QEMU GPU vfio-pci pass through

an article from a while ago, in Italian

https://www.commodorecomputerblog.com/search/label/A-Eon

Great document:
AmigaOS from Computer Science to Religion:

https://mega.nz/file/zgA0yCoZ#M-dT9wKs ... RkLD5EE3MSthjeh7NZgqcx0xM

Another interesting little article Dave Haynie:

https://www.appuntidigitali.it/15622/d ... formazioni-e-riflessioni/

I reply here to not spam the Kyvos thread.
AmigaOS apparently does not have an HDMI audio driver so even if you can pass through the sound function of your card and in theory this could work it doesn't because AmigaOS can't output sound through that.
The emulated sound cards (of which AmigaOS can use at least via-ac97 and ES1370) go through your host's audio system and works well as long as you run QEMU as you user. Your problem, which is not related to QEMU in any way, is that on your Linux distro applications run as root cannot connect to the sound server for some reason. Ask on the support forum of your Linux distro about how to solve this not here as we don't know.
If I had the same problem I would uninstall all of pipewire and pulseaudio and just use plain alsa which should work even as root but on some distros it may not be that simple as it may have dependencies on these. Even if pipewire and pulseadio cannot be uninstalled you can try to disable it with systemctl so they are not started and then use alsa or you can try to switch to jack which should also work.
I've explained this before several times but it seems you don't get it so you ignore it and keep looking for a solution somewhere else where the problem cannot be solved.

@Balaton

I tried removing Pipewire, but uninstalling it basically wipes out half the Ubuntu system. I even installed ALSA, so much so that I had to log back into the shell and reinstall Pipewire, otherwise nothing would start.

Anyway, I appreciate the various suggestions.
But this is a problem I'll try to solve on my own.
Because I see that the problem is only with my hardware.

I'm just sorry I don't have access to Virtio-GPU, but I imagine the audio problem would persist.
Because I would use it for many things.

I'm not young anymore, and I don't have the friends I used to have
Otherwise, I would have invited some friends over like I used to, and I would definitely have solved the problem

I have never used Ubuntu but always other Linux systems in this case I am using it because I didn't want to complicate things for myself.
Instead I got exactly the opposite.

Thanks anyway.

@Balaton
I followed your advice.
I stopped PipeWire (not uninstalled it).
I installed Jack.
Rebooted.
I started the Jack server.

Same problem. As soon as I use sudo to switch the GPU, the audio is lost.

Something changed over time in the Qemu compilation.
Now I have to add --slirp to use the network with AmigaOS.

For example, if I do:
./configure
to install the entire Qemu package, the network isn't recognized by AmigaOS.

I just wanted to close the topic and let you know that I followed your additional advice.

Well, I must be unlucky.
And yet, both GPUs are recognized and work without problems.

Never mind, you can't have everything

@white
Quote:
The problem is not with QEMU/AmigaOS nor with your hardware but with the settings of the Linux distro you use. Why not try a different Linux distro if you can't fix Ubuntu. You said you prefer another distro anyway so maybe it's easier to fix sound on that.
Does QEMU use the audio backend you want? Check output from configure, it has an Audio backends section. On my machine it only says YES for OSS, ALSA and JACK and I don't have pipewire or pulseaudio so no problem with that but there are options to disable those backends when compiling QEMU so it won't even try them. Try configure --with-alsa --without-pa --without-pipewire to make sure you have alsa working.

@white
Quote:
I don't have acces to it either but I think it does not need to run QEMU as root so it would work but you may need QEMU compiled with some patches on some hosts so maybe you'd get other problems instead.

@Balaton

I'm sorry you don't have a Virtio GPU. (driver)
You'd have every right to.

I understand why it's not available to me for many reasons.

Aside from that, I'll switch to another distro later.
Now I want to do something else.

WinUAE is more than enough to use a 68K system perfectly
to relive the AmigaOS moments
If you don't feel like configuring the 68K, you can download Coffin and it's all set.
even though I use another 68K system.

