Paravirtualized Network Drivers for Windows
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Introduction
In order to improve network performance, special paravirtualized network drivers can be installed in Windows guests. The KVM project released drivers for Windows 2000 and Windows XP. The Windows XP drivers are known to work also on Windows 2003 Server.
Installation
Download
Download the latest kvm-driver-disc (ISO) from KVM to your desktop and upload the ISO to your Proxmox VE server (just use the "upload file" button on the Proxmox VE web interface: "VM Manager/Appliance Templates")
Direct download link to latest version: kvm-guest-drivers-windows-2
Prepare KVM guest on Proxmox VE
- Shutdown your KVM Virtual Machine and change the used Network Card to "virtio".
- Select the previously uploaded ISO image as CDROM
- Start your Virtual Machine
Installation of paravirtualized driver within Windows
The Windows device manager should now detect a new network device. Just point the driver wizard to the CDROM containing the drivers. The drivers are not signed, choose install anyway and you are done.
Performance improvements
tbd.