are other ways to test 3D of course.

Good to see that VMWare keeps it up on top for 3D VM support.

As a side note, getting consumer-simple paravirtualized 3D on other hypervisors is practically a no.
Lately I've noticed that on QEMU/KVM the virtio-win guest drivers provide a virtio-gpu on Windows. Interesting. Still early I believe since there is no 3D at the moment and provides fewer screen resolutions, from what I noticed in W11 VM. But interesting to see another choice of paravirtualised gpu (besides QXL) is available. On Linux VMs you then of course have 3D on the more evolved virtio-gpu.

jimbo45 · Aug 20, 2021

Hopachi said:
That should apply on a Windows host as well...

Do you have the rounded corners in the UI of the VM?

For me the extra eye-candy are not relevant since I use AeroLite theme but those may provide indication that 3D accel is active.
Not sure... there are other ways to test 3D of course.

Good to see that VMWare keeps it up on top for 3D VM support.

As a side note, getting consumer-simple paravirtualized 3D on other hypervisors is practically a no.
Lately I've noticed that on QEMU/KVM the virtio-win guest drivers provide a virtio-gpu on Windows. Interesting. Still early I believe since there is no 3D at the moment and provides fewer screen resolutions, from what I noticed in W11 VM. But interesting to see another choice of paravirtualised gpu (besides QXL) is available. On Linux VMs you then of course have 3D on the more evolved virtio-gpu.

Hi there
the best way forward on that for KVM -- you need to ensure IOMMAX is enabled in the HOST (REAL BIOS), and then pass thru the graphics card so native graphics on the VM can be used -- If you don't have 2 graphics adapters sometimes you can pass thru the actual graphics card to the VM and use the built in VGA adapter for Host Console communication -- a bit fiddly to set up but works great -- even better if you have 2 graphics adapters !!! A lot of NAS type servers have the old VGA adapter connector plus separate DVD / HDMI graphics ports so useable.

Cheers
jimbo

Hopachi · Aug 20, 2021

IOMMAX?
Never heard of that one.
If I google it, all leads to your posts. So please enlighten me.

You mean IOMMU?
Yes, I have this one.

But technically the host will be without GUI if I give the single gpu to VM, I don't think it will allow it.

jimbo45 · Aug 20, 2021

Hopachi said:
IOMMAX?
Never heard of that one.
If I google it, all leads to your posts. So please enlighten me.

You mean IOMMU?
Yes, I have this one.

But technically the host will be without GUI if I give the single gpu to VM, I don't think it will allow it.