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vmhugo
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

BSOD In Workstation 8.0.1 On Windows 2008 R2 With VT/AMD-V Passthrough

Hi,

I had this BSOD in 8.0.0 and 8.0.1

Host OS is Windows 2008 R2 SP1 with current patch levels

Create a guest vm and install ESXi 5.0

Under CPU, enable Virtualize Intel VT-x/EPT or AMD-V/RVI

Boot up ESXi 5.0

Create a guest OS under ESXi 5.0 of Windows 7 32bit (used Windows 7 SP1 Intergrated 32bit VL)

Once you get to the end of the install, especally around when it setting up the network, the whole OS (ie, the physical computer) will BSOD, messages on screen refer that it was shutdown to prevent damage, once I saw a memory management BSOD. Tried this build approx 4 time, each time it crashed.

Log back on, and edit CPU's for ESXi 5.0

disable Virtualize Intel VT-x/EPT or AMD-V/RVI

Reinstall Windows 7 32bit again. This time it will work. Tried this about 3 times without issues.

CPU is a AMD X6 1055T 130W (Rev PH-E0). IMMOU and VT options enabled in the BIOS.

Not sure if the issue is with ESXi 5.0 or Workstation 8.0.x

I'm yet to try nested VM's on XenServer 6.0 with Virtualize Intel VT-x/EPT or AMD-V/RVI enabled

Any idea's?

Thanks

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20 Replies
admin
Immortal
Immortal

Can you get a full memory dump with the next BSOD?  See http://support.microsoft.com/kb/254649 for details on how to do this.

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vmhugo
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

Yes, I can, but it may take a day or two.

are you after a full mem dump, kernel or small?

Keep in mind the kernel and full mum dump might be huge, even with compression.

If so, where do I upload this file to?

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vmhugo
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

More info.

I have testing the same on XenServer 6.0 with current patch levels (01,02 and 04) and while it does not BSOD the physical computer, it does halt the XenServer hypervisor, black/blank screen, not even num-lock triggers.

I'm unable to test with Virtualize Intel VT-x/EPT or AMD-V/RVI disabled as XS will not use binary.

Anyone out there want to test this on Intel kit, is there value in such a test?

vmhugo

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admin
Immortal
Immortal

Can you upload the vmware.log file?  I'm not sure that it will reveal anything useful, but it can't hurt to look.

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vmhugo
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

I can't find the log file, well one that was updated in the last day, so it contains no entries for the day of the BSOD.

I can't test this on my Intel as its not a Nehalem and does not support EPT.

Hugo

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admin
Immortal
Immortal

Sorry to take so long to get back to you.  We have been unable to reproduce this issue in-house.  We will need a memory dump if we're going to learn anything more.

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vmhugo
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

Hi,

I've updated to 8.0.2 and the issue still appears. It's also happening when booting an installed nested Window 7, not only when installing Windows 7 as I mentioned earlier.

Can you please let me know where to upload the complete dump to?

If I turn off VT for the guest, there are no crashes.

Hugo

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admin
Immortal
Immortal

If you get a chance, could you try the Workstation 2012 Tech Preview?

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mars_cydonia
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

Do you know? I have exactly the same problem.

This is my config:

Asus P8P67 LE

Intel Core i5-2500

32GB Team Group Elite DDR3-1333 RAM

VMware Workstation 8.0.2

Now I'm gonna try VMware Workstation 2012 Technology Preview and see what will happen.

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admin
Immortal
Immortal

Can I ask you both to enable full debugging for your ESXi VMs and try to reproduce the issue?  Go to VM->Settings, Click 'Options', 'Advanced', and select 'Full' next to 'Gather debugging information.'

Thanks!

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admin
Immortal
Immortal

Can you try increasing the memory allocated to the ESXi VM?

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admin
Immortal
Immortal

What are your settings for Memory under Edit->Preferences?

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admin
Immortal
Immortal

We believe we may know the cause of this problem.  As a workaround, please try adding the following to /etc/vmware/config on your ESXi guest:

monitor_control.disable_mmu_largepages = TRUE

This problem should be fixed in the Workstation 2012 Tech Preview.

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vmhugo
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

Mine are:

14336MB of 16380 (but I think that first number moves around)

Allow some VM memoryto be swapped.

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vmhugo
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

I guess this addresses the ESXi side of things, but what about running XenServer as a guest?

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admin
Immortal
Immortal

Another potential workaround is to change your memory preferences to "Fit all virtual machine memory into reserved host RAM."

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TheITHollow
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

worked for me!

thanks

http://www.theithollow.com
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vmhugo
Enthusiast
Enthusiast

This work around never worked for me.

I've installed a trail of Workstation 9 (I download the Tech Preview, but never used it) and will test that out and report back in a couple of weeks.

If it works, I might upgrade.

Thanks

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admin
Immortal
Immortal

Let me know how it goes.  The problem should be fixed in Workstation 9.

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