Dear Community,
I have a server based on two Intel Xeon E5405 CPUs.
VT-x is enabled in a BIOS, and BIOS is updated up to the latest version. Server has been powered off completely and power cord has been diconnected for a while.
It runs Windows Server 2008 R2 x64.
Inside it runs VMWare Player 3.x, a latest version availables.
Inside Player, I run vSphere 5 Hypervisor as Other 64 bit OS with the following configuration:
.encoding = "windows-1252"
config.version = "8"
virtualHW.version = "7"
numvcpus = "4"
scsi0.present = "TRUE"
scsi0.virtualDev = "lsilogic"
memsize = "4388"
ide0:0.present = "TRUE"
ide0:0.fileName = "vSphere 5.vmdk"
ide1:0.present = "FALSE"
ide1:0.deviceType = "cdrom-image"
floppy0.startConnected = "FALSE"
floppy0.fileName = ""
floppy0.autodetect = "TRUE"
ethernet0.present = "TRUE"
ethernet0.connectionType = "nat"
ethernet0.virtualDev = "e1000"
ethernet0.wakeOnPcktRcv = "FALSE"
ethernet0.addressType = "generated"
sound.present = "TRUE"
sound.startConnected = "FALSE"
sound.fileName = "-1"
sound.autodetect = "TRUE"
pciBridge0.present = "TRUE"
pciBridge4.present = "TRUE"
pciBridge4.virtualDev = "pcieRootPort"
pciBridge4.functions = "8"
pciBridge5.present = "TRUE"
pciBridge5.virtualDev = "pcieRootPort"
pciBridge5.functions = "8"
pciBridge6.present = "TRUE"
pciBridge6.virtualDev = "pcieRootPort"
pciBridge6.functions = "8"
pciBridge7.present = "TRUE"
pciBridge7.virtualDev = "pcieRootPort"
pciBridge7.functions = "8"
vmci0.present = "TRUE"
roamingVM.exitBehavior = "go"
displayName = "vSphere 5"
guestOS = "other-64"
nvram = "vSphere 5.nvram"
virtualHW.productCompatibility = "hosted"
gui.exitOnCLIHLT = "FALSE"
extendedConfigFile = "vSphere 5.vmxf"
ethernet0.generatedAddress = "00:0c:29:17:86:11"
tools.syncTime = "FALSE"
uuid.location = "56 4d 9f 5e b2 56 6c 43-78 6d 78 d8 96 17 86 11"
uuid.bios = "56 4d 9f 5e b2 56 6c 43-78 6d 78 d8 96 17 86 11"
cleanShutdown = "FALSE"
replay.supported = "FALSE"
replay.filename = ""
ide0:0.redo = ""
pciBridge0.pciSlotNumber = "17"
pciBridge4.pciSlotNumber = "21"
pciBridge5.pciSlotNumber = "22"
pciBridge6.pciSlotNumber = "23"
pciBridge7.pciSlotNumber = "24"
scsi0.pciSlotNumber = "16"
ethernet0.pciSlotNumber = "32"
sound.pciSlotNumber = "33"
vmci0.pciSlotNumber = "34"
vmotion.checkpointFBSize = "16777216"
ethernet0.generatedAddressOffset = "0"
vmci0.id = "-1776843247"
scsi0:0.present = "TRUE"
scsi0:0.fileName = "vSphere 5-0.vmdk"
scsi0:0.redo = ""
monitor.virtual_mmu = "software"
monitor.virtual_exec = "hardware"
monitor_control.restrict_backdoor = "TRUE"
isolation.tools.hgfs.disable = "TRUE"
ide1:0.autodetect = "TRUE"
ide1:0.startConnected = "FALSE"
vmi.present = "FALSE"
The vSphere 5 runs one Windows XP 32 bit and one Windows Vista 32 bit very well.
When I tried to install Windows 7 x64 bit I got the following error:
This virtual machine is configured for 64-bit guest operating systems. However, 64-bit operation is not possible.
Longmode is disabled for this virtual machine.
For more detailed information, see http://vmware.com/info?id=152.
Continue without 64-bit support?
What should I do to be able to run my Win 7 x64 in specified configuration?
Beste Regards,
Alex
Sorry, no. The only product which can pass VT to the guests (usually used for testing or training) is ESXi 5.0.
André
There's nothing you can do. Since VT is not passed through to the virtual machine (ESXi) you will not be able to run nested 64-bit guests. If you need 64-bit guests you can only run them on VMware Player directly.
André
Are there any unofficional tricks to pass VT to ESXi?
Sorry, no. The only product which can pass VT to the guests (usually used for testing or training) is ESXi 5.0.
André
VMWare Workstation 8 pass VT to the guests ??
If guests are ESXi5 or ESXi4 , pass VT to guest nested inside them ??
There's a way/configuration/tips in this configuration Windows2008R2 --> Workstation 8 --> ESXi4/5 --> Windows7 x32 for enable/test FT ??
Or is technical impossible ??
With Workstation 8 you can pass VT through to a guest hypervisor which will enable you to run 64 bit guests. For setup information see this document - http://communities.vmware.com/docs/DOC-8970.
You don't need to pass through VT for FT or 32 bit guests - http://vinf.net/2009/06/07/vsphere-cannot-enable-ft-for-a-nested-vm/
As mentioned by Dave, with Workstation 8 things changed. At the time this discussion was started, VMware Workstation 8 was not available.
André
After enable in Workstation 8 the Virtualize ... AMD-V/RVI support , in nested ESXi5 i need to add the
vhv.allow = TRUE
to enable also in ESXi HV , right ??
For other OS i need to add inside each vm the line referred to cpu .... , right ??
At this point all vm created inside Workstation 8 has HV enable/available , right ??
Other step is FT .
After above implemented settings in lab test environment , i need to test FT in a vm windows 7 x32 nested inside ESXi5 ( inside Workstation 8 ).
I need to add only the line suggest inside vsphere-cannont-enable-... doc or i need to do other things / settings ??
Nick66 wrote:
After enable in Workstation 8 the Virtualize ... AMD-V/RVI support , in nested ESXi5 i need to add the
vhv.allow = TRUE
to enable also in ESXi HV , right ??
For other OS i need to add inside each vm the line referred to cpu .... , right ??
No. In Workstation 8, checking the box next to "Virtualize VT-x/EPT or AMD_V/RVI" is sufficient to enable virtualized hardware-assisted virtualization for the guest hypervisor (assuming you have appropriate hardware).
Other step is FT .
After above implemented settings in lab test environment , i need to test FT in a vm windows 7 x32 nested inside ESXi5 ( inside Workstation 8 ).
I need to add only the line suggest inside vsphere-cannont-enable-... doc or i need to do other things / settings ??
I believe the only thing you have to add to enable fault tolerance is:
replay.allowBTOnly = TRUE
This only works for 32-bit nested guests, and it should work regardless of whether or not you have enabled virtualized hardware-assisted virtualization.