Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O feature for GA-PH67-UD3-B3 MO

[LBMANIX]

Hello,
I just bought a gigabyte MO GA-PH67-UD3-B3 and would like to use VT-D Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O feature.
Does anyone know how  to get the BIOS UPDATE for that purpose ?
I wrote to GGTS FRANCE they said they have none of thatin store and ask inthis forum  for help.

Any help would be very much appreciated.

L.

[Gloup_Gloup]

Hi,

It is for the virtual machine?

Iif yes, give a exact model of CPU.

[LBMANIX]

Hello ,
It is for creating a virtual machine under VMWARE WORKSTATION : a CITRIX XENSERVER 5.0 . During the installation ,i got : HARDWARE VIRTULIZATION ASSIST is not available and  the VM created is unusablefor testing XENSERVER features.

CPU: Core Intel I7 -2600 ,3,40 GHZ 8MB RAM Cache LGA 1155 95W

Thanks for the help
L

[Gloup_Gloup]

 hi, LBMANIX  

Ok your situation is very complex, she asked me several hours of research.
I learned a lot with your request.  

http://ark.intel.com/products/52213/Intel-Core-i7-2600-Processor-%288M-Cache-3_40-GHz%29
http://www.intel.com/Assets/Image/diagram/h67_block_diagram.gif
http://ark.intel.com/compare/52215,52214,52213,52209,52212,52211,52210

http://newsroom.intel.com/servlet/JiveServlet/download/1641-39-3280/2nd_Gen_Intel_Core_Desktop_Processors_FactSheet.pdf
Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT-x)
Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d)
http://download.intel.com/technology/computing/vptech/Intel(r)_VT_for_Direct_IO.pdf
http://software.intel.com/en-us/articles/intel-virtualization-technology-for-directed-io-vt-d-enhancing-intel-platforms-for-efficient-virtualization-of-io-devices/
http://www.intel.com/technology/itj/2006/v10i3/2-io/5-platform-hardware-support.htm

I find this:

ntel® VT-d requirements

VT-d will be available on Intel Client, Workstation and select Server products in second half of 2007.

Hardware

 A platform that has a chipset with VT-d support

Software enabling required for VT-d

    * A VMM (or Hypervisor) with the support required for VT-d features in the virtualization environment. No changes are required for guests running over the VMM.
    * OS enabling is required for the OS to take advantage of VT-d protection features in native OS environment or non-virtualization environment.

BIOS requirements for the platform

BIOS enabling is required for VT-d use.
The BIOS needs to expose VT-d capabilities (e.g. # of DMA remap engines etc) to the VMM through the ACPI table.


Intel® Trusted Execution Technology is is necessary for your work?
www.intel.com/Assets/PDF/whitepaper/323586.pdf


Download Page about your Mobo:
http://www.gigabyte.com/support-downloads/download-center.aspx?ck=2

what is your version bios?
I view exist F4 version.

Have you find the option “Enable I/O Virtualisation” in the Advanced Features section of your BIOS?
Or VT-d option in BIOS.  I am not sûre if exist.
Please display a picture by link if possible.

here : http://siphon9.net/loune/2011/01/sandy-bridge-woes-lga1155-p67h67-and-vt-d-io-virtualization/
After reading your post, I looked at the H67 chipset datasheet
On page 264 it seems to suggest that using VT-d to pass the internal HD graphics to a VM would not work anyway – at least it’s not listed there.

Anyway, since the H67 chipset appears to support VT-d, it seems to be a BIOS issue only. Given that my DH67CF board is UEFI… I wonder if it would be possible to write an UEFI extension that sets up VT-d. Very far fetched, I guess… ;-)

Read on Intel site, more infos about this topic
here http://software.intel.com/en-us/forums/showthread.php?t=56802
http://software.intel.com/en-us/forums/showthread.php?t=56802&o=a&s=lr&p=5

Here http://www.intel.com/support/motherboards/desktop/sb/CS-030922.htm
Intel desktop boards support Intel VT with Directed I/O:

Q67    DQ67EP; DQ67OW; DQ67SW
Q57    DQ57TM; DQ57TML
Q45    DQ45CB; DQ45EK
Q35    DQ35JO; DQ35MP

Intel desktop boards support Intel VT
Z68                 DZ68DB
P67, H67       DP67DE; DP67BG; DP67BA; DH67VR; DH67GD; DH67CL; DH67CF; DH67BL

http://www.intel.com/content/dam/doc/specification-update/6-and-c200-chipset-specification-update.pdf
http://download.intel.com/embedded/devkits/325208.pdf

It is becoming increasingly clear to me that you need to make sure (ensure) the CPU, the mobo chipset and the mobo BIOS are able and can handle the technology  VT-d.

At this point in my research, it appears that the limiting factor is the hardware chipset H67.

you have an internet link which proves beyond doubt that the chipsets H67 or P67 can suporte Technology VT-D ?
I search this. If you are able to help me with a document or website link ? Come Again Here.

Meanwhile your response, you could use HWINFO32 to find out whether your rig has VT-d enabled.
Verify if VT-x is listed in CPUz. Make a html page (product by CPU-Z, in the last TAB)
Please display a picture by link if possible.

Together (me and you) are able to better assist you.

Gloup_Gloup

[LBMANIX]

Hello ,
thanks for your long and detailled study. I'm pretty busy now and  shall  delay the search for enabling VT-D on this motherboard.
VT is enabled ( default) an the motherboard.

In the end  , i'll try to install directly XENSERVER  on this PC .

I thought that I could ask some GIGABYTE support  technician to build an adhoc BIOS to enable this as with RUNN3R .

I'll move along but shall tell you if  i find anything new.

