Does Hyper-V in Windows 11 LTSC IoT Support Network Adapter Passthrough (SR-IOV)?

SR-IOV is a technology that allows a single network adapter to appear as multiple separate physical devices to virtual machines (VMs). It enhances network performance by bypassing the software switch layer and allowing VMs to directly access network hardware.

2. Support in Windows 11 IoT LTSC:

• Hyper-V Inclusion: Windows 11 IoT LTSC includes Hyper-V as part of its virtualization support. However, LTSC (Long-Term Servicing Channel) editions are typically geared toward stability and long-term use, with a focus on industrial and enterprise environments.
• Advanced Features: While Hyper-V in Windows 11 IoT LTSC supports basic virtualization features, it may not have the same level of support for enterprise-grade features like SR-IOV that are fully enabled and supported in the Windows Server editions.
• SR-IOV Support: Advanced network features, such as SR-IOV, are primarily associated with Windows Server versions (e.g., Windows Server 2016/2019/2022) where enterprise-grade virtualization is needed. Windows 11 client editions, even those with Hyper-V support, may not include full support for SR-IOV or might have limited functionality in this area.

3. Experience and Configuration Insights:

• Documentation and Limitations: The official documentation for Windows client versions, including Windows 10 and Windows 11, does not indicate full SR-IOV support in Hyper-V for these platforms. SR-IOV is generally documented for Windows Server editions, where Hyper-V is used for more extensive and high-performance virtual networking.
• Community Feedback: Users in IT communities and forums often report that while they can use Hyper-V in client versions for various tasks, specific features like SR-IOV are either unavailable or not fully supported compared to Windows Server environments.

4. Recommendations:

• Testing and Verification: If you wish to try enabling SR-IOV, ensure your hardware (e.g., network adapter and motherboard) supports SR-IOV and that it is enabled in the BIOS/UEFI.
• Consider Server Editions: For full SR-IOV support, using a Windows Server edition would be more appropriate. These versions are designed to handle advanced networking and virtualization needs.
• Check Hyper-V Feature Set: Run Get-VMHostSupportedVersion in PowerShell to check supported features on your host system. Additionally, check for network adapter SR-IOV compatibility with Get-NetAdapterSriov.