I have to be honest, I imagine, but I could be wrong, that they'd want to build a machine for around €1000 with a Virtio GPU.

It's still very expensive for what it would offer.

We'll see in time.
Have a good day.

And thanks again for your advice.

@Balaton

I did some testing with ArchLinux.
The audio now works with Sudo.
So, in theory, I should be able to do GPU passthrough without any problems.

I'll make a backup before continuing.
And do some more testing.

In summary, even if it's incorrect for various reasons,

SM501 :
sudo chmod 777 /run/user/$(id -u)/pulse/native; qemu-system-ppc -M amigaone -bios /home/white/Scaricati/Silicon/u-boot-amigaone.bin -device VGA,romfile=/home/white/Scaricati/Silicon/VGABIOS-lgpl-latest.bin -m 2048 -serial stdio -vga none -device sm501 -device rtl8139,netdev=mynet0 -netdev user,id=mynet0 -drive media=disk,format=raw,file=/home/white/Scaricati/Silicon/Update2-ONE-32gb.raw

now both -ac97 and -es1370 work ( -ac97 has a cleaner sound )

GPU:
sudo chmod 777 /run/user/$(id -u)/pulse/native; qemu-system-ppc -M amigaone -m 2048 -bios /home/white/Scaricati/u-boot-amigaone.bin -serial stdio -drive media=disk,format=raw,file=/home/white/Scaricati/Silicon/Update2-ONE-32gb.raw -netdev user,id=net -device rtl8139,netdev=net -vga none -device vfio-pci,host=06:00.0,bus=pci.0,x-vga=on,multifunction=on -device vfio-pci,host=06:00.1,bus=pci.0 -device bochs-display,romfile=""

note:
Alsa is not needed in this case (I'll make a backup first).
----------------------------


#!/bin/bash

# Script per compilare QEMU con supporto audio moderno OS / Arch
# Include disabilitazione FUSE per evitare errori di compilazione

set -e

echo "🔧 Installazione delle dipendenze di sistema..."
sudo pacman -S --needed --noconfirm \
git base-devel ninja python meson \
glib2 pixman \
alsa-lib libpulse pipewire \
jack sdl2 libslirp libxkbcommon

echo "📥 Clonazione del repository QEMU..."
git clone https://gitlab.com/qemu-project/qemu.git
cd qemu

echo "🔧 Configurazione QEMU per PowerPC con supporto audio moderno..."
./configure \
--target-list=ppc-softmmu \
--audio-drv-list=alsa,pa,sdl \
--enable-sdl \
--enable-gtk \
--enable-slirp \
--disable-fuse

echo "🧱 Compilazione QEMU (usa tutti i core disponibili)..."
make -j$(nproc)

echo "✅ Compilazione completata!"
echo "ℹ️ Puoi eseguire QEMU con:"
echo " ./build/qemu-system-ppc --version"

echo "❓ Vuoi installarlo nel sistema? (richiede sudo) [s/N]"
read -r INSTALL

if [[ "$INSTALL" == "s" || "$INSTALL" == "S" ]]; then
echo "📦 Installazione di QEMU..."
sudo make install
echo "✅ QEMU installato!"
else
echo "🚫 Installazione saltata. Puoi usare QEMU da ./build/qemu-system-ppc"
fi

-----------------------------

This is probably more correct:
sudo pacman -S alsa-utils alsa-plugins alsa-lib qemu-full ovmf
But I need to see the best option.

initial audio settings during installation:



With ArchLinux, the screen is smooth even with SM501, and the mouse doesn't stutter like it does with Ubuntu.

Here's the test with the sudo command, which works with audio:
sudo chmod 777 /run/user/$(id -u)/pulse/native;

And the test with the simple sudo command without arguments, which doesn't work

later I add the GPU

https://youtu.be/5PCkm4wKKP8

Nothing to do, the audio passes through but the GPU doesn't. My GPU access is denied

When I use the GPU, the system is incredibly fast

I'll get back to this as soon as I can.
It's incredible that I can't get audio permissions.

