On Thu, Feb 5, 2009 at 2:21 PM, John Martin <John.M.Martin at sun.com> wrote:
> Matt Keenan wrote:
>>
>>>
>>>> if [ "x$arch_type" = "xi86pc" ]; then
>>>>
>>> Systems running Xen/xVM aren't compiz compatible?
>>>
>>
>> I don't have Xen/xVM systems to hand to test
>>
> Most systems built in the last two years should have the capability.
> On the grub menu look for "Solaris xVM". Boot that.
Are you talking about full system virtualization hypervisor support?
Or do you only mean the hw's capability of booting a Xen/xVM kernel?
The former is by no means supported by all CPU's. Not even by many
mobile and middle-end Intel CPU's that are just being released
(Pentium DC, Celeron, maybe others). Also the previous
Turion64/Athlon64 X2 TK series had been affected (fixed now, as the QL
series fixed this).
For full system virtualization support you have to carefully check the
exact CPU model before you by. Further: Additional enhancements to the
AMD-V standard and also to Intel's clone of it were under way until
recently. You will only find those new extensions in the *very* recent
higher end models.
Check wikipedia.org:
"""AMD virtualization (AMD-V)
AMD's virtualization extensions to the 64-bit x86 architecture is
named AMD Virtualization, abbreviated AMD-V. It is still referred to
as "Pacifica", the AMD internal project code name.
AMD-V is present in AMD Athlon 64 and Athlon 64 X2 with family "F" or
"G" on socket AM2 (not 939), Turion 64 X2, Opteron 2nd generation[1]
and 3rd generation[2], Phenom, and all newer processors. Sempron
processors do not include support for AMD-V.
On May 23, 2006, AMD released the Athlon 64 ("Orleans"), the Athlon 64
X2 ("Windsor") and the Athlon 64 FX ("Windsor") as the first AMD
processors to support AMD-V. Prior processors do not have AMD-V.
AMD has published a specification for a technology named IO Memory
Management Unit (IOMMU) to AMD-V. This provides a way of configuring
interrupt delivery to individual virtual machines and an IO memory
translation unit for preventing a virtual machine from using DMA to
break isolation. The IOMMU also plays an important role in advanced
operating systems (absent virtualization) and the AMD Torrenza
architecture.
[edit] Intel Virtualization Technology for x86 (Intel VT-x)
Previously codenamed "Vanderpool", VT-x is Intel's technology for
virtualization on the x86 platform. Intel plans to add Extended Page
Tables (EPT),[3] a technology for page table virtualization,[4] in the
upcoming Nehalem architecture.[5]
The following modern Intel processors include support for VT-x,[6]:
* Pentium 4 662 and 672
* Pentium Extreme Edition 955 and 965 (not Pentium 4 Extreme
Edition with HT)
* Pentium D 920-960 except 945, 935, 925, 915
* some models of the Core processors family
* some models of the Core 2 processors family
* Xeon 3000 series
* Xeon 5000 series
* Xeon 7000 series
No Intel Celeron, Pentium Dual-Core or Pentium M processors have VT
technology."""
Because of this and had to buy me a second Amilo Laptop!!! Because the
first one is even a more recently launched model (with Bios Date from
November 2008), but it comes with an Intel Pentium DC 2GHz, BINGO. Bad
luck! No virtualization support whatsoever.
AMD is more fair to its customers and now puts AMD-V not exclusively
in its "Premium VIP" customer's product lines. They should make more
Ad's about it!!!
Note that the Pentium DC is a quite fresh model. Intel chose the name
for marketing reasons (placed as model for mainstream [middle-end]
markets). So it has been full intention to leave out some features.
%m
