Arch Linux

dantakka

Member

Registered: 2018-03-25

Posts: 11

Loading VIRTIO kernel modules

I am installing KVM/QEMU on my machine following the ArchWiki. My processor supports hardware virtualization and all KVM modules are available in my kernel and are automatically loaded too. VIRTIO modules are available too but are not loaded. ArchWiki provides the following list of para-virtualized devices:

• network device (virtio-net)

• block device (virtio-blk)

• controller device (virtio-scsi)

• serial device (virtio-serial)

• balloon device (virtio-balloon)

Using modinfo I was able to check every module except the "serial device (virtio-serial)" as the modinfo returns an error. Does this module still exists? Why do I need it and how can I enable it?
Thank you!

Lone_Wolf

Member

From: Netherlands, Europe

Registered: 2005-10-04

Posts: 11,919

Re: Loading VIRTIO kernel modules

virtio-serial is not a kernel module, but a special device used by SPICE .
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/QEMU#SPICE

---

Disliking systemd intensely, but not satisfied with alternatives so focusing on taming systemd.

(A works at time B)  && (time C > time B ) ≠  (A works at time C)

dantakka

Member

Registered: 2018-03-25

Posts: 11

Re: Loading VIRTIO kernel modules

virtio-serial is not a kernel module, but a special device used by SPICE .
https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/QEMU#SPICE

Thank you for clarifying. So does this mean that I should only load virtio.ko and not the listed para-virtualized devices? What is the point of loading e.g. virtio_balloon.ko?

Last edited by dantakka (2018-04-28 14:34:33)

loqs

Member

Registered: 2014-03-06

Posts: 17,369

Re: Loading VIRTIO kernel modules

Are you going to pass through hardware devices for storage, networking etc?

Lone_Wolf

Member

From: Netherlands, Europe

Registered: 2005-10-04

Posts: 11,919

Re: Loading VIRTIO kernel modules

ArchWiki provides the following list of para-virtualized devices

Where did you find that list ?

I am installing KVM/QEMU on my machine following the ArchWiki

Looks like you need to re-read some pages.

The purpose of the balloon device is explained on the QEMU page, check the Table of Contents.

---

Disliking systemd intensely, but not satisfied with alternatives so focusing on taming systemd.

(A works at time B)  && (time C > time B ) ≠  (A works at time C)

dantakka

Member

Registered: 2018-03-25

Posts: 11

Re: Loading VIRTIO kernel modules

ArchWiki provides the following list of para-virtualized devices

Where did you find that list ?

I am installing KVM/QEMU on my machine following the ArchWiki

Looks like you need to re-read some pages.

The purpose of the balloon device is explained on the QEMU page, check the Table of Contents.

The list of the para-virtualized devices is on the KVM article (https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/KV … ed_devices). I haven't read the QEMU page yet, because I wanted to configure KVM first, but I will read it as soon as I can. When I check which VIRTIO kernel modules are loaded with `lsmod | grep virtio` it does not return anything. So I was asking which VIRTIO kernel modules I should load for KVM/QEMU.

Thank you!

loqs

Member

Registered: 2014-03-06

Posts: 17,369

Re: Loading VIRTIO kernel modules

On the host why would you load any of the virtio modules?  KVM/QEMU will provide the host mapping for such devices.

dantakka

Member

Registered: 2018-03-25

Posts: 11

Re: Loading VIRTIO kernel modules

On the host why would you load any of the virtio modules?  KVM/QEMU will provide the host mapping for such devices.

I was just following the KVM ArchWiki article for loading the VIRTIO kernel modules (https://wiki.archlinux.org/index.php/KV … el_modules). I didn't know that KVM/QEMU could provide those. So I don't need to load virtio.ko? Thank you!

loqs

Member

Registered: 2014-03-06

Posts: 17,369

Re: Loading VIRTIO kernel modules

Have you been able to successfully start a vm and pass through any chosen hardware to it?