How To Enable VT (aka VTX or VT-x) with rEFIt and vmx-var-set.efi

Jul 13, 2006, 05:54 PM #1
monoclast Junior Member Join: May 2006 Posts: 24	How To Enable VT (aka VTX or VT-x) with rEFIt and vmx-var-set.efi I've seen a bunch of instructions here for doing this; but all of them seemed to leave out one or two crucial details. So I'll try to provide those who need it a more complete list of steps to get this done, as well as some background about why one might want to do this to begin with: The chips Apple uses in the Intel Macintosh computers have VT built into them. VT stands for Virtualization Technology — it allows the chip to run multiple operating systems and applications in independent partitions on the chip, resulting in reletively large speed increases for the end user. Basically, you will see fairly dramatic speed increases running Parallels with VT enabled compared to running Parallels without VT enabled. For detailed information about VT, see http://www.intel.com/technology/computing/vptech/. Unfortunately for us Mac users, VT is not turned on in all current Intel Macintosh computers, for whatever reason. As a result, Parallels users have experienced intermittant success with Parallels ability to enable VT on its own. These instructions show you how to use the EFI firmware in Intel Macs to enable VT in the processor permanently, so that it lasts through restarts of the computer. If firmware update is available for your Intel Mac, install it before continuing. (NOTE: There was a firmware update for the Intel Mac mini when this procedure was written: http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/macminiearly2006firmwareupdate101.html). Download rEFIt disk image from: http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/refit/rEFIt-0.5.dmg?download Download vmx-var-set.efi zip archive from: http://i30www.ira.uka.de/~joshua/vmx.zip Mount rEFIt disk image. Decompress vmx zip archive. Copy rEFIt "efi" folder to root of startup volume. Copy "vmx" folder into "efi" folder at root of startup volume. Open Terminal. In Terminal, enter command: cd /efi/refit Enter command: ./enable.sh At prompt, enter your user account password. Restart computer, holding down Option/Alt key on keyboard until you see boot device selection menu. Select rEFIt boot device to enter rEFIt menu. In rEFIt menu, select Console. At console prompt, enter volume command: fs0: Enter command: ls If root of startup volume is not listed: Increment volume number (for example, "fs1") Re-enter volume command (for example, fs1: ) Go back to step 16. If root of startup volume is listed (NOTE: you should see items such as: Users, Volumes, etc, mach, private, var, usr), enter command: cd efi Enter command: cd vmx Enter command: vmx-var-set.efi If an error message was displayed, here or at any point prior to this, it's possible some files are not in the right place, or you missed a step. Try the steps again from the start, and if they still don't work, seek help online! If no error message was displayed, enter command: exit From rEFIt menu, boot into Mac OS X (usually the first menu item). Remove "efi" folder from root of startup volume. Open Apple menu > System Preferences > Startup Disk. Select your normal Mac OS X startup disk. Close System Preferences. Shut down. Leave computer completely off for 10 seconds. Turn computer back on and boot up normally (no keys held down). Run Parallels. In Parallels, open and start a virtual machine. (NOTE: The About Parallels dialog box does not show Intel VT-x unless a virtual machine is currently loaded and running!) From Parallels menu bar, select Parallels > About Parallels Desktop. In About Parallels Desktop dialog box, click More Info button. About dialog box should now show Virtualization Mode: Intel VT-x. Hope this helps! -mono

Jul 13, 2006, 05:54 PM

monoclast
Junior Member

Join: May 2006
Posts: 24

How To Enable VT (aka VTX or VT-x) with rEFIt and vmx-var-set.efi

I've seen a bunch of instructions here for doing this; but all of them seemed to leave out one or two crucial details. So I'll try to provide those who need it a more complete list of steps to get this done, as well as some background about why one might want to do this to begin with:

The chips Apple uses in the Intel Macintosh computers have VT built into them. VT stands for Virtualization Technology — it allows the chip to run multiple operating systems and applications in independent partitions on the chip, resulting in reletively large speed increases for the end user. Basically, you will see fairly dramatic speed increases running Parallels with VT enabled compared to running Parallels without VT enabled. For detailed information about VT, see http://www.intel.com/technology/computing/vptech/.

