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kvm-73 kvm_intel won't load in 2.6.26 64 bit kernel

kvm-73 kvm_intel won't load in 2.6.26 64 bit kernel
Posted October 9, 2008 - 5:13pm

Hi folks,

Today I compiled kvm-73 on Fedora 9 with a 2.6.26.5-45.fc9.x86_64 kernel. It compiled and installed fine, but the modprobe of kvm_intel produces:

outpost$ # modprobe kvm_intel
FATAL: Error inserting kvm_intel (/lib/modules/2.6.26.5-45.fc9.x86_64/extra/kvm-intel.ko): Operation not supported

Any clues?

Thanks,
/jtt

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Is this a first time you're

Tuesday, October 14, 2008 - 10:10 Haydn Solomon

Is this a first time you're trying kvm? I ask because it sounds like VT is not turned on in your BIOS.

KVM failure on amd-64

Friday, November 7, 2008 - 12:45 gstones

Haydn:

Not quite sure if it is fair to come in on this post, but I have the same issue on Centos 5.2 running on a Dell SC1435 with the 2346HE quad-core processor. KVM installs just fine, but modprobe kvm-amd produces a very similar message. I checked dmesg, and it says kvm: disabled by BIOS.

I checked with Dell, and they state that there is no way to enable kvm in the BIOS. They then further confused me by saying that the default state is to ship it with the kvm disabled. So far (and they have been very responsive hitherto, but are now stating that since this is not running on one of their "supported" distros (eg RHEL 5), this is not a warranty issue), they have not been able to tell me how one flips the status of something that is shipped disabled and cannot be accessed through the BIOS.

I just wondered if you had seen this before, please, and also whether this might be pertinent to the current case?

Any clues on a way round this?

Many thanks

Re: enabling hardware acceleration

Friday, November 7, 2008 - 13:24 Haydn Solomon

gstones,

I encourage discussion so please feel free to post any questions or comments that you have. After all, my hope is that this blog will build an active community for discussions about linux kvm. Now to answer your question.

There are two possibilities

  1. The manufacturer allows the hardware acceleration option with their bios. This is not related to whether your operating system is "supported" or not. The real question is do you have the option in the bios to enable hardware acceleration. If this is the case, then all you have to do is go into the bios setup mode during boot and look for the option to enable hardware acceleration, enable it and reboot. Have you tried going into the bios setup mode  and poking around?
  2. The manufacturer doesn't allow hardware acceleration option at all with their bios. If this is the case, there's no way around this one even if your cpus supports hardware acceleration. Your only hope in this case is that maybe your manufacture will eventually provide a bios that does allow the option and you do a bios upgrade.

Your exchange with dell is a bit confusing so I would suggest that ( assuming you haven't done this already ) you go into your bios setup and poke around. I suspect that you may have the option if you haven't looked already.

Interested in hearing your response..

Haydn

Re: enabling kvm/hardware acceleration/virtualisation

Friday, November 7, 2008 - 15:25 gstones

Brilliant, Haydn! I went back into the bios with a rather more open mind (had been fixated on a 'kvm' switch), and under CPU found 'Virtualisation: disabled'. Enabled that, and the modprobe test became successful. Excellent advice, thank you.

Life being the way that it is, that cleared me through to the next error message - "usermod -G kvm -a gstones" produced "usermod: invalid numerical argument 'kvm'" - so am now researching that one!

Many thanks for the fast, positive and very successful response.

Graham

Graham, glad to hear that you

Friday, November 7, 2008 - 17:31 Haydn Solomon

Graham, glad to hear that you got it working! Not familiar with your next error message. Are you using ubuntu?

Re: enabling kvm/hardware acceleration/virtualisation

Friday, November 21, 2008 - 12:03 Anonymous

seems to me you want to add the kvm group to the user gstones right?

'usermod -aG kvm gstones' should work.

If not, does the group kvm exists? If it exists, do you have admin rights ( with sudo or other )?

Alexandre