SC440 Xeon supports Intel VT?

The system does support it and is enabled. There is no BIOS setting for it.

Message Edited by at5147 on 08-27-2007 04:20 PM

Thanks alot at5147, So if I want to try Xen HardwareVirtualMachine (HVM) with SC440, all I need is to buy a SC440 with Xeon processor? Have you tried HVM on SC440 yourself? How is it? Thanks again!

Ya, just get the server with a Xeon. I haven't tried that software, but you should be able to check with the provider for more information about support procs, though I did read this on the wiki page:

"Intel has contributed modifications to Xen to support their VT-x (formerly Vanderpool) architecture extensions..."

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xen

Yea, I have checked all the hardware specs and Xen docs. The only thing I couldn't be sure was the BIOS / VT support part which even Dell sales (and technical) support line cannot answer. The information regarding SC440/VT-support is even not on google, that's why I turned here for help. Again thanks for the heads up. Would you mind giving me more info on how to identify SC440 to be supporting VT? What other virtualization technology (vmware?) did you try with the SC440? How the other virtualization technology perform on it? Thanks alot!

The VT is built into the proc. Its much like SSE3 and other instruction sets.

That system is an SC system or Simple Configuration. It is a general use server not designed specifically for VT technology. Most of the PowerEdge system are designed that way, though some have more advanced technology. VT is still an emerging technology that is not used in general practice all that much. It is being developed to be and many believe that it is on its way, but still not there yet.

So, yes, the system will support VT technology though it was not designed, as far as I know, specifically for it.

Thanks again for your reply.

Sorry for being so persistant... I really would like to know if you have first-hand experience on using hardware virtualization (VT) on SC440+Xeon... and can confirm that the SC440 bios *does* support and have VT enabled, even though the setting is not there (hidden but enabled by default when used with Xeon).

The reason I am being so skeptics about this is that, it is not uncommon that people who wants to use VT technology, after getting their VT-supported-Processor-and-chipset machine, later find out that the VT setting is not there in the bios and cannot use VT (the vendor must either provide the VT option in the bios for enabling or have the VT option enabled by hidden default). The feature is simply blocked by the bios and the whole "VT path" is trapped by the vendor not including this enabling bit in the bios.

In order for VT to be fully working, quotes: "require a computer system with a processor, chipset, BIOS, enabling software and/or operating system, device drivers and applications designed for these features." (http://www.intel.com/business/technologies/virtualization.htm, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X86_virtualization, http://hardware.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=07/01/16/2222224). I have checked and make sure that the Xeon CPU (processor), Intel 3000 (chipset) and Xen (enabling software and OS) are good for VT. The only missing link is the BIOS.

Referring to your reply, I was delighted that you specifically pointed out that the VT feature is enabled in the SC440 bios "hidden but enabled by default when used with Xeon" and all I have to do is to get a Xeon (VT-supported) CPU with it. However, your last post implies that your answer was solely based on the observation of Xeon processor only. Please correct me if I am wrong.

Again sorry for being so skeptic and persistant. I just want to be 100% sure before making the new purchase because this machine is solely for VT. It is disappointed that even Dell support line cannot answer my answer (they would simply say no). Being a customer who wants to buy a product, it shouldn't be this difficult to find out product information before the purchase.


Regards,
zK

Thanks again for your reply.

I understand that the SC440 was designed as a entry-level product. However, I believe we as the end-users should have the option to make use of the hardware to its full potential (all hardware in SC440 is VT-capable), regardless which marketing position the vendor (Dell) is trying to put the product in. Afterall, end-user pay for the hardware and would not expect limitations imposed by the vendor.

Now that I have your confirmation, I am reassured that the SC440, while equipped with the Xeon, will have the VT enabled in the BIOS, although the setting is not present in the BIOS user interface. So VT is "enabled by hidden default" on the SC440 BIOS...

I will go ahead and order a SC440+Xeon for VT testing purpose. Thanks alot for the information provided.


Regards,
zK