Proxmox Virtual Environment (PVE) is a popular open-source virtualization platform that allows users to run multiple virtual machines on a single physical server, offering powerful virtualization capabilities and management tools. One of its key features is the PCI passthrough network card, which enables a physical server’s network interface card (NIC) to be directly assigned to a virtual machine.

The concept of PCI passthrough is straightforward: it directly connects a physical NIC to a virtual machine, allowing the virtual machine to access and control the NIC without the overhead of virtualization. This means that the virtual machine can communicate directly with the physical NIC, resulting in improved network performance and reduced latency.

The primary uses of PCI passthrough network cards are twofold. First, they provide enhanced network performance. By using PCI passthrough, virtual machines can bypass the virtualization layer and communicate directly with the physical NIC, thus minimizing the performance overhead typically associated with virtualization. This is particularly important for applications and services that require high-performance network transfers, such as high-speed data transmission and network traffic monitoring.

Second, PCI passthrough can address specific network configurations and requirements. For example, when a virtual machine acts as a network device or firewall, it needs to directly handle network traffic. Through PCI passthrough, the virtual machine can manage networking and control traffic just like a physical server, offering greater flexibility and customization.

However, several considerations are crucial when configuring and using PCI passthrough network cards. First, ensure that your hardware supports virtualization technologies such as Intel VT-d or AMD IOMMU, which provide the necessary hardware support for passthrough. Additionally, support from the operating system and drivers is vital; ensure that both your virtualization platform and operating system support PCI passthrough and update drivers to the latest versions whenever possible.

Moreover, careful attention must be paid to potential conflicts and resource sharing issues when configuring PCI passthrough. Since PCI passthrough allocates a physical NIC to a virtual machine, it’s crucial to ensure that no other applications or services are using that NIC. Additionally, consider the network isolation and security between virtual machines or between virtual machines and the physical server.

In conclusion, the PCI passthrough network card feature in PVE is a powerful tool that can deliver enhanced network performance and reduced latency. By directly allocating a physical NIC to a virtual machine, PCI passthrough allows the virtual machine to bypass the virtualization layer, accessing and controlling the network interface to meet the demands of high-performance network transmission and specific network configurations. When configuring and using PCI passthrough, always follow hardware and software requirements and pay attention to conflicts and resource sharing issues to ensure system stability and security.