virtualization technology is disabled

Hi,
Why virtualization technology is disabled in bios by default? as the description says it allows one computer system to function as multiple virtual systems. Is this bad? What is the main functionality of this feature?

Should I enable it? my system is DV 2000

 

I'm not very knowledgeable on this particular component. However, I did find this URL that provides a little information on VT. http://www.intel.com/technology/virtualization/

That should give you something to read until someone can reply back with a better response.

 

Hello Mahmood,

I also noticed the Virtualization switch in the BIOS. I've never enabled it, but I can tell you that I run VirtualBox with no issues. While running Ubuntu linux, i can have WindowsXP or Windows vista running in a window (or fullscreen) like an application.

 

Running VMware 6, I noticed no improvement with it set to on. I suppose that if you run more than 2 VMs, it might make a difference.

 

Its off by defalut since not many people who buy these systems use virtual machines. if you do then enable it, otherwise its perfectly fine to disable it. You are not ganing any extra performance of losing any if you dont run a VM. But, if you do enabling it definitely beneficial.

 

Really? Do you know exactly what it does? Why do BIOS settings affect VM performance?

 

Read the wiki articles on Intel VT/AMD-v and also the articles on vmware's website. That should offer you an explanation on what it does. The BIOS, just enables/disables harwdare functionality.

 

Thanks for replies

So you mean that his feature is only for those who want to use two or more OSes on a running OS simultaneously.

Does it have any effect on single OS performance?

 

It is only useful for running another OS within a virtual machine on the host operating system. If you are just running an OS and use no virtual machines, then VT is of little concern........

 

thanks, I understand

 

I could be wrong, however, in VMWorkstation 6, I think it currently applies only to running x64 bit guests.

If I recall correctly, this feature (technology) has to be there (on or off I believe) to create or run a 64bit guest (or at least to pass the VMWare x64 test utility). I remember before buying our DV9500T's, we went to several stores with the test CD and ran ran it on several machines with different processors. test failed on Intel machines that did not have the technology.

I keep mine on in the bios. I do not recall if switching it off makes any difference with 64 bit guests, however, I see this posted a lot (turn it on) in the VMWare forums, when people post they cannot run a 64 bit guest, so there must be something to it.

Turning it on you are not running virtural machines does nothing to help you, so I suspect it is off by default to avoid support related calls.

Joe

 

How is VirtualBox? I have been thinking of trying it, although I am very very (very) happy with VM Workstation.

Does it support USB 2.0 and or firewire in the guest? DirectX etc??? Snapshots?

VM Workstation 6 does a good job of USB2.0 support in the guest, but no firewire support, and the guest graphic card's 3D support is experimental (so far - I hear they are adding support very soon).

FWIW, it is possible to build guests using the free VMPlayer and a VM Builder utility thats out there. Once you have that, if you can get your hands on the current version of VM Tools, your set.


Thanks in advance.

Joe

 

screenshots: http://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Screenshots
features: http://www.virtualbox.org/wiki/Editions