I'm stubborn and want to try again.
Clean Arch Linux installation, default settings:
Audio includes PIPEWIRE, which handles everything else.

I added this script to add a user to the audio server:
(so everyone can try it if needed) and even fixed it, but everything is created without problems.

------------------------

#!/bin/bash
# Script interattivo per configurare permessi sicuri su Pulse/pipewire socket in Arch Linux

set -e

GROUP="pulse-access"
TMPFILES_CONF="/etc/tmpfiles.d/pulse-native.conf"

echo "==> Creazione gruppo $GROUP (se non esiste)..."
if ! getent group "$GROUP" > /dev/null 2>&1; then
sudo groupadd "$GROUP"
echo "Gruppo $GROUP creato."
else
echo "Gruppo $GROUP già esistente."
fi

echo "==> Inserisci gli utenti che vuoi aggiungere al gruppo $GROUP (separati da spazio):"
read -rp "Utenti: " -a USERS

for u in "${USERS[@]}"; do
if id "$u" &>/dev/null; then
sudo usermod -aG "$GROUP" "$u"
echo "✔ Utente $u aggiunto al gruppo $GROUP"
else
echo "⚠ Utente $u non esiste, saltato."
fi
done

echo "==> Creazione regola tmpfiles in $TMPFILES_CONF..."
sudo bash -c "cat > $TMPFILES_CONF" <<EOF
# Imposta permessi e gruppo sul socket Pulse/pipewire
f /run/user/*/pulse/native 0660 - $GROUP - -
EOF

echo "==> Applicazione immediata della regola tmpfiles..."
sudo systemd-tmpfiles --create "$TMPFILES_CONF"

echo "==> Configurazione completata!"
echo "ℹ Ricorda: gli utenti aggiunti devono disconnettersi e riconnettersi per usare i nuovi permessi."

----------------------------------------------

Result:

./setup-pulse-socket-interattivo.sh
==> Creazione gruppo pulse-access (se non esiste)...
Gruppo pulse-access creato.
==> Inserisci gli utenti che vuoi aggiungere al gruppo pulse-access (separati da spazio):
Utenti: white
✔ Utente white aggiunto al gruppo pulse-access
==> Creazione regola tmpfiles in /etc/tmpfiles.d/pulse-native.conf...
==> Applicazione immediata della regola tmpfiles...
==> Configurazione completata!
ℹ Ricorda: gli utenti aggiunti devono disconnettersi e riconnettersi per usare i nuovi permessi.

Verify:

cat /etc/tmpfiles.d/pulse-native.conf
# Imposta permessi e gruppo sul socket Pulse/pipewire
f /run/user/*/pulse/native 0660 - pulse-access - -
[white@white-systemproductname ~]$ ls -l /run/user/$(id -u)/pulse/native
srw-rw-rw- 1 white white 0 12 set 11.33 /run/user/1000/pulse/native
[white@white-systemproductname ~]$ groups white
white : white sys wheel rfkill pulse-access

ps aux | grep pulseaudio
white 2603 0.0 0.0 6884 4432 pts/1 S+ 11:51 0:00 grep --color=auto pulseaudio
[white@white-systemproductname ~]$ pactl info
Server String: /run/user/1000/pulse/native
Library Protocol Version: 35
Server Protocol Version: 35
Is Local: yes
Client Index: 71
Tile Size: 65472
User Name: white
Host Name: white-systemproductname
Server Name: PulseAudio (on PipeWire 1.4.8)
Server Version: 15.0.0
Default Sample Specification: float32le 2ch 48000Hz
Default Channel Map: front-left,front-right
Default Sink: alsa_output.pci-0000_08_00.4.analog-stereo
Default Source: alsa_output.pci-0000_08_00.4.analog-stereo.monitor
Cookie: 9e25:e800
[white@white-systemproductname ~]$ pavucontrol


