Cannot install W2003 64 bit std edition on HP Proliant DL140G3 + VI3

[msssn]

Hello,

I'm trying to install a 64 bit w2003 std edition on HP Proliant DL140G3 using esx3.5 update 2 but i'm having the nasty error ""Attempting to load an x64 operating system, however this CPU is not compatible with x64 mode..." . The server has a 1x Intel® Xeon® E5310 Quad Core 1,60 GHz running latest HP Bios (1.17). I've looked through the forums and search for this error, i've run the iso image in order to check out if VT is enabled and supported with satisfactory results, the VT option is enabled in the bios and i'm giving up on this subject.

I know that model is not on the supported hardware list but i'll only use it for testing pourposes so it's not a big deal.

Can anyone help me ?

Thanks in advance

[Rockapot]

Was VT enabled in the BIOS prior to the ESX install, or after the ESX install?

Carl

[Rockapot]

Also, did you power the system off after enabling VT in the BIOS, or just restart?, you need to do a full power down and then power up.

Here is a similair posting on the subject:

http://communities.vmware.com/message/1031514;jsessionid=1B04D08E759D56F604D5C30EB8529091

[msssn]

Thanks for the advice but unfortunately i saw that post yesterday and tried that this morning with the same result.

iirc VT support was enabled before installing esx but i'll do one more time the following:

1. Turn off VT support.

2. Power off the system completely

3. Turn on VT support.

4. Power off the system completely

5. After a while, install esx server.

Will post the results as soon as i can get them.

Is there any special bios option despite enabling VT support ?

Thanks again

[Rockapot]

Ok no probs. You should not need to make any other changes in the BIOS other than the VT option, well, atleast I have never had to make any other changes

Good luck

Carl

[Texiwill]

Hello,

Moved to VI: Virtual Machine and Guest OS forum.

Best regards,

Edward L. Haletky

VMware Communities User Moderator

====

Author of the book 'VMWare ESX Server in the Enterprise: Planning and Securing Virtualization Servers', Copyright 2008 Pearson Education.

SearchVMware Blog: http://itknowledgeexchange.techtarget.com/virtualization-pro/

Blue Gears Blogs - http://www.itworld.com/ and http://www.networkworld.com/community/haletky

As well as the Virtualization Wiki at http://www.astroarch.com/wiki/index.php/Virtualization

[msssn]

Updates on the issue:

I've tried everything posted but with same result, i cannot still install a w2k3 64bit std edition, same error msg.

I've run the command "esxcfg-info | grep "VT Support" as suggested in another topic and it' says "3" so i guess my installation support 64 bit guest os.

Am i missing something ? Do i have to set up the vm in a different way ?

Please, any input would be appreciated.

[Rob_Bohmann1]

You could try using this tool

to verify x64 compatibility...

Good Luck!

[msssn]

Hello,

Thanks for that link, that utility confirms that my HW supports 64bits Virtual Machines but i cannot still install W2003 64bit std edition but i can install that OS alone.

In VMIC under the summary tab of that host it says "Hyperthreading: Inactive" , i don't know how to enable it or if that could be the root cause of the problem but what's 100%sure is that all the hyperthreading options i'm able to identify on the bios are enabled.

I cannot understand what's wrong.

Any more tips ?

Thanks

[admin · Accepted solution]

Can you please post the vmware.log file for the affected VM?

[msssn]

Hello,

Following jmattson comment i've checked the vmware.log , i apologise because i should have checked it in first ... my bad.

Quoting some of the log file (omitting irrelevant parts)

Nov 07 07:40:20.329: vmx| Msg_Post: Warning
Nov 07 07:40:20.329: vmx| http://msg.cpuid.noLongmode You have configured this virtual machine as a 64-bit guest operating system. However, this host's CPU is not capable of running 64-bit virtual machines or this virtual machine has 64-bit support disabled.
Nov 07 07:40:20.329: vmx| For more detailed information, see http://www.vmware.com/info?id=152----

---

So i checked that link

Intel
Intel CPUs require EM64T and VT support in the chip and in the BIOS.
Intel EM64T CPUs do not have segmentation
support in long mode. If the Intel EM64T CPU is VT-capable, it comes
with hardware virtualization support (Intel's Virtualization
Technology). This hardware virtualization support allows Workstation
and VMware Server to work around the lack of segmentation, making it
possible to run 64-bit guest operating systems on Intel EM64T
VT-capable CPUs.

and i saw this line regarding my processor:

E5310, 65nm, 8M L2, NA L3, 1.60 GHz, 1066 MHz FSB, XD, Intel® 64, QC, VT, FC-LGA6

So i have to assume that my processor is not EM64T VT-capable but only VT or is there something else i'm not seeing ?

Thanks for all the help.

P.D. I'll mark question as answered

[msssn]

I'm still searching why my CPU cannot have installed 64 bit guest OS but is able to run them as stand alone.

More info about the cpu:

# cat /proc/cpuinfo
processor : 0
vendor_id : GenuineIntel
cpu family : 6
model : 15
model name : Intel(R) Xeon(R) CPU E5310 @ 1.60GHz
stepping : 11
cpu MHz : 1595.971
cache size : 4096 KB
fdiv_bug : no
hlt_bug : no
f00f_bug : no
coma_bug : no
fpu : yes
fpu_exception : yes
cpuid level : 10
wp : yes
flags : fpu vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 apic sep mtrr pge mca cmov pat pse36 clflush dts acpi mmx fxsr sse sse2 ss tm nx lm
bogomips : 3185.04

Can explain why is this happening ?

Thanks.

[admin]

Please post the vmware.log file. It's hard to just take a guess at what the problem might be without any information.

[msssn]

Sorry for the delay, unfortunately i don't have those logs anymore but the problem has been solved.

I turned off the server, checked that VT Support was enabled, made a cold restart, reinstalled ESX and then installed VIC ..... it worked !!

I don't know why it didn't work the first time, i've been doing the same steps everytime.

Anyway, thanks for the help.