[x86-64] Running LE as a VM in proxmox?

    As I've described in another subject I'll be getting a N150-based mini PC, offering 2 HDMI ports.

    Is making a VM running LE in Proxmox something worthwhile, if doable at all, by passing through the GPU? Has anyone done it in a config like this?

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    It's possible and has been done. It's not something we formally support though, so there's (intentionally) no written guides on the process. Note that LE supports Docker (via an add-on) so if the goal is to run a bunch of other apps on the same hardware, perhaps investigate using containerised apps rather than using Proxmox.

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    cosmos, Here is an unofficial guide found when using the search feature in forum.

    Thread

    Quick guide to running LE in ProxMox

    There are a few threads here with useful information but also a lot of guesses and probably old requirements. I just got things working and thought I'd condense what worked.

    Updated 5-12-2024 with LE 12.0 and Proxmox 8.1.4

    Before Chewitt can say it.....
    1) VMWare isn't supported, but there is an OVA that makes installing on ESXi, Workstation, or Fusion very easy. Personally, I've used it for years without issue, but I'm completely done with any VMWare products after the changes Broadcom made…
    akaylor
    May 13, 2024 at 6:29 AM

    chewitt thanks for the info. I did recall seeing back at the time that virtualized environment (full or para) were not supported, that's why I've abstained. Been using PVE and ESXi at work for years now, but never using pass-through, albeit from the occasional USB drive.

    Never used docker and I'm tempted to do so, but I think that it would be better to go full VM to pass through the entire GPU to LE.

    Still, once more thank you buddy for addressing my questions all these years :)

    Grasshopper thanks! I've seen a couple of posts earlier, plus some written in the proxmox forum. For example: https://forum.proxmox.com/threads/igpu-p…ics-530.138810/

    Be aware that gpu path through can be buggy if you restart the VM. I had it several times in the past with different setups that it stopped working after x-days and you needed to reboot the host (that is not LE related). At other pve instances it worked like a charm :)

    In general that works pretty well even if you path through the primary gpu without a second one.

    Glad to hear that!

    Basically I do not have a home lab, even though I do have a very old NAS, APs and a multitude of systems. I never had an always on system with low wattage and horsepower to spare. That's why I was thinking virtualizing the LE instance. I'm not really sure whether I'll follow the VM route TBH though, perhaps I'll follow a minimal energy-footprint approach instead. But atm I'm considering all options ;)

    One question: was hypervisor overhead significant in your case? That is, was the host (proxmox perhaps) load significant when idle and on playback?

    Quote from cosmos

    was hypervisor overhead significant in your case?

    from observation basically ~1%

    no hard numbers

    likewise (pure guessing) you draw more power if you have the vm with gpu path trough enabled because the gpu is not gonne go into sleep any more - no idea if 0,1W or 10W


    overall remember proxmox/debian/linux does not enable all power saving options by default, you need to manually enable them to save some additional amount