[white@white-systemproductname ~]$ paplay /usr/share/sounds/alsa/Front_Center.wav
[white@white-systemproductname ~]$

the sound is played

qemu SM501:

sudo qemu-system-ppc -M amigaone -bios /home/white/Scaricati/Silicon/u-boot-amigaone.bin -device VGA,romfile=/home/white/Scaricati/Silicon/VGABIOS-lgpl-latest.bin -m 2048 -serial stdio -vga none -device sm501 -device rtl8139,netdev=mynet0 -netdev user,id=mynet0 -drive media=disk,format=raw,file=/home/white/Scaricati/Silicon/Update2-ONE-32gb.raw -device es1370

qemu:

Now no more errors, but the audio still doesn't play.

systemctl --user status pipewire pipewire-pulse
● pipewire.service - PipeWire Multimedia Service
Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/user/pipewire.service; enabled; preset: e>
Active: active (running) since Fri 2025-09-12 12:11:57 CEST; 23s ago
Invocation: 16b599cbb28e499580f629218cd921ec
TriggeredBy: ● pipewire.socket
Main PID: 1097 (pipewire)
Tasks: 3 (limit: 38067)
Memory: 6.6M (peak: 7M)
CPU: 23ms
CGroup: /user.slice/user-1000.slice/user@1000.service/session.slice/pipewi>
└─1097 /usr/bin/pipewire

set 12 12:11:57 white-systemproductname systemd[1086]: Started PipeWire Multime>

● pipewire-pulse.service - PipeWire PulseAudio
Loaded: loaded (/usr/lib/systemd/user/pipewire-pulse.service; enabled; pre>
Active: active (running) since Fri 2025-09-12 12:11:57 CEST; 23s ago
Invocation: d814368d97b34fc19db08769b08aa732
TriggeredBy: ● pipewire-pulse.socket
Main PID: 1099 (pipewire-pulse)
Tasks: 3 (limit: 38067)
Memory: 3.3M (peak: 3.7M)
CPU: 13ms


The settings are correct, my point is constructive.
The audio still doesn't work with the SUDO command; without it, I can't do GPU passthrough.

Suggestions ?
Thanks

To recap:

Copy the script
Give it permissions:
sudo chmod +x user-audio.sh
Then run
./user-audio.sh
Enter your current user
Done

Reboot
You have AUDIO permissions to use Sudo

Your user has been added to the AUDIO group with privileges to run as ROOT with SUDO

However, it seems that QEMU for AMIGAOS doesn't work with the SUDO command for AUDIO

-------------------------------------------------------------
#!/bin/bash
# Script interattivo per configurare permessi sicuri su Pulse/pipewire socket in Arch Linux

set -e

GROUP="pulse-access"
TMPFILES_CONF="/etc/tmpfiles.d/pulse-native.conf"

echo "==> Creazione gruppo $GROUP (se non esiste)..."
if ! getent group "$GROUP" > /dev/null 2>&1; then
sudo groupadd "$GROUP"
echo "Gruppo $GROUP creato."
else
echo "Gruppo $GROUP già esistente."
fi

echo "==> Inserisci gli utenti che vuoi aggiungere al gruppo $GROUP (separati da spazio):"
read -rp "Utenti: " -a USERS

for u in "${USERS[@]}"; do
if id "$u" &>/dev/null; then
sudo usermod -aG "$GROUP" "$u"
echo "✔ Utente $u aggiunto al gruppo $GROUP"
else
echo "⚠ Utente $u non esiste, saltato."
fi
done

echo "==> Creazione regola tmpfiles in $TMPFILES_CONF..."
sudo bash -c "cat > $TMPFILES_CONF" <<EOF
# Imposta permessi e gruppo sul socket Pulse/pipewire
f /run/user/*/pulse/native 0660 - $GROUP - -
EOF

echo "==> Applicazione immediata della regola tmpfiles..."
sudo systemd-tmpfiles --create "$TMPFILES_CONF"

echo "==> Configurazione completata!"
echo "ℹ Ricorda: gli utenti aggiunti devono disconnettersi e riconnettersi per usare i nuovi permessi."

