amperasand Posted May 13, 2020 Share Posted May 13, 2020 Is it possible to run DCS on a VM that I install locally? I understand there might be issues with getting my local GPU to 'passthrough' to the VM? I'd like to be able to run a version of DCS on my local machine in a VM, with the GPU I have installed on my local machine. Is this possible? & how might I start to get it done? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eldur Posted May 13, 2020 Share Posted May 13, 2020 (edited) You could try https://www.virtualbox.org/ If it hasn't changed since I last used it, you'll have to install some kind of guest extensions to the guest OS, basically a set of drivers for the VM. VBox has been able to utilize the graphics card for years already. And the driver set is required for that to work. You'll see if it's installed when you can seamlessly act with your mouse in the VM window without it capturing your cursor. And it's possible to run the VM in seamless mode to just have it on a second monitor for example. Edited May 13, 2020 by Eldur Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HiJack Posted May 13, 2020 Share Posted May 13, 2020 If you are setting up a server then yes. If you are looking for a playable client then no. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amperasand Posted May 13, 2020 Author Share Posted May 13, 2020 HiJack - - I am not looking to set up a server - I am looking to just play DCS in a VM, install standard DCS world and run the aircraft that I have already bought, with the graphics card I have installed on my physical local machine. It sounds like you don't think this isn't possible? Can you say why? - when others are saying it is possible? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuckyFromArma Posted May 13, 2020 Share Posted May 13, 2020 The VM works the same as any machine with the exception that it allows you to run an operating system other than the original operating system. Like an operating system running inside an operating system(a.k.a. virtually). Example: you can install and run(from a VM) Windows 7 on a Windows 10 machine. So yeah, as long as the program/s you want to run have support for/from the operating system you can run it the same as you would on any machine. only question is; which operating system do you want to install on the VM? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HiJack Posted May 13, 2020 Share Posted May 13, 2020 The VM will not emulate the graphics card that you have installed. You never know where new tech will take virtualization but for VirtualBox it will not emulate the GPU and will therefor give you a terrible graphics resolution to run DCS in. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuckyFromArma Posted May 13, 2020 Share Posted May 13, 2020 (edited) The VM will not emulate the graphics card that you have installed. You never know where new tech will take virtualization but for VirtualBox it will not emulate the GPU and will therefor give you a terrible graphics resolution to run DCS in. I had no problems with graphics on a VM.:pilotfly: At least try it before you knock it. Edited May 13, 2020 by LuckyFromArma Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HiJack Posted May 13, 2020 Share Posted May 13, 2020 OK, does DCS play? Or is it a slideshow? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
amperasand Posted May 13, 2020 Author Share Posted May 13, 2020 I had no problems with graphics on a VM.:pilotfly: At least try it before you knock it. so, what VM app did you use? I just want to run DCS on a windows machine and use the graphics card I have installed on my physical local machine. I want to mirror my physical local machine as closely as possible. Is this possible - has anyone done it? How did they do it? What software did they use? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DW2020 Posted May 13, 2020 Share Posted May 13, 2020 Graphics intensive apps rarely work well in a Virtual Machine as it tends to emulate a very basic GPU Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuckyFromArma Posted May 13, 2020 Share Posted May 13, 2020 (edited) so, what VM app did you use? I just want to run DCS on a windows machine and use the graphics card I have installed on my physical local machine. I want to mirror my physical local machine as closely as possible. Is this possible - has anyone done it? How did they do it? What software did they use? I've ran a lot games on my old system using VB. It runs DCS, Arma III, GTA V, and a couple other games like Doom using the graphics card that's installed on the machine; what other graphics card would you use? Look here for How To's https://forums.virtualbox.org/ Long as your MB supports virtualization you can install VB, an operating system and whatever programs the OS supports. :pilotfly: Edited May 13, 2020 by LuckyFromArma Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
silverdevil Posted May 13, 2020 Share Posted May 13, 2020 dont forget problems with USB and sound. i have had to try to get certain printers and scanners to pass through to a VM. i cant imagine flight controls would be possible. but hey try it and send us pics of the mushroom cloud. ;-) AKA_SilverDevil AKA Forums My YouTube “It is better to keep your mouth closed and let people think you are a fool than to open it and remove all doubt.” — Mark Twain Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuckyFromArma Posted May 13, 2020 Share Posted May 13, 2020 dont forget problems with USB and sound. i have had to try to get certain printers and scanners to pass through to a VM. i cant imagine flight controls would be possible. but hey try it and send us pics of the mushroom cloud. ;-) "the mushroom cloud" :lol: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Worrazen Posted May 13, 2020 Share Posted May 13, 2020 Yeah this is not for gaming at all, I barely got an old Windows XP game working on Win7 VM on a Win10 Host. Modules: A-10C I/II, F/A-18C, Mig-21Bis, M-2000C, AJS-37, Spitfire LF Mk. IX, P-47, FC3, SC, CA, WW2AP, CE2. Terrains: NTTR, Normandy, Persian Gulf, Syria Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LuckyFromArma Posted May 14, 2020 Share Posted May 14, 2020 Yeah this is not for gaming at all, I barely got an old Windows XP game working on Win7 VM on a Win10 Host. Now that I think about it, the VM did take a minute to load and was quite a bit slower than running on an actual machine. Makes me wonder why the OP wants to run on a VM in the first place.:pilotfly: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
reece146 Posted May 14, 2020 Share Posted May 14, 2020 You can do it via passing the GPU through to the the VM. It works fine under KVM/QEMU. I can't speak to the other systems. Windows itself runs better/faster hosted under qemu than on raw hardware. GPU passthrough is 1-to-1 - same difference. The issue becomes having a motherboard and GPU sets worth the configuration. Once a GPU is setup for pass-through it is non-trivial to make in available to the host OS so if you want GPU acceleration on your Linux host you need two GPUs or a lot of patience switching back and forth (to what end?). Newer AMD AM4 boards should have enough PCI channels to provide two 16x slots for GPUs and a few other PCI cards and M.2 storage. Not sure on the Intel side. The only thing that gives me pause is that DCS is so CPU bound... your host better have fast and many cores. HTH Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lange_666 Posted May 14, 2020 Share Posted May 14, 2020 @amperasand: Just a side question: Why would you run DCS in a VM environment? Edit: LuckyFromArma asked the same above... :-) Win11 Pro 64-bit, Ryzen 5800X3D, Corsair H115i, Gigabyte X570S UD, EVGA 3080Ti XC3 Ultra 12GB, 64 GB DDR4 G.Skill 3600. Monitors: LG 27GL850-B27 2560x1440 + Samsung SyncMaster 2443 1920x1200, HOTAS: Warthog with Virpil WarBRD base, MFG Crosswind combat pedals, TrackIR4, Rift-S. Personal Wish List: A6 Intruder, Vietnam theater, decent ATC module, better VR performance! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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