Linux i915 driver (dkms module) with SR-IOV support for linux 6.8-6.13

This repo is a code snapshot of the i915 module from https://github.com/intel/mainline-tracking/tree/linux/v6.12 and will randomly merge patches from the linux-stable tree.

Warning

This package is highly experimental, you should only use it when you know what you are doing.

You need to install this dkms module in both host and guest!

Tested kernel versions: 6.12.10-zen1/6.11.9-arch1/6.10.9-arch1/6.9.10-arch1/6.8.9-arch1 with ArchLinux

Required Kernel Parameters

intel_iommu=on i915.enable_guc=3 i915.max_vfs=7 module_blacklist=xe

Creating Virtual Functions (VF)

echo 2 > /sys/devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:02.0/sriov_numvfs

You can create up to 7 VFs on Intel UHD Graphics

Arch Linux Installation Steps (Tested Kernel 6.12.6-zen1)

For Arch Linux users, it is available in AUR. i915-sriov-dkms

You also can download the package from the releases page and install it with pacman -U.

PVE Host Installation Steps (Tested Kernel 6.8)

1. Install build tools: apt install build-* dkms
2. Install the kernel and headers for desired version: apt install proxmox-headers-6.8 proxmox-kernel-6.8 (for unsigned kernel).
3. Download deb package from the releases page

   mkdir /opt/i915-sriov && cd /opt/i915-sriov
   wget [release_package_url]
   

   Running it in /root might cause issues.
4. Install the deb package with apt: apt install ./i915-sriov-dkms_2024.12.30_amd64.deb
5. Once finished, the kernel commandline needs to be adjusted: nano /etc/default/grub and change GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT to intel_iommu=on i915.enable_guc=3 i915.max_vfs=7, or add to it if you have other arguments there already.
6. Update grub and initramfs by executing update-grub and update-initramfs -u
7. Optionally pin the kernel version and update the boot config via proxmox-boot-tool.
8. In order to enable the VFs, a sysfs attribute must be set. Install sysfsutils, then do echo "devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:02.0/sriov_numvfs = 7" > /etc/sysfs.conf, assuming your iGPU is on 00:02 bus. If not, use lspci | grep VGA to find the PCIe bus your iGPU is on.
9. Reboot the system.
10. When the system is back up again, you should see the number of VFs under 02:00.1 - 02:00.7. Again, assuming your iGPU is on 00:02 bus.
11. You can passthrough the VFs to LXCs or VMs. However, never pass the PF (02:00.0) to VM which would crash all other VFs.

Linux Guest Installation Steps (Tested Ubuntu 24.04/Kernel 6.8)

We will need to run the same driver under Linux guests.

1. Install build tools

   apt install build-* dkms linux-headers-$(uname -r) linux-modules-extra-$(uname -r)
   

2. Download and install the .deb

   mkdir /opt/i915-sriov && cd /opt/i915-sriov
   wget [release_package_URL]
   apt install ./[release_package_name]
   

3. Blacklist xe driver from kernel command line

   nano /etc/default/grub
   

   #find this line and modify, note the double quotes
   GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="module_blacklist=xe""
   

4. Alternatively, you can blacklist the xe driver from modprobe:

   echo 'blacklist xe' > /etc/modprobe.d/blacklist.conf
   

5. Enable GuC submission from the kernel driver module:

   echo 'options i915 enable_guc=3' > /etc/modprobe.d/i915.conf
   

6. Once that's done, update grub and initramfs, then reboot.

   update-grub
   update-initramfs -u
   

7. Once the VM is back up again, do dmesg | grep i915 to see if your VF is recognized by the kernel. You should also check if xe is blacklisted correctly by running lspci -nnk to see which driver is in use by the VF.
8. Optionally, install vainfo by running apt install vainfo, then do vainfo to see if the iGPU has been picked up by the VAAPI.
9. If OpenCL is desired:

   apt install intel-opencl-icd
   apt install clinfo
   clinfo
   

Windows Guest (Tested with Proxmox 8.3 + Windows 11 24H2 + Intel Driver 32.0.101.6460/32.0.101.6259)

Thanks for resiliencer and his contribution in #225.

These steps ensure compatibility across all driver versions. In theory you can install any version and won't be hit by the dreaded Code 43.

