i915-sriov-dkms/README.md

Linux i915 driver (dkms module) with SR-IOV support for linux 6.8-6.13

This repo is a code snapshot of the i915 module from https://github.com/intel/mainline-tracking/tree/linux/v6.12 and will randomly merge patches from the linux-stable tree.

Warning

This package is highly experimental, you should only use it when you know what you are doing.

You need to install this dkms module in both host and guest!

Tested kernel versions: 6.12.10-zen1/6.11.9-arch1/6.10.9-arch1/6.9.10-arch1/6.8.9-arch1 with ArchLinux

Required Kernel Parameters

intel_iommu=on i915.enable_guc=3 i915.max_vfs=7 module_blacklist=xe

Creating Virtual Functions (VF)

echo 2 > /sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:02.0/sriov_numvfs

You can create up to 7 VFs on Intel UHD Graphics

Arch Linux Installation Steps (Tested Kernel 6.12.6-zen1)

For Arch Linux users, it is available in AUR. i915-sriov-dkms

You also can download the package from the releases page and install it with pacman -U.

PVE Host Installation Steps (Tested Kernel 6.8)

1. Install build tools: apt install build-* dkms
2. Install the kernel and headers for desired version: apt install proxmox-headers-6.8 proxmox-kernel-6.8 (for unsigned kernel).
3. Download deb package from the releases page
4. Install the deb package with apt: apt install ./i915-sriov-dkms_2024.12.30_amd64.deb
5. Once finished, the kernel commandline needs to be adjusted: nano /etc/default/grub and change GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT to intel_iommu=on i915.enable_guc=3 i915.max_vfs=7, or add to it if you have other arguments there already.
6. Update grub and initramfs by executing update-grub and update-initramfs -u
7. Optionally pin the kernel version and update the boot config via proxmox-boot-tool.
8. In order to enable the VFs, a sysfs attribute must be set. Install sysfsutils, then do echo "devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:02.0/sriov_numvfs = 7" > /etc/sysfs.conf, assuming your iGPU is on 00:02 bus. If not, use lspci | grep VGA to find the PCIe bus your iGPU is on.
9. Reboot the system.
10. When the system is back up again, you should see the number of VFs under 02:00.1 - 02:00.7. Again, assuming your iGPU is on 00:02 bus.
11. You can passthrough the VFs to LXCs or VMs. However, never touch the PF which is 02:00.0 under any circumstances.

Linux Guest Installation Steps (Tested Kernel 6.2)

We will need to run the same driver under Linux guests. We can repeat the steps for installing the driver. However, when modifying command line defaults, we use i915.enable_guc=3 instead of i915.enable_guc=3 i915.max_vfs=7. Furthermore, we don't need to use sysfsutils to create any more VFs since we ARE using a VF. Once that's done, update grub and initramfs, then reboot. Once the VM is back up again, do dmesg | grep i915 to see if your VF is recognized by the kernel. Optionally, install vainfo, then do vainfo to see if the iGPU has been picked up by the VAAPI.

Windows Guest

It is required to set the host CPU type in Proxmox to "host". I was able to get it working without further fiddling in the config files but your mileage may vary (i5-12500T with UHD 770). I've used Intel gfx version 4316 to get it working. Here's a link to download it. (https://www.intel.com/content/www/us/en/download/741626/780560/intel-arc-pro-graphics-windows.html)

See also: https://github.com/strongtz/i915-sriov-dkms/issues/8#issuecomment-1567465036

Manual Installation Steps

1. Install build tools: apt install build-essential dkms git / pacman -S base-devel dkms git.
2. Install the kernel and headers for desired version: apt install linux-headers-$(uname -r) / pacman -S linux-headers.
3. Clone the repository: git clone https://github.com/strongtz/i915-sriov-dkms.git.
4. Add the module to DKMS: dkms add ./i915-sriov-dkms.
5. Install the module with DKMS: dkms install i915-sriov-dkms/2025.01.22.
6. Once finished, the kernel commandline needs to be adjusted: nano /etc/default/grub and change GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT to intel_iommu=on i915.enable_guc=3 i915.max_vfs=7, or add to it if you have other arguments there already.
7. Update grub and initramfs by executing update-grub and update-initramfs -u / for Arch Linux grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg and mkinitcpio -P.
8. Optionally use sysfsutils to set the number of VFs on boot. Install sysfsutils, then do echo "devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:02.0/sriov_numvfs = 7" > /etc/sysfs.conf, assuming your iGPU is on 00:02 bus. If not, use lspci | grep VGA to find the PCIe bus your iGPU is on.
9. Reboot the system.

Uninstallation

apt

Remove the package with apt remove i915-sriov-dkms

pacman

Remove the package with pacman -R i915-sriov-dkms

manual

Remove the dkms module with dkms remove i915-sriov-dkms/2025.01.22

Credits

Major contributors to this repository are listed below.

• @strongtz Create the initial dkms module
• @zhtengw Rebase on the linux-intel-lts (v5.15, v6.1) , support for v6.1~v6.4, participation in 15+ issues
• @bbaa-bbaa Rebase on the mainline-tracking linux/v6.12 branch, support for v6.8~v6.13, participation in 10+ issues
• @pasbec Major refactor to the repo, support for (v6.2, v6.5, v6.8), participation in 20+ issues
• @shenwii Support for (v6.7, v6.9)
• @MotherOfTheGracchi Support for v6.5.3
• @michael-pptf Several updates to README.md, participation in 20+ issues