[VirtualGL-Users] Easy setup for Ubuntu. and Windows machine.

[Jason Kurtz]

Message: 1
Date: Tue, 14 Feb 2017 23:03:15 -0500
Subject: [VirtualGL-Users] server have multi GPUs not connected to
physical screen
gmail.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset="utf-8"
Hi VirtualGL users,
I need your help on a set up of virtualGL, or decide if I can use virtualGL
to solve my problem.
My setup: a Ubunt 14.04 server called 'roundvalley' has multiple Nvidia
GPUs for parallel computing, but they do not have any VGA/DVI/DisplayPort
and not connected to monitor. The only onboard-card connected to a monitor
does not have 3D capability, and Ubuntu automatically load a kernel driver
module (I forgot the module name) for this onboard card.
Client side is Windows. My goal is to use VNC to connect to the server and
run 3D application (need OpenGL) in my VNC session.
My question is, can I configure virtualGL to use any of Nvidia GPU even
they are not used for display currently?
==== user doc =====
6.2 Using VirtualGL with Multiple GPUs
VirtualGL can redirect the OpenGL commands from a 3D application to any GPU
in the server machine. In order for this to work, however, all of the GPUs
must be attached to different screens on the same X server or to different
X servers.
====== end user doc ======
Does it mean the GPU need to connect to physical screens, or some
definitions in X.org file?
I appreciate your help.
Thanks,
Wei
First off I would recommend the following setup

Ubuntu Machine
Install VirtualGL, Turbojpeg, Synergy, Xpra

Windows, Machine
Installl Synergy, Xpra

This setup will allow you to run a full 3d desktop and just the 3d
applications you need. Example
Here are the two scripts I use. To start the server its just one command
#startserver
xpra start --max-size=1280x720 --start-child=start3dprogram
--speaker=disabled --bind-tcp=19
2.168.2.1:1000

#start3dprogram
vglclient -detach
vglrun -q 50 -c rgb /opt/bin/3dprogram

Then use Synergy to connect the keyboard.


Then you can just connect from the Windows client.
With this setup you have, clipboard,Audio,Print, 3d gl support and you save
resources from running just the 3d app. The configuration is also all gui
front end through xpra and synergy.

[DRC]

VirtualGL works and is supported on X proxies other than TurboVNC, but
The VirtualGL Project does not endorse any X proxies other than
TurboVNC. Please understand that I am able to run this project only
because of funded development and support opportunities that include
both VirtualGL and TurboVNC. Income from VirtualGL alone would be
insufficient to keep the project afloat.

I do not deny that Xpra does some things that TurboVNC doesn't (seamless
windows, for instance), but TurboVNC also has a lot of features that
Xpra lacks. TurboVNC is also a proven enterprise product that is being
used in a variety of mission-critical installations by various
corporations and large academic/scientific institutions. It's also,
frankly, easier to use than Xpra. If the user needed a feature that was
not available in TurboVNC, then I myself would have steered them to
another X proxy, but that was not the case.

In short, let's please try to keep this list as agnostic as possible in
terms of X proxy recommendations and make those recommendations based
purely on technical need.

Signed,
The Management

First off I would recommend the following setup
Ubuntu Machine
Install VirtualGL, Turbojpeg, Synergy, Xpra
Windows, Machine
Installl Synergy, Xpra
This setup will allow you to run a full 3d desktop and just the 3d
applications you need. Example
Here are the two scripts I use. To start the server its just one command
#startserver
xpra start --max-size=1280x720 --start-child=start3dprogram
--speaker=disabled --bind-tcp=19
2.168.2.1:1000 <http://2.168.2.1:1000>
#start3dprogram
vglclient -detach
vglrun -q 50 -c rgb /opt/bin/3dprogram
Then use Synergy to connect the keyboard.
Then you can just connect from the Windows client.
With this setup you have, clipboard,Audio,Print, 3d gl support and you
save resources from running just the 3d app. The configuration is also
all gui front end through xpra and synergy.