Extract Graphics EFI Firmware

1. Download UEFITools (UEFITool_NE_A68_win64 for Windows. They supply Linux and Mac binaries, too)
2. Download BIOS for motherboard (I suspect any motherboard BIOS would work as long as it is for Alder/Raptop Lake Desktop Platform)
3. Unzip BIOS
4. Use UEFITools (Run as Admin) to load the BIOS (usually .cap)
5. Go to Action - Search or use keyboard shortcut ctrl+F and search for Hex string 49006e00740065006c00280052002900200047004f0050002000440072006900760065007200
6. Double click the search result in the search column, it will highlight the item found within the BIOS.
7. Right click on the highlighted result and Extract body...
8. Save the file, file name and extension do not matter. I used intelgopdriver_desktop and it would save as intelgopdriver_desktop.bin.
9. You can also compare the checksum of the file:
   1. Windows Terminal Command: Get-FileHash -Path "path-to-rom" -Algorithm SHA256
   2. For desktop with UHD730 and UHD770: 131c32cadb6716dba59d13891bb70213c6ee931dd1e8b1a5593dee6f3a4c2cbd
   3. For ADL-N: FA12486D93BEE383AD4D3719015EFAD09FC03352382F17C63DF10B626755954B
10. You'll need to copy this file to /usr/share/kvm directory on Proxmox host. I uploaded it to a NAS and downloaded it with wget.

Windows VM Creation

1. When setting up the machine, set CPU as host.
2. TIPS: You can skip the Microsoft Account setup by pressing Shift+F10 at the first setup screen and type OOBE\BYPASSNRO. The VM will reboot, and you can choose "I don't have Internet" option to set up a local account. Alternatively, you can remove the network device from the Windows VM.
3. When the setup process is done and you are at the Desktop, enable Remote Desktop and make sure your local account user has access. You can shut down the VM for now.
4. When the VM powered off, edit the configuration file:```

# Passing the 02.1 VF, specify the romfile. ROM path is relative

hostpci0: 0000:00:02.1,pcie=1,romfile=Intelgopdriver_desktop.efi,x-vga=1

5. In the Hardware tab, set Display to none.
6. Start the VM. You won't be able to access it with console, so your only way in is Remote Desktop. Once you are in, download the graphics driver from Intel, any version should work.
7. During install, you may experience black screen when the actual graphics drivers are being installed and applied. This black screen will persist until you restart the VM. My advice is give it a few minutes to do its thing. You can make your best judgement by looking at the VM CPU usage in Proxmox.
8. After rebooting, connect with RDP once again. Go to Device Manager and verify the result. You should see the Intel Graphics is installed and working.

See also: #8 (comment)

Manual Installation Steps

1. Install build tools: apt install build-essential dkms git / pacman -S base-devel dkms git.
2. Install the kernel and headers for desired version: apt install linux-headers-$(uname -r) / pacman -S linux-headers.
3. Clone the repository: git clone https://github.com/strongtz/i915-sriov-dkms.git.
4. Add the module to DKMS: dkms add ./i915-sriov-dkms.
5. Install the module with DKMS: dkms install i915-sriov-dkms/2025.01.22.
6. Once finished, the kernel commandline needs to be adjusted: nano /etc/default/grub and change GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT to intel_iommu=on i915.enable_guc=3 i915.max_vfs=7, or add to it if you have other arguments there already.
7. Update grub and initramfs by executing update-grub and update-initramfs -u / for Arch Linux grub-mkconfig -o /boot/grub/grub.cfg and mkinitcpio -P.
8. Optionally use sysfsutils to set the number of VFs on boot. Install sysfsutils, then do echo "devices/pci0000:00/0000:00:02.0/sriov_numvfs = 7" > /etc/sysfs.conf, assuming your iGPU is on 00:02 bus. If not, use lspci | grep VGA to find the PCIe bus your iGPU is on.
9. Reboot the system.

Uninstallation

apt

Remove the package with apt remove i915-sriov-dkms

pacman

Remove the package with pacman -R i915-sriov-dkms

manual

Remove the dkms module with dkms remove i915-sriov-dkms/2025.01.22

Credits

Major contributors to this repository are listed below.

• @strongtz Create the initial dkms module
• @zhtengw Rebase on the linux-intel-lts (v5.15, v6.1) , support for v6.1~v6.4, participation in 15+ issues
• @bbaa-bbaa Rebase on the mainline-tracking linux/v6.12 branch, support for v6.8~v6.13, participation in 10+ issues
• @pasbec Major refactor to the repo, support for (v6.2, v6.5, v6.8), participation in 20+ issues
• @shenwii Support for (v6.7, v6.9)
• @MotherOfTheGracchi Support for v6.5.3
• @michael-pptf Several updates to README.md, participation in 20+ issues