What is Virtual GPU?

Virtualization technology has been in the ears of users from many years.But, Virtualization of GPU is a new concept that we will discuss further in the article before that lets get intact with "What GPU does?"

• How GPU works?

A GPU contains thousands of cores that complete processes in parallel to carry out a task in the minimum time unlike CPU. 3D Games, CAD processes are all mainly done in parallel tasks.

Obviously, any quad-core, Hexa-core and higher processors too can do these task  But when GPU can finish these task much efficiently than a processor, due to its parallel tasking it is better to have a dedicated video adapter to offload the work on CPU and have a better experience in whatever task you do.

• What is Virtual GPU?

Virtual GPU is based on a software that uses a physical GPU installed on a server to create virtual GPUs that can be used on multiple stations. With this technology there is no longer just a user and a platform relation but is now a platform and multiple users relationship.

As explained by Nvidia, The software includes drivers for each virtual machines, this enables each and every user to take the advantage of the virtual GPU and the amount of that was done by CPU alone is now offloaded to GPU that will provide user a much better experience than before.

• Fundamentals of virtualized GPU

1. API Intercept
2. Virtualized GPU
3. Pass-through

API Intercept- API Intercept accepts commands from API and sends them to GPU, then gets them back and shows them to the user. Since it is the oldest of these categories it doesn't have good support ability for 3-D intense softwares.

Virtualized GPU- It has far better performance than API Intercept. Since, it can gives applications direct access to a part of GPU and application compatibility is quite better of the mark.

Pass-through- It is the most expensive part so far in comparison to all three. It connects Virtual machines directly to a GPU, It has a multiple rendering to support multiple GPUs.

• CONCLUSION

Virtual GPU is a great technology to satisfy multiple users with a GPU. Though Intel, AMD and Nvidia are continuously working on this technology.

Virtual GPU software can be purchased in the stores from Nvida, AMD like Nvidia Quadro vDWS, Nvidia Grid vPC, Nvidia Grid vAPPS, AMD mxGPU, etc.

Hope this article cleared your doubts on Virtual GPU and let me know via E-mail at "yashkhatri76@gmail.com" on "how to setup Virtual GPU?".  

Cheers :)