SR-IOV: Using both PF and VFs

[sfrid]

Hey,

I created 2 VFs on a 10 Gigabit port (Intel 82599 10 Gigabit NIC).

Should only VFs be used as 2 5-Gigabit virtual ports?

Or PF is also usable? If it is, then if I use both PF and VFs - each of them gets 3.33-Gigabit of throughput?

Can I assign both PF and VFs to a single VM?

What is the recommeded use?

Thanks,

Shaham

[SYeo3]

Hi Shaham,

Thanks for writing.

The VFs and PF in a port will share the 10 Gb port. However, I will further check the configuration.

Sincerely,

Sandy

[SYeo3]

Hi Shaham,

When you assign a PF to a VM, it becomes VF. With SR-IOV enabled, the VM's are natively (directly) accessing resources within the Ethernet Controller via VF, while at the same time the Physical Function also has its own resources and can be used for other functions, such as emulated path.

Once you assign a PF to a VM, it becomes your VF. So you cannot further assign a PF to your VM.

With regards to the bandwidth for the VF's and PF's, it doesn't necessarily divide the bandwidth into equal portions.

For more information, you may refer to the https://www-ssl.intel.com/content/www/us/en/pci-express/pci-sig-sr-iov-primer-sr-iov-technology-paper.html SR-IOV Primer available on our website.

See page 12 - SR-IOV and Sharing

If you have further questions, feel free to reply to us.

Sincerely,

Sandy