VMware Communities: ESXi on IBM x346 8840

Up to Discussions in VI: VMware ESXi™ 3.5

6,830 Views 9 Replies Last post: Nov 9, 2010 5:14 PM by SeanWong

mo.pro-tec

8 posts since
Aug 21, 2008

Currently Being Moderated

Aug 21, 2008 5:13 AM

ESXi on IBM x346 8840

Hi,

got some strange problems installing Windows 2008 64bit on out ESXi-Server. the Host machine is 64 bit, Hyperthreading enabled, if i try to install Windows 2008 directly the 64 bit versions is installed correctly. if i install ESXi on the same machine and try to install a new virtual machine with windows 2008 64 bit the installation stops with 0xc00035a Error saying

Attempting to load a 64-bit application, however this CPU is not compatible with 64-bit mode.

strange ?!?

is it neccessary to use some special settings for the virtual machine ?

hope anybody can help me

dkfbp

710 posts since
May 31, 2007

Currently Being Moderated

1. Aug 21, 2008 5:54 AM

in response to: mo.pro-tec

Re: ESXi on IBM x346 8840

Hi,

In order to use 64 bits windows virtual machines on vmware esx server the cpu needs to have virtualization technology enabled in BIOS. I am pretty sure

that the processor on your x346 does not have this option - hence 64 bit guests is not possible.

Best regards

Frank Brix Pedersen

Best regards Frank Brix Pedersen blog: http://www.vfrank.org

Report Abuse

nick.couchman

4,982 posts since
Jan 13, 2006

Currently Being Moderated

2. Aug 21, 2008 6:28 AM

in response to: mo.pro-tec

Re: ESXi on IBM x346 8840

Could you post the model processor you have (e.g. Intel Core2 6400)?

Report Abuse

mo.pro-tec

8 posts since
Aug 21, 2008

Currently Being Moderated

3. Aug 21, 2008 6:36 AM

in response to: dkfbp

Re: ESXi on IBM x346 8840

Hi Frank,

thanx for the quick answer. But if i install W2008 x64 on this machine directly the server works normally only Hyper-V isn't supported. Hyperthreading in Bios is enabled and as said if i only install w2008 x64 Enterprise on the machine standalone it works. Only with ESXi installed i'm not able to install a virual machine with 64bit OS

Regards,

Markus

Report Abuse

mo.pro-tec

8 posts since
Aug 21, 2008

Currently Being Moderated

4. Aug 21, 2008 6:38 AM

in response to: mo.pro-tec

Re: ESXi on IBM x346 8840

hardware data:

2x Xeon 3.2GHz/800MHz (1MB L2 Cache),

IBM x346 Model 8840 Type 2BG - latest BIOS Updates, latest Firmware,...

sorry that i can't post the exact model of CPU but i do not see it in BIOS or Diagnostics

/Markus

Report Abuse

nick.couchman

4,982 posts since
Jan 13, 2006

Currently Being Moderated

5. Aug 21, 2008 6:39 AM

in response to: mo.pro-tec

Re: ESXi on IBM x346 8840

Those CPUs sound old enough that I doubt they support VT technology, which, as mentioned in a previous thread, is required for 64-bit guest support. You can go look up IBMs documentation on the system and see if they mention it, but I think you might be out of luck in getting 64-bit guests on that system.

Report Abuse

mo.pro-tec

8 posts since
Aug 21, 2008

Currently Being Moderated

6. Aug 21, 2008 6:49 AM

in response to: nick.couchman

Re: ESXi on IBM x346 8840

Hi Nick,

as mentioned before - i am able to install w2008 Enterprise 64bit on this machine so could it be that if i install 2008 directly on the hardware i can use 64 bit and if i try to install 64 bit in a virtual machine on the same hardware the installation says Sorry - your system is not 64 bit ?!?!

really strange behavior.

Report Abuse

nick.couchman

4,982 posts since
Jan 13, 2006

Currently Being Moderated

7. Aug 21, 2008 8:08 AM

in response to: mo.pro-tec

Re: ESXi on IBM x346 8840

Installing a 64-bit O/S onto a system is not the same as being able to run a 64-bit VM. I have a Dell PE1850 that has a Xeon processor in it (with an 800 MHz FSB) that is a 64-bit processor. I can install the 64-bit version of Windows, but I cannot run 64-bit VMs on it because the chip does not have VT. Your processor MUST have VT capability and have it enabled in order to run 64-bit VMs.