Enable VM VT-x support on TS-453A

QNAP NAS solution for server virtualization and clustering/HA/FT
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c2lai
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Enable VM VT-x support on TS-453A

Post by c2lai »

Hi all,

I've created a VM with Windows Server 2012R2 on my TS-453A (QTS 4.2.1) and found that VT-x is not enabled (no VT-x shown in the Instructions pane in CPU-Z).

Just want to know how to enable VT-x in SeaBios as I've tried to press F12 when VM booted up, but still no good. Thanks in advance.
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ITEngineer
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Re: Enable VM VT-x support on TS-453A

Post by ITEngineer »

What version of QTS are you on ?
--
Regards,

IT Engineer
c2lai
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Re: Enable VM VT-x support on TS-453A

Post by c2lai »

Previously on 4.2.1 and just upgraded to 4.2.2.
santiagax99
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Re: Enable VM VT-x support on TS-453A

Post by santiagax99 »

c2lai wrote:Hi all,

I've created a VM with Windows Server 2012R2 on my TS-453A (QTS 4.2.1) and found that VT-x is not enabled (no VT-x shown in the Instructions pane in CPU-Z).

Just want to know how to enable VT-x in SeaBios as I've tried to press F12 when VM booted up, but still no good. Thanks in advance.

The problem is that your VM created with "typical" virtual CPU, so no VT-x is available in guest.
I've investigate this issue when trying to run ESXi host in QNAP libvirt VM. Point is to change manually CPU type in domain xml to:

Code: Select all

<cpu mode="host-passthrough">
<feature policy="require" name="vmx"/>
</cpu>
Here is gist with my VM xml file used to install and run ESXI hypervison inside QEMU VM
https://gist.github.com/santiagax99/2aa ... 80c4eb9923
is you able to connect to your NAS via ssh, you can edit VM setting via command

Code: Select all

$ virsh edit <vmname>
where <vmname> is name of your VM, you can find it via

Code: Select all

$ virsh list --all
I've successfully installed ESXI hypervisor, but can run only 32 bit VMs inside, probably kernel limitation (QTS 4.2 linux kernel is 3.12)


P.S.
I've forgot about one think, kvm and kvm-intel modules must be loaded with additional options

ignore_msrs=1 for kvm module
nested=y ept=y for kvm-intel module

Information about module loading you can gather in /KVM/modules/Insmod_ko.sh
P.S.S.
ANY CHANGES MADE NOT VIA WEB INTERFACE MAY DAMAGE YOUR NAS. DO IT AT YOUR OWN RISK
pungpond
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Re: Enable VM VT-x support on TS-453A

Post by pungpond »

santiagax99 wrote: P.S.
I've forgot about one think, kvm and kvm-intel modules must be loaded with additional options

ignore_msrs=1 for kvm module
nested=y ept=y for kvm-intel module

Information about module loading you can gather in /KVM/modules/Insmod_ko.sh
P.S.S.
ANY CHANGES MADE NOT VIA WEB INTERFACE MAY DAMAGE YOUR NAS. DO IT AT YOUR OWN RISK
Would you mind explain how to do this?
santiagax99
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Re: Enable VM VT-x support on TS-453A

Post by santiagax99 »

Can't tell u about version i've been using in Oct when post were written.
But i've managed to load kvm and kvm_intel modules easily at latest Qnap OS version with 4.2.8 Kernel

0. login via ssh as admin user

1. create dir /etc/modprobe.d/
# mkdir -p /etc/modprobe.d/
2. add needed options for kvm and kvm-intel modules
# sh -c "echo 'options kvm-intel nested=y ept=y' >> /etc/modprobe.d/dist.conf"
# sh -c "echo 'options kvm ignore_msrs=1' >> /etc/modprobe.d/dist.conf"
3. reload kvm & kvm-intel modules
# rmmod kvm-intel kvm && modprobe kvm-intel
4. check options of loaded modules
# cat /sys/module/kvm_intel/parameters/nested
# cat /sys/module/kvm_intel/parameters/ept
# cat /sys/module/kvm/parameters/ignore_msrs


And as usual:
ANY CHANGES MADE NOT VIA WEB INTERFACE MAY DAMAGE YOUR NAS. DO IT AT YOUR OWN RISK
pungpond
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Re: Enable VM VT-x support on TS-453A

Post by pungpond »

santiagax99
thank you very much for quick reply.
I now can run nested VM ^ ^

==============================
TS-451+
QTS 4.2.4
santiagax99
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Re: Enable VM VT-x support on TS-453A

Post by santiagax99 »

JFYI. This changes may be reverted after device reboot (OS stored on USB internal module and mounts in ram on boot as loop device, so no cahnges saved on reboot in '/' partition).
juhajs
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Re: Enable VM VT-x support on TS-453A

Post by juhajs »

I have similar problem than "c2lai" explained in the beginning. I'm running QNAP @ 4.4.1.1216 and have tried to adjust how Windows VM see its CPU. Options from the menu are: Core i7 Nehalem / Westmere, Core 2 Duo or Passthrough. The last option shows actual hardware CPU of your QNAP in VM. None of them give you "Intel VT-x" Enabled when checked from Task Manager | Performance | CPU | Virtualization. I have not done any modifications via SSH to my QNAP and feel afraid to test "santiagax99" guide. Any thoughts?
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dolbyman
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Re: Enable VM VT-x support on TS-453A

Post by dolbyman »

check your bios settings if VT-x is on in the bios of you (unspecified) unit

bios should be reachable with attached HDMi monitor and keyboard upon reboot of the NAS
juhajs
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Re: Enable VM VT-x support on TS-453A

Post by juhajs »

I booted my unit to BIOS and only virtualization related info were:
VT-d: Un-Supported (Intel Virtualization Technology for Directed I/O) = grayed out on Main menu
VMX: Supported (CPU flag for VT-x capability) = grayed out on Main menu
Intel (VMX) Virtualization Technology: "Enabled" = adjustable on Chipset menu

My unit is TVS-871, Core i3 "Haswell", memory 16GB. More detailed specs for the CPU:
https://ark.intel.com/content/www/us/en ... 0-ghz.html

I believe my platform should be ok but for some reason VT-x does not come from the CPU to Windows VM.
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