E1505 Linux and Intel VT

Question

If I choose the T5600 or T7200 CPUs with the E1505 Ubuntu laptop, will virtualisation be available?
The XPS range appears to eventually have the special functionality enabled,
http://www.dellcommunity.com/supportforums/board/message?board.id=xps_desk_genhdw&thread.id=26668&view=by_date_ascending&page=1

Enabled Intel VT support allows to run two operating systems and the host OS will run at very good speeds. Things like Xen will run really well. Among the Txxxx Core 2 Duo CPUs, only the T5600 or better (such as T7200) have Intel VT enabled. Other CPUs don't have it. To have Intel VT enabled, the BIOS simply needs to support it.

Holy_Maccaroni · Answer

Funny, I can't find anything on Intel's website that specifies whether or not the T5300 has VT enabled. Though according to Intel's website, there is not yet a BIOS available that works with this feature.

http://www.intel.com/products/processor/core2duo/specifications.htm

"Intel Virtualization Technology-enabled BIOS and VMM applications are currently in development." -- From the fine print.

I'm gonna be fairly upset if I try to run Xen and it doesn't work though, given the other post you linked to.

Message Edited by Holy_Maccaroni on 05-27-2007 06:30 PM

simosx · Answer

It requires some searching on the Intel website to find the information.
Wikipedia says that the T5300 does not support Intel VT,
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Intel_Core_2_microprocessors
At the end of the page there are references to intel.com; needs some searching to verify.

If you do cat /proc/cpuinfo, you may see the CPU flag "vmx" which I believe that it means the CPU supports Intel VT and it's an issue of the BIOS to enable it.

Among processors, I think most AMD CPUs have been supporting virtualisation for quite some time while Intel enables VT only for a selective high-range CPUs.

Holy_Maccaroni · Answer

I have an answer!   VT is disabled by default in the E1505 (note that my information is not for the E1505N).   However, you can enable it by going to the BIOS settings and looking at the POST options.

simosx · Answer

I am sorry to say that the T5300 does not support Intel VT. See
http://www.digital-daily.com/cpu/intel_cpu_spring_2007/index3.htm

The E1505 laptop range can be fitted with a range of CPUs, therefore the BIOS would have the option anyway. The fact that this option is available, it means that the E1505 with a T5600 or T7200 CPU supports Intel VT.

It would be great to get a confirmation that the E1505n BIOS also has a setting regarding Intel VT. If it does, then this means that Intel VT and software such as Xen will work, and work really well.

Some notes on Xen and Intel VT:
http://www.xensource.com/xen/xen/faqs.html#b4

Intel VT in action, with Ubuntu 7.04
https://help.ubuntu.com/community/KVM

skumar2206 · Answer

Can you please explain me, the step by step instruction to enable intel VT in POST options. That will be a great help. Thanks

skumar2206 · Answer

FYI : I am using Inspiron E1505 , System Type : MM061 and Bios Version : A17,   Processor T5500 1.66Ghz.   I don't see any Virtualization or Intel VT option in the POST Behaviour to enable this option.   If someone knows about it, please let me know how to do this.   Thanks

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E1505 Linux and Intel VT

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