ESXi 5 VT-D

Forums › IT Pro and developers › ESXi 5 VT-D

silver565

165 posts

Master Geek

Topic # 95659 10-Jan-2012 07:30

Unsure if I'm in the right topic... but here goes:

"The host does not support passthrough configuration"

I can't seem to get passthrough to work. My cpu is an i5-2400 which supports VT-D. Motherboard is a P67A-UD3R-B3, I was lead to believe this supports VT-D too.
Virtualization is on in the bios.

What am I missing?

Any help would be appreciated

1 | 2

10264 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1578

Reply # 566748 10-Jan-2012 09:07

You need vt-d support in: cpu, chipset - & bios.

Your bios does not support it. Call Gigabyte to confirm.

silver565

165 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 566770 10-Jan-2012 09:55

I've changed the computer over to this(which has VT-D support).

HP 3300MT
i5 2400
Bios has VT-D enabled(It's an option, not just "virtualization").

However I still get this error in ESXi5

http://img195.imageshack.us/img195/5746/97654009.png

gzt

10264 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1578

Reply # 566831 10-Jan-2012 11:49

3300MT is just the series. What is the exact HP model?

In addition, use this: http://www.intel.com/support/processors/tools/piu/sb/CS-014921.htm to get the exact processor details.

silver565

165 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 566874 10-Jan-2012 12:51

I have exported the information below from the program:

*****************************************************************************
Intel(R) Processor Identification Utility
Version: 4.41.20111201
Time Stamp: 2012/01/09 23:54:42
Operating System: 6.1-7601-Service Pack 1
Number of processors in system: 1
Current processor: #1
Active cores per processor: 4
Disabled cores per processor: 0
Processor Name: Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-2400 CPU @ 3.10GHz
Type: 0
Family: 6
Model: 2A
Stepping: 7
Revision: 1A
Maximum CPUID Level: D
L1 Instruction Cache: 4 x 32 KB
L1 Data Cache: 4 x 32 KB
L2 Cache: 4 x 256 KB
L3 Cache: 6 MB
Packaging: LGA1155
Enhanced Intel SpeedStep(R) Technology: Yes
MMX(TM): Yes
Intel(R) SSE: Yes
Intel(R) SSE2: Yes
Intel(R) SSE3: Yes
Intel(R) SSE4: Yes
Intel(R) AES-NI: Yes
Intel(R) AVX: Yes
Enhanced Halt State: Yes
Execute Disable Bit: Yes
Intel(R) Hyper-Threading Technology: No
Intel(R) 64 Architecture: Yes
Intel(R) Virtualization Technology: Yes
System Graphics: Intel(R) HD Graphics 2000
Expected Processor Frequency: 3.10 GHz
Reported Processor Frequency: 3.19 GHz
Expected System Bus Frequency: 100 MHz
Reported System Bus Frequency: 100 MHz
*************************************************************

Zeon

3415 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 405

Trusted

Reply # 566891 10-Jan-2012 13:14

Do you actually need it? Looks like you installed ESXi without trouble?

gzt

10264 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1578

Reply # 566899 10-Jan-2012 13:36

That looks good.

3300MT is just the series. What is the exact HP model?

silver565

165 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 566912 10-Jan-2012 14:03

Product Number: A2P26PA#ABG

That's the only other information I can really dig off the box.

ESXi 4.1 & 5 install fine. However.... still no luck with the directIO/Passthrough as per the image attached further up

gzt

10264 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1578

Reply # 566919 10-Jan-2012 14:16

Intel H61 chipset in that model. H61 does not support VT-D.

http://ark.intel.com/compare/52806

silver565

165 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 566924 10-Jan-2012 14:19

Thank you! While it's annoying to know that it doesn't support it, I'm happy to have an answer.

Would it be worth looking at the z68 chipset instead?

silver565

165 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 566932 10-Jan-2012 14:27

I guess my P67A chipset is out of the question too then huh

Beccara

994 posts

Ultimate Geek
+1 received by user: 160

UberGroup

Reply # 566934 10-Jan-2012 14:28

What are you trying to do DIO? Whilst it's supported I dont think I've EVER heard of anyone using Vmware recommend DIO

Most problems are the result of previous solutions...

All comment's I make are my own personal opinion and do not in any way, shape or form reflect the views of current or former employers unless specifically stated

silver565

165 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 566937 10-Jan-2012 14:32

Quite a lot of people use it(judging from my googling today).

We have a computer here that is beginning to fail. I can virtualize it fine, but the software on it is dependent on a specific PCI card. The catch is, the software cannot be reinstalled/obtained anymore(Stupidly long story, don't even get me started).

Plan:
Virtualize the machine and pass through the PCI card. That way it can be backed up regularly and if it fails... no problem!

silver565

165 posts

Master Geek

Reply # 566958 10-Jan-2012 15:23

Found this:

The following Intel® Desktop Boards support Intel VT with Directed I/O:
ChipsetDesktop Board Q67DQ67EP; DQ67OW; DQ67SWQ57DQ57TM; DQ57TMLQ45DQ45CB; DQ45EKQ35DQ35JO; DQ35MP

It seems that would be a good place to start!

http://www.intel.com/support/motherboards/desktop/sb/CS-030922.htm

gzt

10264 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 1578

Reply # 567034 10-Jan-2012 18:38

If you have AMD machines available you can also look at IOMMU processor and bios support.

jaymz

1088 posts

Uber Geek
+1 received by user: 66

Reply # 570387 18-Jan-2012 14:22

silver565: Quite a lot of people use it(judging from my googling today).

We have a computer here that is beginning to fail. I can virtualize it fine, but the software on it is dependent on a specific PCI card. The catch is, the software cannot be reinstalled/obtained anymore(Stupidly long story, don't even get me started).

Plan:
Virtualize the machine and pass through the PCI card. That way it can be backed up regularly and if it fails... no problem!

Be carefull with pass through, there is a lot of devices that VMWare does not support fully yet.

We had the same issues, with a server and wanting to run a SAS tape drive in it. Check the compatibility guides on VMWare's site to make sure you wont hit any issues moving forward.

Going back to the problem you are experiencing with failing hardware, have you thought about P2P (physical to physical) conversion instead?

We use a product called ShadowProtect IT (http://www.shadowprotect.com/backup-software/shadowprotect-it-image-migrate-computers) which provides a hardware independant restore of computers.

That way you could simply install the PCI card into another computer and restore the image onto the new hardware. (although i don't know your full situation, this is what i would do)

1 | 2