Finally a way to run E:D under Linux!

[DaveB]

Main linux workstation: To the right of desk, right hand monitor. Has local kb & mouse for troubleshooting but they usually sit on top of the case gathering dust. Synergy client. Analog stereo connections to sound desk. Standalone UPS.
Main windows workstation and gaming system: To the left of desk. Left hand and center monitors. input devices on desk. Synergy host. digital stereo connections to sound desk, digital 5:1 feed to surround system. Standalone UPS.
Shared NAS, server systems etc: 38U 19" rack in basement with integrated UPS and cooling. Consoles connected via KVM to rack-mounted display and keyboard. Accessible via VNC from either workstation.

Run whatever I want on the appropriate native OS.

 

[evanevery]

VM's will always be compromised by exposing generic resources to the client O/S.

For instance: Don't ever expect that you will ever get optimized NVIDIA functionality from the hobbled video device which is presented to your client VM.

VM's are simply not for high performance applications (or those with high resource demands). VM's are best implemented for clients which can't/don't make use of maximal resources.

If your app needs a lot of resources, or places high demands on your hardware, then you should be running in an O/S on bare metal. E.D. is such an application...

I do run ED in a Hypervisor on my Windows box, but I only use it when I need to transfer cargo (ie. modular terminals) between my primary and secondary accounts (as a "bank"). I can live with the lousy performance for that specific operation.

If you run ED in a VM, your gonna suffer performance issues.

 

[EUS]

I agree. I'm not saying Linux is bad. I used to run a couple of PCs on it and I still have my Raspberry Pi. But I just don't see the point of running Linux, then spending half your time running (or trying to run) Windows software through it, especially when it can sometimes be suboptimal. But it's a bit of a catch-22 situation. If more people used Linux, then more software developers would support it. But one of the things that puts a lot of people off using it, is having less software and driver support from the mainstream. Though obviously, things have improved massively in the last decade or so.

I stopped futzing with WINE, etc years ago, never worked for me. Dual boot.
BUT, I've recently discovered that Steam now runs natively on Debian, and the last couple months I've been playing my favorite game of all time, CS : S on linux without having to mess with anything.
Now if only the tax software company woke up, I'd ditch MS altogether.
As far as elite goes, well, I await Q4 offerings before logging back in, or spending more money here, the game design is decoupling further from my tastes.

 

[IndigoWyrd]

I'd say the better way is to run Linux VM (where all of your "serious stuff" will live) under "lean" Windows host.

The outer Windows host is used just for games or other software which is windows only. While you can use Linux VM for majority of your surfing/work/etc.

This setup gives minimal headache with compatibility and performance due to Windows having direct path to hardware and Linux not actually needing it that much.

For added improvement you can also run Linux VM in seamless mode if your VM software supports it.

Actually, install ESX first, then virtualize both Windows and Linux. Make them as fat or lean as you like, ESX doesn't care.

 

[SentineI]

I did - it shows up as "extended" Memory, but not actual VRAM

You just need to edit your config.sys file.






(sorry, couldn't resist!)

 

[RidingTheFlow]

Actually, install ESX first, then virtualize both Windows and Linux. Make them as fat or lean as you like, ESX doesn't care.

As was mentioned above, you'll never get native gaming performance from running under VM - and I can attest to that. Rather'd be running my gaming environment on bare metal.

 

[John Rhys]

I do love the philosophy of switching to Linux to escape the evil that is Windows, but then running Windows programs through WINE and other solutions. That's partly why I stopped using Linux, because I was just running or trying to run Windows programs through it anyway.

There is a HUGE difference in running Windows Programs through Wine and running Windows.

Congratulations.

Can you share also your HW co figuration (cpu, video card, etc)

Ryzen 1600 @ 3.9 GHz, 16 GB of 3000 MHz Ram, RX 480 with 8 GB VRAM and running it on Antergos ("easy" Arch Linux).

I'd say the better way is to run Linux VM (where all of your "serious stuff" will live) under "lean" Windows host.

The outer Windows host is used just for games or other software which is windows only. While you can use Linux VM for majority of your surfing/work/etc.

This setup gives minimal headache with compatibility and performance due to Windows having direct path to hardware and Linux not actually needing it that much.

For added improvement you can also run Linux VM in seamless mode if your VM software supports it.

The reason for getting away from Windows as my "main" System was (and still is), that i don't trust Microsoft any more with anything. Running Windows in a VM is different, since the VM can't access any of my sensitive Data - also, i'm using it for Gaming and absolutely nothing else. Also that i had to "give up" the sovereign right to do what i want with my Windows install. I know what i'm doing and i know what risks i have, when turning off Automatic Updates and Microsoft stripping that right from me and bothering me with Updates is unacceptable for me (i even use the Enterprise Version of Windows 10 and reinstall every 180 days...)

You don't need to pass through every PCI lane, though. unless you simply must have your windows install on your NVMe drive, that shouldn't be an issue. What am I missing here? I don't understand.

I can't change the priority of PCIe Lanes. If the NVMe Drive is connected, it automatically disables the second PCIe x16 slot, so everything connected there simply won't show up anywhere.

As was mentioned above, you'll never get native gaming performance from running under VM - and I can attest to that. Rather'd be running my gaming environment on bare metal.

That's simply not true. Running a VM with PCIe Passthrough will give you native Performance, because not one CPU Instruction will be translated, they are all run native on the CPU. The difference is that the memory adresses are "reseverd" for the VM and are isolated (at least, that was the theory, until Meltdown and Spectre came...however, "we" AMD users are barely affected because of the totally different implementation of AMDs Memory Controller). There CAN be performance issues with Disk I/O, but that can be also overcome relatively easy.

 

[Jankules]

WoW!