Unfortunately for us Mac users, VT is not turned on in all current Intel Macintosh computers, for whatever reason. As a result, Parallels users have experienced intermittant success with Parallels ability to enable VT on its own. These instructions show you how to use the EFI firmware in Intel Macs to enable VT in the processor permanently, so that it lasts through restarts of the computer.

If firmware update is available for your Intel Mac, install it before continuing. (NOTE: There was a firmware update for the Intel Mac mini when this procedure was written: http://www.apple.com/support/downloads/macminiearly2006firmwareupdate101.html).
Download rEFIt disk image from: http://prdownloads.sourceforge.net/refit/rEFIt-0.5.dmg?download
Download vmx-var-set.efi zip archive from: http://i30www.ira.uka.de/~joshua/vmx.zip
Mount rEFIt disk image.
Decompress vmx zip archive.
Copy rEFIt "efi" folder to root of startup volume.
Copy "vmx" folder into "efi" folder at root of startup volume.
Open Terminal.
In Terminal, enter command: cd /efi/refit
Enter command: ./enable.sh
At prompt, enter your user account password.
Restart computer, holding down Option/Alt key on keyboard until you see boot device selection menu.
Select rEFIt boot device to enter rEFIt menu.
In rEFIt menu, select Console.
At console prompt, enter volume command: fs0:
Enter command: ls
If root of startup volume is not listed:
1. Increment volume number (for example, "fs1")
2. Re-enter volume command (for example, fs1: )
3. Go back to step 16.
If root of startup volume is listed (NOTE: you should see items such as: Users, Volumes, etc, mach, private, var, usr), enter command: cd efi
Enter command: cd vmx
Enter command: vmx-var-set.efi
If an error message was displayed, here or at any point prior to this, it's possible some files are not in the right place, or you missed a step. Try the steps again from the start, and if they still don't work, seek help online!
If no error message was displayed, enter command: exit
From rEFIt menu, boot into Mac OS X (usually the first menu item).
Remove "efi" folder from root of startup volume.
Open Apple menu > System Preferences > Startup Disk.
Select your normal Mac OS X startup disk.
Close System Preferences.
Shut down.
Leave computer completely off for 10 seconds.
Turn computer back on and boot up normally (no keys held down).
Run Parallels.
In Parallels, open and start a virtual machine. (NOTE: The About Parallels dialog box does not show Intel VT-x unless a virtual machine is currently loaded and running!)
From Parallels menu bar, select Parallels > About Parallels Desktop.
In About Parallels Desktop dialog box, click More Info button.
About dialog box should now show Virtualization Mode: Intel VT-x.

Hope this helps!

-mono

Jul 14, 2006, 04:29 PM #2
GregMeach Junior Member Join: May 2006 Posts: 4	Very nice... I'm going to try this on my new iMini when I get home. It surprised me when I copied over my image from my MacBook drive (it's out getting repaired and we need to run Quicken) and it compained that VT was not available. I wonder why the mini has it disabled? Is it because of the slower CPU (1.66 vs 1.83)?

Jul 14, 2006, 04:36 PM #3
SteveS Junior Member Join: Jul 2006 Posts: 4	iMac -- After firmware upgrade, I just get a black screen in my XP guest I just got an iMac 20" and installed parallels. Working great--and fast--installed a couple of other things (dragon naturally speaking, the whole reason I wanted to be able to run XP and firefox), and then I did both the 1.01 and 1.0 SMC firmware upgrades, but not in that order. The SMC update went off without a hitch. But I was also thinking about using bootcamp, so I had to do the 1.01 update as well. After running that, all I get is a black screen in my guest OS. Is there something related to this VT discussion in the update that could be causing my problem? Any help will be appreciated.

Jul 14, 2006, 04:36 PM

SteveS
Junior Member

Join: Jul 2006
Posts: 4

iMac -- After firmware upgrade, I just get a black screen in my XP guest

I just got an iMac 20" and installed parallels. Working great--and fast--installed a couple of other things (dragon naturally speaking, the whole reason I wanted to be able to run XP and firefox), and then I did both the 1.01 and 1.0 SMC firmware upgrades, but not in that order. The SMC update went off without a hitch. But I was also thinking about using bootcamp, so I had to do the 1.01 update as well. After running that, all I get is a black screen in my guest OS. Is there something related to this VT discussion in the update that could be causing my problem?

Any help will be appreciated.

