Utilising integrated GPU via Remote Desktop
I'm trying to get a dedicated server with an integrated GPU to utilise it for Remote Desktop activities to reduce the CPU when running 3D apps and video. I've been messing about with this for days and nothing seems to make any difference.
As far as I can tell I have everything I need installed for an Intel GPU, and xorg's logging suggests the GPU is recognised and GPU acceleration is enabled for glamor but it's still using software rendering for everything.
I'm using the NoMachine server on the dedi with LXDE for the desktop.
I'm getting the feeling what I'm trying to do isn't actually feasible for whatever reason, so any guidance would be appreciated.
Comments
What OS?
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Debian
My continuing investigation suggests that VirtualGL might be the solution, but at the moment I don't have it working properly.
Give me a few minutes I am just about done writing a paer for class and I will throw out some suggestions.
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VirtualGL was the answer, needed to install and configure it, then tell NoMachine to use it - now the 3D apps are using the GPU.
Firefox isn't yet, so I still need to figure that out.
Okay let's start here what do the xorg logs say?
URL Shortener | YetiNode | Come join us on the MetalVPS IRC channel!!! | Don't be a jerk, let YetiNode do the work.
they say "fuck you"
youtube.com/watch?v=k1BneeJTDcU
All of my VMs: https://nodecheck.net/s/otusibrc/
hmmm interesting
URL Shortener | YetiNode | Come join us on the MetalVPS IRC channel!!! | Don't be a jerk, let YetiNode do the work.
Logs are clean, the only errors are related to fbdev and visa which don't make any difference here.
After properly configuring VirtualGL the Remote Desktop now reports the GPU as the renderer in glxinfo (instead of llvmpipe) and 3D apps are working so I think the base config is fine. From a quick google, the issue with Firefox might be app specific, I'm going to uninstall ESR and grab the latest stable build and see if that makes a difference I can see some earlier versions of Firefox had issues with VirtualGL.
Entirely possible I don't use FF anymore. I left it about 20 iterations ago. If that does not work try an earlier version and see if it is a bug. They may have inadvertanly broken something in recent upgrades and no-one has caught it yet.
URL Shortener | YetiNode | Come join us on the MetalVPS IRC channel!!! | Don't be a jerk, let YetiNode do the work.
Chromium works so I guess something's not working in Firefox so I'm falling back to OpenGL there - that's OK, I don't really care which browser I use.
Next is video playback.
Good luck man if you need anything let me know maybe I will be able to help out
URL Shortener | YetiNode | Come join us on the MetalVPS IRC channel!!! | Don't be a jerk, let YetiNode do the work.
Thanks, brother, much appreciated.
Anything for right hand man
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URL Shortener | YetiNode | Come join us on the MetalVPS IRC channel!!! | Don't be a jerk, let YetiNode do the work.
Classic. I made it all the way to Oregon once.
Only once? Damn you must not have been drunk enough
URL Shortener | YetiNode | Come join us on the MetalVPS IRC channel!!! | Don't be a jerk, let YetiNode do the work.
To be fair, I was playing the arcade one where the controls are busted and it moves at super speed
Oh yeah the borken arcade joystick defese almost forgot that one
URL Shortener | YetiNode | Come join us on the MetalVPS IRC channel!!! | Don't be a jerk, let YetiNode do the work.
Why this?
Take it easy.
Relja of House Novović, the First of His Name, King of the Plains, the Breaker of Chains, WirMach Wolves pack member
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Applied to same changes to my old Terrahost server, got everything running through the GPU but performance is substantially worse (although CPU usage is basically nothing) and there are now issues with the resolution, so I’m going to have to roll everything back. Ho hum.
Have you tried Virgl? Its performance isn't too bad and results in lower CPU usage.
Also unlike VirtualGL you don't have to fiddle with Xorg settings.
I've used it a few times with a VNC server, I can't see why it wouldn't work with NoMachine.
All you have to do is start a Virgl server in the background and specify the
GALLIUM_DRIVER=virpipeenvironment variable for the applications that need 3D acceleration.I've had success with it running Chromium and Firefox.
For example for running Firefox with 3D acceleration:
virgl_test_servercomes with thevirgl-serverpackage on Debian.Make sure the user running the Virgl server is part of the
renderandvideogroup.I haven't - NoMachine specifically has a setting to enable VirtualGL support for the entire desktop which is how I got turned on to it, but this might be a better workaround as there are reasonable number of apps that don't work when managed that way. I'll give it a shot on the Terrahost box where having Xorg installed seems to mess up the way the desktop runs for reasons I've yet to ascertain.