KVM Hypervisor

[Phil Meyer]

Chris Snook wrote:
> Christopher A. Williams wrote:
>> On Sun, 2008-07-20 at 08:15 -0400, Alex Katebi wrote:
>>> Hi All,
>>>
>>>   I can not find laptop or desktop hardware that supports KVM
>>> Virtualization (Intel-VT or AMD-V).
>>> I like Dell laptops but there is no information regarding hardware
>>> assisted virtualization (Hypervisor).
>>> Can I get some recommendation?
>>
>> Actually this isn't as hard as it sounds if you're looking to buy a
>> *new* laptop. Pretty much anything out there today supports Intel VT /
>> AMD-V now. The main thing you'll need to make sure of is that you have
>> enabled this in the BIOS. There are quite a few systems that still ship
>> with this feature disabled for some reason.
>
> Actually, Intel only enables it on the high-end Core2 chips, so you 
> need to get a chip that's at least somewhat high-end, or at least that 
> was high-end when first introduced on the market.  Dell clearly 
> identifies these with 'VT' in the processor description.  You do *not* 
> need V-pro support.  That's just for a BIOS-based hypervisor that 
> Intel offers for management, mostly for corporate desktops.


No only that, but Dell goes to great pains to HIDE the virtualization 
enabler switch in the BIOS.  It can be under POST or CPU.  And it is 
always OFF by default.

Good Luck!

PS  A a new Dell laptop is on order, and I won't know for sure if it 
supports KVM until its on and working.  And it needs to.  There are 4 
VMs that are needed to run from time to time.

There have been several systems received where virtualization should 
have been available, but the BIOS simply didn't show it, although the 
CPU has the exact same part number as other that do work.  BIOS versions 
were also identical.

YMMV, but Dell platinum support is ignorant of intel VT, or AMD VM 
supported virtualization, its uses, how to enable it, or any other thing 
about it.