poor performance playing video file on host OS from guest OS

[becky]

I want to play some video files on the guest OS using player such as VLC. The video files are stored in the host OS.
I now use shared folder and (also I have bridged networking) to play the files but the performance is poor. Is there a better way to gain access to the host OS files?

[mpack]

The most efficient is a true network share using a VirtIO NIC with appropriate drivers in the guest.

But: the VM is running on simulated hardware, so will never be as fast as real hardware. Use dual booting if you want native performance.

[becky]

Can a raw disk access with readonly setting provide sufficient performance ?

Btw, how can I do a true network share using a VirtIO NIC, any documentation ?

[mpack]

No, raw disk access will give no benefit, and anyway is so dangerous that if you try that then you're on your own (experts only).

The virtio-net option is described in the user manual.

[becky]

Are there any quick note on installing a true network share using a VirtIO NIC on the Windows 7 guest. The materials are quite difficult and which driver files I should choose etc?
Directory of F:\WIN7\X86

06/19/2013 05:01 PM 30,408 BALLOON.SYS
06/19/2013 05:01 PM 90,312 NETKVM.SYS
06/19/2013 05:01 PM 22,728 VIOSCSI.SYS
06/19/2013 05:01 PM 55,496 VIOSER.SYS
06/19/2013 05:01 PM 25,288 VIOSTOR.SYS

[mpack]

It's been a while, but I seem to recall that the KVM site has a Windows driver installer ready to go. So you shouldn't be copying driver files around (pointless since they won't be registered), instead just run the installer. Hang on. I just Googled for "VirtIO Windows Drivers" and this was the first hit.

Treat it like any other Windows hardware. Download and install the drivers. Then plug in the hardware (in your case, change the VM settings), follow Windows new hardware prompts to choose driver.