Hyper-V GPU Passthrough with NVIDIA A100: No Display Fix

Setting up GPU passthrough with Hyper-V, especially with a powerful GPU like the NVIDIA A100, can be a complex task, especially when dealing with the nuances of ensuring the GPU is properly accessed by the VM without a display output issue. Below is a guide on how to troubleshoot and configure Hyper-V for GPU passthrough with an NVIDIA A100, assuming no display output:

Steps to Configure Hyper-V GPU Passthrough with NVIDIA A100:

1. Ensure System Requirements:

• Your host system should have a CPU that supports SLAT (Second Level Address Translation).
• Ensure that your BIOS/UEFI has virtualization (VT-x/AMD-V) and IOMMU enabled.
• Ensure your NVIDIA A100 is correctly seated and recognized by the system.

2. Install Necessary Software:

• Hyper-V: Make sure Hyper-V is installed and enabled on your Windows host.
• NVIDIA Drivers: Install the latest NVIDIA drivers for your A100 on the host machine. These drivers are essential for recognizing and configuring the GPU for passthrough.

3. Enable GPU Passthrough (Discrete Device Assignment):

• Open Windows PowerShell as Administrator.
• Identify the GPU device location. Run:
  powershell Get-PnpDevice -PresentOnly | Where-Object { $_.Service -eq 'nvlddmkm' }
• Note the Device Instance Path, which is needed to disable the device on the host and pass it through to the VM.
• Disable the device on the host:
  powershell Disable-PnpDevice -InstanceId "YourDeviceInstancePath" -Confirm:$false
  Replace "YourDeviceInstancePath" with the actual path noted from the previous command.
• Detach the device from the host:
  powershell Dismount-VMHostAssignableDevice -LocationPath "PCIROOT(0)#PCI(0300)#PCI(0000)" -Force
  Replace the LocationPath with the appropriate path for your GPU.
• Assign the GPU to the VM:
  powershell Add-VMAssignableDevice -LocationPath "PCIROOT(0)#PCI(0300)#PCI(0000)" -VMName "YourVMName"
  Replace YourVMName with the name of your VM.

4. Configure VM for GPU Passthrough:

• Open Hyper-V Manager.
• Right-click on the VM and select Settings.
• Go to Add Hardware and select RemoteFX 3D Video Adapter if available (Note: RemoteFX is deprecated, but relevant for older configurations).
• If using DDA (Discrete Device Assignment) directly, ensure no conflicting virtual GPUs (like the default adapter) are present.
• Allocate sufficient resources to the VM. An NVIDIA A100 is a powerful card and typically requires substantial CPU and memory to leverage its capabilities effectively.

5. Install GPU Drivers in the VM:

• Boot the VM and install the NVIDIA A100 drivers within the guest OS.
• If you’re running a Linux-based guest OS, you may need to install additional packages or configure X11/Wayland to recognize the GPU.

6. Check GPU Utilization and Logs:

• Verify the GPU is recognized in the guest VM. For Windows, you can use Device Manager; for Linux, use lspci or nvidia-smi.
• Ensure there are no errors in the host’s Event Viewer related to Hyper-V or GPU passthrough.

Troubleshooting Display Issues:

• No Display Output:
• Check if the VM’s display settings are configured correctly.
• Ensure that the remote connection settings (like RDP or VNC) are correctly set up to view the VM’s output.
• Verify that the drivers are correctly installed and up-to-date both on the host and the guest OS.
• Sometimes, the VM might be using a virtual display adapter (like the Hyper-V default) instead of the passed-through GPU. Disable or adjust the VM’s settings to prefer the physical GPU.
• BIOS/UEFI:
• Some BIOS settings might affect how devices are passed through or initialized. Ensure that the GPU is set to be controlled by the host OS.
• Firmware and Driver Compatibility:
• Check for firmware updates for your motherboard and GPU.
• Ensure that the NVIDIA A100 drivers are specifically the ones supporting passthrough (DDA) scenarios.

Additional Tips:

• Consult NVIDIA Documentation:
• NVIDIA provides detailed documentation for setting up GPU passthrough, especially for their enterprise-grade GPUs like the A100. Refer to their official NVIDIA GPU passthrough documentation.
• Virtualization Platform Alternatives:
• If issues persist with Hyper-V, consider other virtualization platforms like VMware ESXi or Proxmox that might offer more robust support for GPU passthrough.

Conclusion

Hyper-V GPU passthrough with an NVIDIA A100 requires careful setup and configuration. By following the steps above, you can ensure that your GPU is properly passed through to your VM, allowing it to leverage the full power of the NVIDIA A100. If you encounter persistent issues, reviewing logs and NVIDIA’s extensive documentation will be key to resolving any setup hurdles.