Enable Intel-VT inside of VMware Workstation

kvm-virtualizationlibvirtvirtualizationvmware-workstationxen

I'm testing Nova Compute from OpenStack project inside of a VMware Workstation v7 virtual machine, and I get this error:

libvirtError: internal error no supported architecture for os type 'hvm'

This is because the VM can't run hardware accelerated Xen VMs (hvm), that is, guest CPU doest not have Intel-VT or AMD-V support. According to VMware, "Running Nested VMs", I can enable this support adding those parameters to ".vmx" file:

guestOS = "vmkernel"
monitor_control.vt32 = "TRUE"
monitor_control.restrict_backdoor = "TRUE"

But, it doesn't work, running 'grep vmx /proc/cpuinfo' inside the VM does not report Intel-VT support, also running "kvm-ok" from "cpu-checker" package I get:

# kvm-ok
INFO: Your CPU does not support KVM extensions
KVM acceleration can NOT be used

Can I configure VMware Workstation to run KVM acceleration or Xen HVM? thanks!

Best Answer

VMware Workstation 7 doesn't support nested hvm. You should try VMware Workstation 8 or 9.

Edit the virtual machine and modify the processor options. In the Virtualization engine , check "Virtualize Intel-x/EPT or AMD-V/RVI"。

If you are using VMware Workstation 8, you should also modify the .vmx file of the vm, add a new line : vhv.enable = "TRUE" You can refer to this. http://communities.vmware.com/community/vmtn/bestpractices/nested

Guest Time Keeping in Windows under KVM Virtualization:

Virtualization poses various challenges for guest time keeping. Generally - Guests using the Time Stamp Counter (TSC) as a clock source generally suffer timing problems as some CPUs do not have a constant Time Stamp Counter.

I believe this is what is happening to you.

To clarify for others reading this post - guest systems without accurate timekeeping may have issues with some networked applications and processes as the guest will run faster or slower than the actual time and fall out of synchronization.

KVM works around this issue by providing guests with a para-virtualized clock. Alternatively, some guests may use other x86 clock sources for their timing in future versions of those operating systems.

To determine if your CPU has a constant Time Stamp Counter run the following command:

$ cat /proc/cpuinfo | grep constant_tsc

If any output is given your CPU has the constant_tsc bit.

Chances are however yours does not - and thus the issues your running into - therefore another work around / alternative is to first turn off any power management in the BIOS - as well as in the KVM.

It is also important to note that Windows uses the both the Real-Time Clock (RTC) and the Time Stamp Counter (TSC).

Older systems such as Windows 2003 and XP use the boot.ini file however - The boot.ini file is no longer used from Windows Vista and newer.

Windows 2008, Vista and 7 Booot Configuration Editor:

Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008 and Windows 7 use the Boot Configuration Data Editor (bcdedit.exe) to modify the Windows boot parameters.

Open the Windows guest.
Open the Accessories menu of the start menu. Right click on the Command Prompt application, select Run as Administrator.
Confirm the security exception, if prompted.
Set the boot manager to use the platform clock. This should instruct Windows to use the PM timer for the primary clock source. The system UUID ({default} in the example below) should be changed if the system UUID is different than the default boot device.

C:\Windows\system32>bcdedit /set {default} USEPLATFORMCLOCK on The operation completed successfully

Windows 2003 and XP Boot Configuration Edit:

If by chance you are looking at this post - but the issue exists on your Windows XP and/or Windows 2003 system add the following line to the Windows boot settings. In XP and Server 2003 Windows boot settings are stored in the boot.ini file. Add the following line to the boot.ini file:

/use pmtimer

I really hope this helps.

Blessings, Glenn Kelley

Best Answer

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Debian – Server virtualization on Linux – Windows Server 2008 as guest

Guest Time Keeping in Windows under KVM Virtualization:

Windows 2008, Vista and 7 Booot Configuration Editor:

Windows 2003 and XP Boot Configuration Edit:

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