How do I find out if a motherboard supports SR-IOV?

[Daniel_Posada]

Hello everyone ^_^ .
I was wondering if you could help me with something.

There's this graphics card, the AMD Firepro s7150, and it's two main requirements are PCI Express v3.0 and SR-IOV (for virtualizing the GPU).
I'm not entirely sure what SR-IOV is, so it would be a great help if you could show me how to find out if a motherboard supports that or not.

Thanks.

 

[kanewolf]

Even if it supports SR-IOV, which this graphics card seems to do, you need virtualization software (Xendesktop, VMWare, etc) that supports GPU virtualization. This card, like the NVIDIA K10 & K20, has no local display hardware, it is strictly a virtualized card. It is intended for server style installation as it has no built-in fan and must be cooled by the fans built-into the host chassis. It would not work in a deskside installation.

 

[Daniel_Posada]

Even if it supports SR-IOV, which this graphics card seems to do, you need virtualization software (Xendesktop, VMWare, etc) that supports GPU virtualization. This card, like the NVIDIA K10 & K20, has no local display hardware, it is strictly a virtualized card. It is intended for server style installation as it has no built-in fan and must be cooled by the fans built-into the host chassis. It would not work in a deskside installation.

Thanks you for taking the time to answer. However, I'm afraid your answer doesn't address the question, nor helps to solve the it.
So, as much as appreciate the time you took, I would be grateful if we could stay on topic.

(P.S.: what's your definition of "deskside"?
The Dell T630 is a TOWER server and (according to Dell, anyway) supports the graphic card mentioned earlier.
Also, I tried to get in contact with AMD and, even though they weren't very helpful, they did confirm successful tests of this card with a ASUS Z10PE-D8 WS motherboard, which is a workstation motherboard).

Cheers.

 

[Calvin7]

AMD's Multiuser GPU uses the SR-IOV (Single Root I/O Virtualization). The idea behind GPU virtualization is that companies don't necessarily need to purchase a discrete video card for every single user or desktop. Instead companies can centralize their infrastructure in a single server cutting costs.

The video card is a Server GPU, not a Desktop GPU for a single person user. Your two main requirements are PCI Express v3.0 and SR-IOV (for virtualizing the GPU) are needed to supply a number of users at one time. They are NOT the AMD Firepro s7150 two main requirements.

The system requirements for the card are:
System Requirements
◾PCI Express® based PC is required with one x16 lane graphics slot available on the motherboard. AMD recommends PCI Express® v 3.0 for optimal performance
◾Internet connection for drive installation.
◾400 watt or greater power supply
◾8GB DDR3 system memory recommended (depending on virtual environment)

 

[Daniel_Posada]

Thank you @Calvin7 for responding; it's a very good and thorough answer. But still, i doesn't address the question:

How do I find out if a motherboard supports SR-IOV?

Than you, and I apologise if I'm being a bother.

 

[Calvin7]

SR-IOV is a specification that allows a PCIe device to appear to be multiple separate physical PCIe devices. A single physical PCI Express can be shared on a virtual environment using the SR-IOV specification.

SR-IOV requires support in the BIOS as well as in the operating system instance or hypervisor that is running on the hardware.

For Example:
BIOS setting
SR-IOV Global Enable .....[Enable]

Enabling SR-IOV Technology on Dell PowerEdge Servers
http://en.community.dell.com/techcenter/os-applications/w/wiki/3921.enabling-sr-iov-technology-on-delltm-poweredgetm-servers

Implementing SR-IOV on HPE ProLiant Servers with VMware vSphere 5.1
http://www8.hp.com/h20195/v2/GetPDF.aspx/4AA6-3282ENW.pdf

You can also try this compatibility guide by choosing the SR-IOV feature.
http://www.vmware.com/resources/compatibility/search.php?deviceCategory=io

 

[Daniel_Posada]

Thank you Calvin7 ^_^ . That's what I was looking for.

So, if I understand correctly,as far as hardware go (let's ignore OS or HyperV) it has to do less with the motherboard itself, and more with whether both the PCI device and the Motherboard's BIOS support it.

Did I got that right?