64Bit guest virtualization is becoming a requirement especially with the release of Exchange 2007 and the announcement that it will be 64 bit only for all server operating systems after Windows Server 2008. So to get a taste of 64bit virtualization just what are the requirements to run a virtualized 64 bit host under VMware?
When thinking about running a 64 bit Guest in VMware you need to be concerned with the following three components:
- Motherboard and Chipset
- CPU
- Virtualization Product Support
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Funny enough it does not matter if your host operating system is 32 or 64 bit VMware can run a 64 bit host just as long as you meet the above criteria that is outlined in detail below. But one advantage you do have running a 64 Bit operating system is you increase the maximum amount of RAM (from approximately 3.6Gb) your can run in your host operating system which means there is more available for your guests. With that in mind I decided to go with Windows Vista 64 bit along with around 8 GB of RAM for my virtualized test lab PC.
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CPU Requirements
Intel
Requirements are an Intel CPU that supports the EM64T standard along with support for Intel VT (Virtualization Technology or Vanderpool Technology), which is basically any of the following CPUs:
Pentium 4 –Only 662 and 672
Pentium D Only 960, 950, 940, 930, 920
Core Duo All Except T2300E
Core 2 Duo Processors all except E4400, E4300, T5500
Pentium Extreme All except for 840
Itanium 2 All except 9010
Intel Xeon MT CPUs all
When choosing an Intel CPU I highly recommend using the following Intel CPU Guide to determine if your CPU supports EM64T along with Intel VT: http://www.intel.com/products/processor_number/index.htm
AMD
The AMD 64bit virtualization feature is known as AMD-V and provides guest virtualization via the method called segmentation (a method that Intel does not use), the following revisions of AMD CPUs (and later) have the AMD-V feature:
AMD64 rev D or later.
AMD Opteron rev E and later
AMD Turion rev E and later
Motherboards & Chipset Requirements
This is a bit of a hit and miss, it very much depends on the Chipset of your motherboard and the if your motherboards manufacturer has enabled the Intel VT or AMD-V feature (for current older mother boards this may be as simple as a BIOS/Firmware Upgrade) Current Intel Chipsets that
The following Intel Chipsets support CPUs with the Intel VT feature.
Intel 915/E8500
Intel 945G
Intel 955X
Intel 975X
Intel E7532
If you are looking at purchasing soon I highly recommend you check on your motherboard manufacture’s website to determine if the motherboard that you are about to purchase supports Intel VT. Of if you are purchasing a full system ask you system manufacturer.
If you want to check your current system, just download the VMware Processor Check for 64 Bit Compatibility tool from the link located on the following page:
http://www.vmware.com/download/ws/drivers_tools.html
Virtualization Product Support
Presently VMware 5.5 and above support 64 bit guest virtualization, Microsoft’s Virtual Server does not support a 64bit guest yet but it is soon to release a version of Virtual Server that supports this feature.