QEMU 2.5-RC0 Released, Supports VirtIO-GPU 3D Mode

The first release candidate is out today for QEMU v2.5 and it comes with exciting changes.

QEMU 2.5 is underway as an important piece of the open-source Linux virtualization stack. Some of the highlights for QEMU 2.5 include the Xen support code now supporting pass-through of Intel integrated GPUs, VirtIO-GPU now supports the 3D mode, Vhost-user now supports live migration, support for multi-queue in Vhost-user, support for network filters, TCG has improved system emulation performance for targets with software TLBs, record/replay support for TCG, and a variety of other changes including many x86 and ARM specific additions. An in-progress listing of all the QEMU 2.5 changes can be found via this QEMU Wiki page.

Of course, one of the changes we're most excited about is the QEMU-side of the work for supporting 3D with VirtIO-GPU. With the Linux 4.4 kernel there is now the new DRM driver for supporting VirtIO GPU DRM with 3D support. Over in the Mesa/Gallium3D space, that VirGL code has already been merged. Now lastly, the QEMU support is working its way into a released version. This code allows for guest VMs to have access to 3D/OpenGL support backed by the host's OpenGL driver/hardware.

QEMU 2.5-rc0 was tagged yesterday. Three more release candidates are planned while the developers hope to officially release QEMU 2.5.0 on 10 December.