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Optiplex 740: Hardware Virtualization support?
Although the AMD Utility indicates that the processor in my machine supports virtualization, I can't see how to enable it. The Instructions for Dell machines at the Microsoft site and 2 documents in the Dell technical library talk offer instructions for Intel processors.
Where/how can I enable virtualization support for this machine?
Thank you.
athenian
81 Posts
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May 28th, 2009 09:00
That's correct. Here are the BIOS Options <ADMIN NOTE: Broken link has been removed from this post by Dell> I see. If one of those means "virtualization", I don't know which one it would be. Should I be looking somewhere else?
DELL-Chris M
Community Manager
Community Manager
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54.9K Posts
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May 28th, 2009 09:00
Athenian,
Are you saying you do not see an option in the bios for virtualization?
ricka0
4 Posts
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September 18th, 2009 13:00
see http://amalgamman.livejournal.com/3212.html
An upgrade to the bios (Dell Optiplex 740 version 1.2.3) and flipping the a couple switches in the bios (TPM Activation= Deactivate and No Execute = Off) fixed the issue.
dbutch1976
20 Posts
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September 20th, 2010 16:00
OK I've got a tricky problem for you guys. As described I'm able to configure the TPM/No Execute settings after upgrading my BIOS to 2.2.5. The problem is that I had to downlevel my BIOS in order to install ESXi in the first place to 1.1.8 in order to install ESXi!! Now after flashing the BIOS ESXi will no longer boot. Arrgh! Does anyone happen to know the magical BIOS level that will allow me to configure TMP/No Excute while NOT breaking ESXi?
This is for a Dell Optiplex 740.
dbutch1976
20 Posts
0
September 21st, 2010 07:00
Hey guys,
Answered my own question, it appears that BIOS ver 1.1.8 has the options mentioned above and also allows you to boot ESXi. Next I need to figure out why I'm unable to use Vmotion on these machines.
jharris1993
5 Posts
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December 8th, 2010 23:00
:emotion-18:
Folks, you've got me puzzled. . . .
Here I am with an Optiplex 740, AMD 3800+ processor (that supposedly supports hardware virtualization) and I tried your trick after updating to the 2.2.5 BIOS.
What I did:
I'm just not getting anything anywhere that even SMELLS like hardware virtualization - let alone LOOKS like it. Any hints as to what I'm doing wrong here? Where should I be seeing this?
Frustration reigns supreme! :emotion-39:
Jim
dbutch1976
20 Posts
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December 11th, 2010 11:00
I Jim,
I have never ever ever had it work with any BIOS ver other that 1.1.8. Downlevel to that and try the install again.
Good luck!
jharris1993
5 Posts
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May 3rd, 2011 18:00
D',
I tried that, and did everything I was supposed to. I still do not see anything in the BIOS that talks about virtualization. Is this a "silent" feature? (i.e. it works but doesn't tell you it's there?)
Thanks!
Jim
dbutch1976
20 Posts
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May 4th, 2011 21:00
Strange, as soon as I installed that BIOS level it worked right away, no messing around with BIOS settings at all. Are you installing ESX or ESXi? At what point does it fail during the install?
athenian
81 Posts
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May 4th, 2011 21:00
I gave up and used a different brand machine for my virtualization work. I think it's interesting that after two years, no one from Dell has provided any help at all to customers who have this model.
dbutch1976
20 Posts
0
May 5th, 2011 09:00
I'm actually using two Dell 740's (mini tower) as ESXi hosts and a single Dell 740 (small form factor) as an iSCSI host. All three machines are working fine although I had tonnes of issues setting them up, but now that they're up and running I'm quite happy with them. Oh well, best of luck to you guys!
jharris1993
5 Posts
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May 5th, 2011 15:00
I've spent the entire morning and the better part of this afternoon researching the issues surrounding Hardware Virtualization on the Dell Optiplex 740 and have the following findings to share:
Note that these results may only apply to my system configuration - this is why I include MoBo part numbers, etc. so you can verify the identity of your configuation with respect to mine. My BIOS download was obtained from the official DELL site using my machine's service-tag to look it up.
Summary:
System Configuation:
316754000401_R01
CN-0HX340-70821-7A5-L0AU
Rev A01
MD5 checksum = 64fe04b9c9166080db4492978682710c
SHA-1 checksum = d8c1ece338f95a5fecee0d60514826952a06a768
(Calculated using HashCalc download here: http://www.slavasoft.com/hashcalc/index.htm)
Operating System:
(Internal domain is a Win-2K8 domain with Active Directory)
Virtual Guest System:
Tests Performed:
(BIOS 1.1.8)
Conclusion:
Using various combinations of the settings described above - there is no combination of settings that will enable Hardware Virtualization.
(BIOS 2.2.5)
Conclusion:
Hardware Virtualization appears to be enabled by default in BIOS 2.2.5. However, since this appears to be a "silent" feature, it can only be tested by loading a virtualization-enabled operating system and attempting to run a virtual machine.
Additional Configuation Notes:
No additional virtualization-enabling software was installed, (i.e. ESX / ESXi etc.) This was run on a plain-vanilla 2K8 install loaded with only the two required roles installed for virtualization.
What say ye?
Jim
dbutch1976
20 Posts
0
May 6th, 2011 19:00
Wow, awesome job, I'll definately keep it in mind if I ever start using Hyper V! I can definately vouche for the fact that ESX/ESXi works under 1.1.8, but it's great to know 2.2.5 works for Hyper V.
jgersh
6 Posts
0
September 26th, 2011 22:00
I have ESXi 4.1 i installed on an optiplex 740. I am running bios 2.2.5 and an AMD athlon 4450B chip. I am able to virtualize Windows and Linux VMs and vmotion to the second optiplex
Today I attempted to upgrade to ESXi 5.0 and I got a purple screen of death
http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=1020181
Can it be the optiplex 740 works with ESXi 4.1 but not 5.0 ?
jharris1993
5 Posts
0
September 27th, 2011 09:00
(quote dbutch)
Wow, awesome job, I'll definately keep it in mind if I ever start using Hyper V! I can definately vouche for the fact that ESX/ESXi works under 1.1.8, but it's great to know 2.2.5 works for Hyper V.
(/quote)
Maybe someone (other than myself!) can propose this as an answer? That will make it easier to find.