Skip to main content

Fix vGPU and VVTD Conflict in VMware vSphere

🛠 Summary: Fixing vGPU and VVTD Conflict in VMware

After work, I received an urgent alert — a virtual machine failed to add a GPU, showing the error:

“Virtual machines using vGPU devices do not support VVTD.”

This was due to a conflict between NVIDIA vGPU and Intel VVTD (Virtualization-based Trusted Platform Module). vGPU allows shared access to GPU resources via software, while VVTD requires direct hardware passthrough. These two technologies are incompatible by design.

Emergency Scenario: Critical Error in Production Environment  


Just after leaving the office yesterday, I received an urgent message: A virtual machine in our system failed to add a GPU, and the situation looked serious!  

Rubbing my eyes, I logged into the vSphere Client. The moment I clicked "Add PCI Device," a glaring error popped up: "Virtual machines using vGPU devices do not support VVTD." Seeing the vGPU profile for NVIDIA GRID M60-2Q in the console, I suddenly realized—this was likely a conflict between VMware's vGPU and Intel's VVTD technology!  

**Error Reproduction: Technical Conflict Breakdown**  
1. While editing VM settings, attempt to add a PCI device and click "OK."  
2. The error immediately appears.  



**Conflict Mechanism**  
- **vGPU**: Shares physical GPU resources via software virtualization.  
- **VVTD**: Intel's direct I/O virtualization for hardware passthrough.  
- **Conflict Point**: vGPU requires software-managed GPU allocation, while VVTD demands exclusive hardware control—their underlying architectures clash.  

**Resolution Steps**

1. Enable SSH and shell services on the host running the VM, then connect via SSH to ESXi.  


2. Locate the VM’s storage path.  
3. Open the `.vmx` file using `vi`.  
   *Reminder: Backup the file before editing. *  


4. Add/modify these three parameters:  
   ```  
   vhv.enable = "FALSE"  
   vvtd.enable = "FALSE"  
   windows.vbs.enable = "FALSE"  
   ```  


5. Power on the VM.  
6. Shut it down via "Power Off."  
   *Reminder: A full power cycle is mandatory—rebooting the OS won’t suffice.*  
7. Retry adding the device; it should now work.  

**Validation**

1. After successful addition, install the GPU drivers normally.  
2. Close the installer upon completion.  
3. Open Task Manager to confirm GPU resources are visible.  


Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Thank you for your comments.

Popular posts from this blog

The True Value of Software Services: From After-Sales to Core Competency Introduction: A Decade of Firsthand Experience

 During a recent conversation with the CIO of a financial client, we discussed the difference between vendor-provided services and third-party services. Around the same time, I also spoke with a veteran who spent decades in HP and IBM’s service departments. These conversations brought back reflections on my own journey, over ten years in software service roles, starting in 2013. I’ve witnessed the final golden decade of global software vendors operating, and I’d like to share my perspective on the evolving role and value of software services. 1. Service Is Not “After-Sales” — It’s Part of the Product Many customers see software services as merely after-sales support. But in mature software companies, service spans the entire product lifecycle — from pre-sales, implementation, and delivery to post-launch optimization, issue resolution, and upgrades. Buying software isn’t just about acquisition — it’s about usability and effectiveness , both of which rely heavily on professional se...
Post a Comment
Read more

Fix FC Datastore Missing After ESXi 7.0u3s Upgrade – Easy Recovery Guide

 Problem Overview After upgrading your VMware ESXi host to version 7.0u3s , you may encounter a critical issue: The attached FC (Fibre Channel) datastore disappears , and all virtual machines stored on that shared storage become “inaccessible” . This issue is common during ESXi version upgrades, where datastores fail to auto-mount due to changes in system recognition or mount configurations. Symptom Description vSphere Web Client still displays the storage device under the hardware list. However, df -h shows that the mount point is missing . Virtual machines that resided on the FC datastore now appear as “Invalid” in the inventory. ✅ This confirms it's not a driver or firmware issue , but rather a mount-related problem. Root Cause During the upgrade, ESXi may not automatically remount previously attached volumes , even though the storage device is visible. The datastore still exists, but it needs to be manually re-mounted using the correct UUID.   How ...
Post a Comment
Read more