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Linux is a family of open source Unix-like operating systems based on the Linux kernel, an operating system kernel first released on September 17, 1991 by Linus Torvalds. Linux is typically packaged in a Linux distribution (or distro for short).

Distributions include the Linux kernel and supporting system software and libraries, many of which are provided by the GNU Project. Many Linux distributions use the word "Linux" in their name, but the Free Software Foundation uses the name GNU/Linux to emphasize the importance of GNU software, causing some controversy.

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Linux + gaming + KVM + multiple monitors? (lemm.ee)

submitted 1 month ago by [email protected] to c/[email protected]

17 comments fedilink hide all child comments

So I've been looking into moving back entirely to Linux, but I play a lot of games so would likely need access to windows. I'm considering using KVM as dualbooting isn't really something I'd want. I've some questions I don't really get from how this setup would work:

I have 3 monitors. I have 1 Nvidia 2060. I imagine I might have to get a cheap-ish 2nd video card for Linux as the 2060 would have to be passed through to the guest (windows) VM.. right? (I have integrated graphics, but not enough connections for the 3 monitors on it)
how do you switch between playing on the host and playing on the guest? I.e. if a game runs fine native on Linux, I'd want to use that instead of the windows vm. Is it possible to use the Nvidia card I'd normally pass through on the host? The only thing I can think of here is to run a Linux VM on the Linux host so the card can be passed through to it..? Or is it just not worth it and better to stick to just playing on the windows VM?
how do multiple monitors behave in this? E.g. I connect the 2 monitors on the left/right to the weak card which I dont have yet. I connect the middle monitor to both cards. Once I launch the VM I change the input on the main monitor to the connection with the Nvidia card. How will my monitors behave (and will I have any control over it)? E.g. will I be able to move the cursor across from the left monitor through the middle monitor and to the right or would they act more like 2 different PCs?
how do other things work, like microphone? E.g. can I have discord running on Linux and talk in voice chat, while also using the microphone to talk in game chat in the windows VM?

Answering any of them is useful, thanks in advance. Also if I misunderstood how this setup is meant to work, feel free to correct me.

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[–] [email protected] 6 points 1 month ago (1 children)

It's incorrect. I have 2 AMD cards, I can detach it from linux before booting the guest. After I shut down the guest I have to log out in Gnome to make the card usable again, but no reboot required. It depends on how you set it up. I have a single 34" monitor with 2 inputs, connected to both cards.

I recommend to read about this topic, it would be quicker than waiting for people to answer, your questions were answered multiple times. I recommend the vfio wiki on the r*ddit a lot of good links are collected there: https://old.reddit.com/r/VFIO/wiki/index

[–] [email protected] 1 points 1 month ago

Thank you, that's useful!