Matt Mossholder on 12 Feb 2008 13:58:31 -0800


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Re: [PLUG] Finding a motherboard with a BIOS that does not block CPU virtualization


On Tue, 2008-02-12 at 16:25 -0500, K.S. Bhaskar wrote:
> We have been burned both times that we purchased AMD64 motherboards
> recently (2 Gigabyte models from Newegg).  The CPUs support
> virtualization (evidence from /proc/cpuinfo), but the kernel modiule
> kvm-amd fails to load with an error.  Google tells me that this is the
> result of a BIOS that blocks virtualization.  Is there any way to tell
> before purchasing a mobo whether or not the BIOS blocks
> virtualization?  This doesn't seem to be a feature that mobo
> manufacturers advertise.
> 
> Alternatively, if you purchased an AMD64 mobo in the last 3-6 months
> and are able to successfully modprobe kvm-amd, would you please let me
> know manufacturer and model, please?
> 
> Thanx muchly, in advance.
> 
> Regards
> -- Bhaskar


Bhaskar,
	While virtualization may be disabled by the BIOS, in 99% of the cases I
have seen, it is a configurable setting, not a hard limit. You just need
to set the appropriate configuration option to enable the extensions.

	If I recall correctly, the reason motherboards/systems ship with
virtualization disabled is due to some of the virtualized malware out
there... shipping with it disabled means you can't be negatively
impacted.

		--Matt



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