Forwarding a real video card in a VM with ReactOS

As part of the second ReactOS hackfest on August 14 in Cologne, several presentations by the project developers were scheduled. The first speaker was Colin Fink and spoke about a new way of testing video cards in ReactOS.



Colin assembled a server for test needs, which embodies the idea of ​​using a real video card in a virtual machine. This method simplifies the collection of debug information and will allow you to isolate the problems associated with the operation of this video card from other related problems on real hardware.
')
In addition, this method opens up possibilities for remote testing and debugging of physical devices for developers from anywhere in the World. Moreover, now ReactOS testing with real video cards will be held regularly and automated.


Download PDF can be link

The server uses a technology stack made up of Intel VT-d, Ubuntu 16 LTS, QEMU virtual machine, PCI-Express card forwarding method, and eRIC Express KVM-over-IP adapters, in order to ultimately get a ReactOS virtual machine that interacts with real copy of the video card.

Motherboard Supermicro X8DTH-6

Characteristics of the server.

Access to the test server can be obtained by any project participant by prior arrangement with Colin, subject to availability of free time slots.