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Re: [Xen-users] Xen 3.0.4.1 AMD-V HVM

To: "Petersson, Mats" <Mats.Petersson@xxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [Xen-users] Xen 3.0.4.1 AMD-V HVM
From: Holger <Age_M@xxxxxx>
Date: Thu, 07 Jun 2007 19:03:26 +0200
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Hi again,

actually I still have the Xen 3.0.4.1 version installed. But I have seen some ebuilds(using Gentoo) for xen 3.1 Will try to install, maybe today (having some minor network problems with e1000), but AMD-V in xen-3.0.4.1 looks quite fine.

We'll stay in touch
Greetz Age_M
-----Original Message-----
From: Holger [mailto:Age_M@xxxxxx] Sent: 07 June 2007 15:47
To: Petersson, Mats
Cc: xen-users@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [Xen-users] Xen 3.0.4.1 AMD-V HVM


Hi there :-D

I don't believe it. your explanation brought me up to an idea!
if the g stepping cpu is the first cpu that support deactivation of AMD-V, what would happen if i use a bios version that doesn' recognize the G-step cpu :-p

voila.. bios version F2 activates the AMD-V feature -> I don't believe it. I am just worrying what would happen to my system!? turning off speedstepping should do it, right?

Well, you shouldn't be able to use "PownerNow!" on a the new procesor
with the old BIOS, but other than that, it shouldn't cause any noticable
problems, unless there's some new bugs in the new processor that
requires special fixes (and if there is, they are probably fairly
obscure, so unlikely to occur on "average" code).
Can you try running Xen 3.1 with the newer BIOS and see if says "AMD-V
locked by BIOS" when you attempt that? Unfortunately, the older version
of Xen doesn't "know" the "lock" bit...
--
Mats
Greetz Age_M

Petersson, Mats schrieb:
-----Original Message-----
From: Holger [mailto:Age_M@xxxxxx] Sent: 07 June 2007 14:59
To: Petersson, Mats
Cc: xen-users@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [Xen-users] Xen 3.0.4.1 AMD-V HVM


Hi there again ;)

Thanks for the reply, I think I get it now. So the only problem is the Mainboard. Do you think I am in a position to expect
Gigabyte to fix
this? Is it my right to say "This is an AM2 mainboard, so
you have to
build this feature into the bios?". I mean, virtualization
is a key
feature of AM2, right?
Well, the KEY feature to processors that go into an AM2 is
the ability
to use DDR2 memory (which for the same performance is less expensive
than DDR). It just so happens that we (AMD) choose to implement
virtualization features into the same product upgrade
cycle, so AM2 is
an easy way to explain which processors have AMD-V or not.

And the other key point here is that before Rev G, it was
very difficult
to disable AMD-V. In Rev G, it's one bit which is "sticky"
(sticky means
that it can't be reset without resetting the entire
processor) in one
register to disable AMD-V. There is ABSOLUTELY no reason why this shouldn't be fixable
in the BIOS.
I really hope, that I don't have to buy a new mainboard again :-/
Yes, I agree - although I would also say that if you bought
the system
with the intention of running AMD-V, then it would be fair
to say that
you should be able to take the motherboard back to the shop with a
complaint that "it doesn't do what it should be able to"
based on not
being able to run AMD-V. [Being stricly legal, this is
possibly beyond
what the legal definition of "fit for purpose" covers if you didn't
explicitly say to the retailer that you NEED the AMD-V
feature - but I
still would attempt to get a replacement it on these
grounds before just
buying a new motherboard].
--
Mats
Thanks for your detailed explanations ;)
Greetz Holger

Petersson, Mats schrieb:
-----Original Message-----
From: xen-users-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:xen-users-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf
Of Holger
Sent: 07 June 2007 14:30
To: xen-users@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [Xen-users] Xen 3.0.4.1 AMD-V HVM

Hello Mats,

I think I didn't really get the point in your statement.

"please wait until the processors are available"
This was in reference to the NEW processors that are not
yet on the
market - I can't really tell the general public about details of
processors that are not yet available - at least not if I want to
continue working for AMD...
What processors are you talking about?! My AMD AM2 3600+
X2 (65nm)
already has the AMD-V feature, right?!? And the Mainboard
already has
turned off this AMD-V feature, but I want to turn it ON
again, right?!
Aha! 65 nm is the Rev G model. I'm not sure, but I think
Rev G has the
ability to disable AMD-V. But your BIOS really should
have a way to
ENABLE it if that's the case. [Most of the processors
currently on the
market are Rev F - I only saw the first Rev G myself the
other day,
although I knew of their existance a long time ago]
So, what do I have to do to get HVM support? New CPU? New Mainboard?? Or should I completely switch to Intel Core2Duo?
I'd suggest if Gigabyte isn't helping you (soon), you
should invest in a
different motherbaord.
I am completely irritated now :-p
That wasn't my intention. Sorry for that.
Greetz Holger



Petersson, Mats wrote:
-----Original Message-----
From: xen-users-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:xen-users-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Christian Horn
Sent: 07 June 2007 09:14
To: Tony Hoyle
Cc: xen-users@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [Xen-users] Xen 3.0.4.1 AMD-V HVM

On Wed, Jun 06, 2007 at 08:02:38PM +0100, Tony Hoyle wrote:
Yes. Some manufacturers actually do this (especially
laptops). It's
possible a bios upgrade will reenable the option.
Are you sure manufaturers can disable this for AM2-boards?
For intel its well known, but for AMD..
I'll probably be told off for explaining this :-(

Without going into "secrets", yes there is a way to "turn
off" AMD-V
with the BIOS, and no, you can't ask for more details
unless you have an
NDA with AMD. It's also not possible to "re-enable it".
Although the
BIOS _SHOULD_ allow the enabling/disabling to be "user
selectable".
Future versions have a more well-documented way to do
this. Again,
unless you have an NDA with AMD, please wait until the
processors are
available, and there will be more details available to everyone.

--
Mats
Christian

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