No 64-bit guests in ESXi 4.0 on IBM x336?

[wuestenfuchs]

Hi,

I just installed ESXi 4.0 on an IBM xSeries 336 server for a test environment. I specifically got this machine for this purpose with the requirement in mind that ESXi 4.0 only runs on 64-bit capable processors. And ESXi 4.0 installed fine on this server (and I also booted Windows PE x64 on in successfully for a test).

Now when I try to create a 64-bit guest on it, it keeps telling me that this host is not capable of running 64-bit guests. Did I miss something?

I now read that it may have to to with VT ... are there Xeon processors with EM64T that do not have VT? And why do I need VT for running 64-bit guests but not for 32-bit guests?

Kai-Uwe

[DSTAVERT]

ESXi 4 requires VT support for virtualizing 64bit guests. There is support for 64bit guests in ESXi 3.5 but you are out of luck in 4.

[vangejo]

Enable VT in your BIOS (CPU settings) and try again

[DSTAVERT · Accepted solution]

The problem is that the 336 series doesn't have VT

[AntonVZhbankov]

>And why do I need VT for running 64-bit guests but not for 32-bit guests?

Due to x86 architecture. It is just the way it works.

---

VMware vExpert '2009

http://blog.vadmin.ru

[wuestenfuchs]

But as DSTAVERT wrote, 64-bit guest support would work with ESX/ESXi 3.5 on the same hardware?

[wuestenfuchs]

The problem is that the 336 series doesn't have VT

At least not with the processors mine has. I have searched docs and Intel and IBM tables and it looks like only the 2.80 GHz dual core Xeon that was available in one of the last models of the x336 has VT. And all Xeons in the x3550 have it, the successor of the x336.

Well, bad luck, I guess.

[AntonVZhbankov]

It doesn't matter 4.0 or 3.5, 64bit guest requires VT.

---

VMware vExpert '2009

http://blog.vadmin.ru

[AntonVZhbankov]

If you consider any comment as helpful please award points by pressing "Correct answer" or "Helpful answer"

---

VMware vExpert '2009

http://blog.vadmin.ru

[DSTAVERT]

Anton is correct 64bit requires VT in 3.5 or 4.

[admin]

I now read that it may have to to with VT ... are there Xeon processors with EM64T that do not have VT? And why do I need VT for running 64-bit guests but not for 32-bit guests?

See KB 1901.

[agesen]

The following document explains in a bit more technical detail

what the role of VT-x is for running 64 bit guests on Intel CPUs.

http://www.vmware.com/resources/techresources/10036

Sincerely,

Ole