Thanks a lot
L

[Gloup_Gloup]

Hi LBMANIX


Bios
====
You said : VT is enabled ( default) an the motherboard.

My question may be stupid, but I do not take anything for granted, unless it is written.
Did you try the advanced options by pressing CTRL and F1 when you are in the BIOS?

in your mb_manual_ga-p67(ph67a)(ph67)-ud3-b3_v1.1_e.pdf, I view:

Miscellaneous Settings
Virtualization Technology Enabled

Enables or disables Intel Virtualization Technology. Virtualization enhanced by Intel Virtualization Technology will allow a platform to run multiple operating systems and applications in independent partitions.

With virtualization, one computer system can function as multiple virtual systems. (Default: Enabled)

I found that the manual simply lists the function''Virtualization Technology.

It is not because the processor supports VT-x technology, which will support the specific support Intel® Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O (VT-d). Like VTd/VTc.

I speak not of your processor I7 -2600, version non-K, because it actually support the VT-D.

I thought of other users who read on the forum.
Intel® Processor Identification Utility - Windows* Version
http://downloadcenter.intel.com/Detail_Desc.aspx?ProductID=1881&DwnldID=7838&lang=eng


 "Too bad there is not, to date,one or a few parameters to activated or deactivated Intel VT-x for Directed I/O. Like :


-VT Technology
-XD Technology
-VT-D and or (AMD-V, and AMD IOMMU for mobo AMD)
-Intel Trusted Execution Technology
-VA operation
-DMAR-table,
-ACPI DMAR table with zero length entries
-LT/TXT Initialization (GA-Q57M-S2H and GA-Q67M-D2H-B3)

LT/TXT Initialization
Enables or disables Intel Trusted Execution Technology (Intel TXT).
Intel Trusted Execution Technology provides a hardware-based security foundation. By isolating assigned memory through this hardware-based protection, it allows the system to protect data in each virtual partition from unauthorized access    
from software in another partition. (Default: Disabled)

===========================
Otherwise I saw the models GA-Q67M-D2H-B3
http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=3824#ov

http://www.gigabyte.com/products/product-page.aspx?pid=3824#manual
and I find in mb_manual_ga-q67m-d2h-b3_e.pdf the settings for :

Intel IGD SWSCI OpRegion

I don't view setting for SMX (But Support must also be enabled prior to VT and VT-d)
What means SMX? (Safer Mode Extensions, i thiks)
VT and VT-d (Support must also be enabled prior to TXT).
Intel TXT(LT) Configuration

And this mobo have a LAN Intel 82579 chip (10/100/1000 Mbit)

Maybe you have a get help with this forum :
http://forums.tweaktown.com/gigabyte/28441-gigabyte-latest-beta-bios.html
 http://www.bios-mods.com
http://wiki.xensource.com/xenwiki/VTdHowTo

Very interesting Topic
Sandybridge buying advise - Mainboard with Intel VT-d Technology Directed I/O
http://forum.giga-byte.co.uk/index.php/topic,4778.0.html

But come here again for read my news in this topic.

I will inform Dark Mantis about the subject and inform him of your request for a bios Optimizer virtualisatin VT-D.

Gloup_Gloup

[Dark Mantis]

Gloup_Gloup did contact me with regard to this and it may be a possibility but will be at least next month as runn3R our Gigabyte contact and Admin is away on holiday until then.

I think Gloup_Gloup is doing a great job in helping you for now though and I can see a FAQ thread coming out of this.

[LBMANIX]

Hello ,
Thanks a lot for youall. Indeed I'm very busythose last days and I'll ave a look at all your  answers .I just found tonight the solution for a a10 dayslong
question.

I'll be backon my GIGABYTE MOtheboard and tell you il CTRL+F1 works or not.
Thanks a lot
L From France

[LBMANIX]

Hello ,

I tried at Miscellanous Setting , Got the Virtualization Technology Setting at ENABLED  ( bydefault) .

But nothingcame out with CTRL+F1 .

Thanks forthe help anyway .

L From France

[LBMANIX]

Hello ,

We're in September, Hope you all got nice holidays.

Does anybody know when RUNN3R shall come back?

Help (urgently) needed.
Thanks

[Dark Mantis]

Runn3R is already back officially but is busy with other duties that keep him away from the forum until Monday.

[LBMANIX]

Hello everybody ,

Hope you  had nice time . Can RUNN3R  or anybody  helpful anytime have a look at this problem ?

I managed to virtualize VMWARE ESX4.1 on my 2years olds GIGABYTE MOBO EP41 UD3SL but now I need to virtualize VMWARE ESX 5.0 end citrix
XENSERVER 5.0 and later and  INTEL VT-D is really the solution .

Thanks in advance

L from FRANCE

[Gloup_Gloup]

Hi friends,

I view this topics:

http://www.vm-help.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=14&t=2710&p=10055#p10055

Maybe you can put your own topic in this place:
http://www.vm-help.com/forum/viewforum.php?f=25

Gloup_Gloup

[LBMANIX]

Hello

If you want to virtualize VMWARE ESXi 4.1 or 3.5 , you need a ICH7 bridge ( Northern or Southern  I don't remember )  AND  an ethernet adapter
that VMWARE  agrees .
The Cheapest one is  Intel(R) PRO/1000 GT Desktop Adapter .

I need for professionnal  purpose to try VMWARE ESXi5 and XENSERVER 5 and later so I do wait for a solution from  RUNN3R.

Cheers.

L From France

[Dark Mantis]

I need for professionnal  purpose to try VMWARE ESXi5 and XENSERVER 5 and later so I do wait for a solution from  RUNN3R.

I should send a reminder PM if you haven't heard by Monday. He has been very busy though I know trying to catch up.