topic Re: Virtualization support in Intel vPro® Platform

Virtualization support

GTate2 — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 15:56:17 GMT

Hello All,

Can anybody tell me specifically what the VT support option in the BIOS does for Virtualization enabled CPUs? For example, with an E8400 CPU, if I have this setting enabled, what does it give me? In my testing, I have found that I was able to run VMware/MS Virtualization without this option being set, but I noticed it was a tad quicker when I did enable this option.

Thanks for the help,

George

Re: Virtualization support

idata — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 17:57:45 GMT

Intel Virtualization Technology provides comprehensive hardware assists that boost virtualization software performance and improve application response times. These integrated hardware assists accelerate fundamental virtualization processes throughout the platform to reduce latencies and avoid potential bottlenecks. They also reduce the demands placed on the virtualization software, so more processor cycles are available for running business applications.

If you would like additional information regarding hardware vitualization I suggest reading the following article: http://download.intel.com/technology/itj/2006/v10i3/v10-i3-art01.pdf http://download.intel.com/technology/itj/2006/v10i3/v10-i3-art01.pdf

Jim

Re: Virtualization support

GTate2 — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 21:48:20 GMT

Thanks for the response. The linked article you provided had great information regarding VT. One thing I could not understand was if VT was actually required or if just helped with the virtualization processes. From what I understand, it doesn't seem like VT support is required to run virtualization, but it will definitely make the system run faster if there is or if it is enabled. Is that correct?

Thanks again.

Re: Virtualization support

idata — Tue, 28 Sep 2010 23:36:31 GMT

Glad to help. For most software hardware virtualization is not required. But there are some programs that do require it, such as XenClient.