Optimizing MAWi Spacewall Performance on Virtual Machines: A Comprehensive Guide

Guide for Using MAWi Spacewall devices with Virtual Machines


When operating the MAWi Spacewall and spacedesk driver on a virtual machine (VM), it's crucial to be aware of the limitations imposed by the absence of a physical Graphics Processing Unit (GPU). Virtual machines generally can't match the performance of a physical computer due to this limitation.

For activities like video playback or any dynamic content, we advise against using MAWi Spacewall if the host is a virtual machine. This is because virtual machines have limited graphics capabilities.

A common issue encountered is the overload of the virtual GPU in the VM, which can lead to driver failures. This is typically indicated by a yellow exclamation mark next to the spacedesk graphics device in the device manager, as depicted in the accompanying image.




To ensure system stability and smooth running, please follow these steps to add a specific registry key:

1. Open the Registry Editor (Regedit).
2. Navigate to the following path: `HKLM\System\CurrentControlSet\Control\GraphicsDrivers`.
3. Create or modify the following entry: 
   - Name: `TerminateIndirectOnStall`
   - Type: `REG_DWORD (32-bit)`
   - Value: `0`



This registry modification helps in maintaining system stability under the constraints of a virtual environment.