virtualization of a PCI GPIB ?

[VM-tech]

Has anyone ever successfully installed a PCI GPIB on a virtual machine?  I am specifically trying to run an XP virtual on a Win7 64bit host.  I am using "Virtual PC 2007 SP1".  The host has a PCI GPIB card that works fine.   I can install the drivers, and see the card on the virtual, it won't actually communicate with it.  The GPIB is not a NI but am willing to buy NI if it works.

I can't find much on the web about PCI cards and virtualization.  There is very little documentation which leads me to believe it works.

BTW, the host is an embedded system in a *very* expensive piece of hardware.

-neal

[Adam G]

Hello Neal,

I do not beleive that it is possible to get a PCI-GPIB device to work on a virtual machine. Our PCI-GPIB devices will work on Windows 7 64 bit machines though. It just will get installed on the emulation layer. Please let me know if you have anymore questions. Have a great day!

Best Regards,

Adam G 

[VM-tech]

Have you ever tested it on HyperV?  I hear it has better IO virtualization. (IOV)   -neal

[Adam G]

Hello Neal,

I have never tested this on HyperV. I am not sure if it will work. Since it is another virtualization software I am not sure it would even work. You should not have a problem, though, using it on your Windows 7 machine you have now. Has anyone else used HyperV?

Best Regards,

Adam G 

[JasonSmith]

You are not going to be able to use a PCI-GPIB (from NI or any other vendor) in a virtual machine, including with HyperV. As Adam said, you can use your PCI-GPIB natively in Windows 7 64-bit. We do not specifically test or support any of our GPIB interfaces on virtual machines, but I know that many people successfully use our GPIB-USB-HS in virtual machines. I have personally used it in VmWare, but other VM platforms may work as well.

I know that it is not compatible with Virtual PC, which is also what the Windows XP Mode in Windows 7 is based on. The best recommendation is to run your application natively in Windows 7 if at all possible.

-Jason S.

[VM-tech]

IOV - - is the magic solution.

It appears that PCIe virtualization is either working, or in the near future, for 2008R2.  Here are some links on the matter:

   http://www.adminkernel.com/virtualization/what-is-sr-iov

   http://wikibon.org/wiki/v/IO_Virtualization

PCI bus virtualization, however, does notg appear to work now or ever. (I tested it on 2008r2) I may need to switch to a PCIe GPIB card.

-neal

[K1200LT_rider]

I started a thread talking about Virtual Machine advantages with a challenge for NI.

forum thread: PCI Passthrough with Virtual Machines