---------------------------------------------------------------

Verify the USER example white:

cat /etc/tmpfiles.d/pulse-native.conf
# Imposta permessi e gruppo sul socket Pulse/pipewire
f /run/user/*/pulse/native 0660 - pulse-access - -
[white@white-systemproductname ~]$ ls -l /run/user/$(id -u)/pulse/native
srw-rw-rw- 1 white white 0 12 set 11.33 /run/user/1000/pulse/native
[white@white-systemproductname ~]$ groups white
white : white sys wheel rfkill pulse-access

--------------------------------------------------------------

Note the following command:

ps aux | grep pulseaudio

The cookie was sent:

white 2603 0.0 0.0 6884 4432 pts/1 S+ 11:51 0:00 grep --color=auto pulseaudio
[white@white-systemproductname ~]$ pactl info
Server String: /run/user/1000/pulse/native
Library Protocol Version: 35
Server Protocol Version: 35
Is Local: yes
Client Index: 71
Tile Size: 65472
User Name: white
Host Name: white-systemproductname
Server Name: PulseAudio (on PipeWire 1.4.8)
Server Version: 15.0.0
Default Sample Specification: float32le 2ch 48000Hz
Default Channel Map: front-left,front-right
Default Sink: alsa_output.pci-0000_08_00.4.analog-stereo
Default Source: alsa_output.pci-0000_08_00.4.analog-stereo.monitor

Cookie: 9e25:e800 <<<<--------------------

I don't see any other way. If anyone tries it, let me know.
Thanks.

The word to the more experts.

---------------------------------------------------------

I also remember that this command, unlike the script, works perfectly for audio:

sudo chmod 777 /run/user/$(id -u)/pulse/native;
qemu-system-ppc -M amigaone -bios /home/white/Scaricati/Silicon/u-boot-amigaone.bin -device VGA,romfile=/home/white/Scaricati/Silicon/VGABIOS-lgpl-latest.bin -m 2048 -serial stdio -vga none -device sm501 -device rtl8139,netdev=mynet0 -netdev user,id=mynet0 -drive media=disk,format=raw,file=/home/white/Scaricati/Silicon/Update2-ONE-32gb.raw

But then I can't use GPU passthrough.

So I'll need to find a solution that works with:
sudo chmod 777 /run/user/$(id -u)/pulse/native;

@white
I asked before but got no answer. What's the output of configure script when compiling QEMU where it lists audio backends? Maybe you just need to install the appropriate devel package for the backend you want to use and sepcify that on the qemu command line too to make sure it's used (if you don't compile in anything else then that also ensures it's used). I don't understand what you're doing. Your system seems to use pipewire but you're fiddling with pulseaudio related stuff. I still think the easiest would be to just stop pipewire and use plain alsa.

Quote:
This command does not run qemu as root as the sudo is only applied to chmod. The ; terminates that command. If you want to also run qemu as root you need to put the whole command in quotes or use \; to quote just the semicolon and pass that to sudo as well.

@balaton

I restored the ArchLinux version with ALSA because it was correct. The problem arises from the audio management.
I completely disabled PIPEWIRE and configured the audio with ALSA, but I still have some issues to resolve.
I remember a few years ago when PIPEWIRE didn't exist and I used Kali Linux. I never had any problems with audio using SUDO. Now that PIPEWIRE is practically everywhere, it makes things more difficult for me.

Of course, the distribution doesn't matter to me; I just need it to work to emulate QEMU with AmigaOS.

This thread has now been locked due to its size and because it keeps veering outside the original topic.

Please create new threads that are focused on the topics you want to discuss.