5.3. Single Root I/O Virtualization
Single Root I/O Virtualization (SR-IOV) is a technology that allows a single physical network adapter to appear as multiple virtual adapters able to be passed to and used by virtual machines. Think of it like having one highway that can create multiple dedicated lanes for different vehicles, each with direct access to their destination without traffic jams.
The CN5000 Omni-Path implements SR-IOV with the following key features:
Up to seven Virtual Functions (VFs) per Physical Function (PF): This means one physical CN5000 SuperNIC can support up to seven separate virtual connections.
Direct hardware access: Each Virtual Machine (VM) gets its own dedicated pathway to the network hardware.
Isolation and security: Each VF operates independently, ensuring one VM cannot interfere with another.
Important Notes
Driver Requirements: Ensure the hfi1 driver is properly installed and loaded.
Persistence: SR-IOV settings are not persistent across reboots. Consider adding configuration to system startup scripts.
Procedure | Reference |
|---|---|
Enable platform settings | |
Enable IOMMU | |
Enable large prefetchable BAR support (optional) | |
Configure SR-IOV per operating system instructions |