#!/bin/bash
#
# script to create cpusets to isolate CPU threads for KVM/libvirt VMs
# requires 'cset'
# available on Fedora through my COPR:
# - https://copr.fedorainfracloud.org/coprs/jlay/cpuset/
# review comments below regarding CPUs and XML entries
#
# this script:
# - isolates host tasks from the VM CPUs
# - applies some generic tweaks
# - resets host isolation on VM shutdown
#
# define the CPUs (cores/threads) to isolate for the VM
VM_CORES='0-19,24-43'
# Tip: refer to 'virsh capabilities | grep siblings'
# this will show CPU topology information for the host
# allows one to pick optimal layout for the VM
#
# the pinned CPUs are definend like so in the VM libvirt XML:
#
#
#
#
# [...]
#
#
# NOTE: the pinned emulator CPUs must be included in VM_CORES
# probably any iothreads too
#
# example above is based on a threadripper 3960x:
# - one NUMA node
# - SMT enabled
#
# reduce kernel jitter
sudo sh -c 'sysctl vm.stat_interval=120 ; sysctl kernel.watchdog=0'
# attempt to reset shielding, we want to create it with current params
# and remove any existing slices from previous VM boots
# we want it to be created with current params, such as possibly-changed pinned CPUs
sudo sh -c 'cset shield --reset --sysset=host.slice --userset=windows10.slice ; cset set -d windows10.slice'
# shield cores
# userset slice must match the partition defined in libvirt xml, eg:
#
#
#
# /windows10
#
#
sudo cset shield -c $VM_CORES --sysset=host.slice --userset=windows10.slice
# start the VM
virsh start windows10
# determine QEMU vCPU PIDs
QEMU_PIDS=$(sudo egrep 'vcpu.*pid' /var/run/libvirt/qemu/windows10.xml | cut -d\' -f4)
# set higher priority for vCPU PIDs
sudo renice -20 -p ${QEMU_PIDS}
# either of these attempts at real time seem to freeze on boot
# try a different kernel (not 5.8.11)
#for CPUPID in ${QEMU_PIDS}; do
## sudo chrt -f -p 99 ${CPUPID}
# sudo chrt -r -p 99 ${CPUPID}
#done
echo "Waiting for windows10 VM to stop before resetting cpusets"
while true; do
# chill a bit
sleep 10
# get vm state, check if it's off
if test -f "/var/run/libvirt/qemu/windows10.xml"; then
VM_STATE="on" # doesn't do much (yet?), just here to fill a spot
else
VM_STATE="off"
echo -e "windows10 VM shut down, setting cpusets back to normal\n"
sudo cset shield --reset --sysset=host.slice --userset=windows10.slice
exit 0
fi
done