Jul 20, 2006, 03:07 AM #4
blondsummer Junior Member Join: Jul 2006 Posts: 7	i've just buy a miniMac dual core Do you try with the last version of mini mac ? does it works fine ? what is the problem if you have an error ? can you block the minimac ? can we restore the VT to disable if an error appear ? and the last question :) do you think apple will make a correction soon ? (ah ahah this last question is stupid i know)

Jul 20, 2006, 10:50 PM #5
ajay Senior Member Join: May 2006 Posts: 153	Isn't there an easier way? I'm not that conversant with the Mac and from the look of the instructions, I could foul something up. Currently, everytime I reboot, I put my Mac mni to sleep and then wake it up. This enables VT for me. I would like a permanent fix but am hesitant to go through those 20 steps. Is there a patch or something I could just copy? __________________ 24: iMac: 2.93Ghz: 4GB Ram: 640GB HDD: 500GB TM backup HDD: Mac OS X 10.5.8: Parallels v4.0 (build 3844) with WinXP Pro and now, TV ;)

Jul 20, 2006, 10:50 PM

ajay
Senior Member

Join: May 2006
Posts: 153

Isn't there an easier way? I'm not that conversant with the Mac and from the look of the instructions, I could foul something up. Currently, everytime I reboot, I put my Mac mni to sleep and then wake it up. This enables VT for me. I would like a permanent fix but am hesitant to go through those 20 steps. Is there a patch or something I could just copy?

__________________
24: iMac: 2.93Ghz: 4GB Ram: 640GB HDD: 500GB TM backup HDD: Mac OS X 10.5.8: Parallels v4.0 (build 3844) with WinXP Pro and now, TV ;)

Jul 21, 2006, 04:14 AM #6
blondsummer Junior Member Join: Jul 2006 Posts: 7	Can u explain ? Hi, can u explain what do you do to have in a mac mini the VT-X enable ? you just put the mac mini to sleep ? and after you laught parallels and all is working well ??? i've just test but for me it's not working. :(

Sep 15, 2006, 01:06 PM #7
GADesser Junior Member Join: Sep 2006 Posts: 3	Thank you! :) Great procedure.:) When I started Parallels I received a message that Hardware Virtualization was not enabled and had to be enabled in the Firmware. After I found your procedure and followed your clear, concise steps the About dialog box in Parallels now shows Virtualization Mode: Intel VT-x as indicated in the last step. Again, thank you for a great procedure.:) :)

Sep 15, 2006, 02:23 PM #8
poshpaws Junior Member Join: Sep 2006 Posts: 7	mac pro working early days but it boots XP with out KP! (normally locks machine as soon as i start any vm) this tip works thanks Mac pro 3Ghz - 3gb ram , X1900 Gfx ok spoke too soon , kp's on xp install completeing textmode :( doing further testing is it me or does seting vt on make the machine faster? seems to boot quicker - YMMV!

Sep 15, 2006, 04:27 PM #9
j-active Member Join: Apr 2006 Posts: 43	Can someone verify this was tried on a Dual Xeon Mac Pro and works correctly? I'm not clear if people have tried and/or having problems. Thanks.

Sep 15, 2006, 05:00 PM #10
poshpaws Junior Member Join: Sep 2006 Posts: 7	clarity Works for me Mac pro Dual 3ghz , 2gb ram , X1900 gfx had to remove 1gb of ram (running 2) , will test with the nvram settings tomorrow (it's 11pm here) tested with Multiple xp vm's running , 2 running existing images - the others running installers and a Sol10 vm the network settings hack is needed to get any of the vm's to talk to the internet if you try this procedure please - confirm something for me , after setting , and rebooting my machines seems to be much faster YMMV

Sep 15, 2006, 05:00 PM

#10

poshpaws
Junior Member

Join: Sep 2006
Posts: 7

clarity

Works for me

Mac pro Dual 3ghz , 2gb ram , X1900 gfx

had to remove 1gb of ram (running 2) , will test with the nvram settings tomorrow (it's 11pm here)

tested with Multiple xp vm's running , 2 running existing images - the others running installers and a Sol10 vm

the network settings hack is needed to get any of the vm's to talk to the internet

if you try this procedure please - confirm something for me , after setting , and rebooting my machines seems to be much faster

YMMV

Sep 15, 2006, 05:03 PM #11
David Watson Junior Member Join: Sep 2006 Posts: 15	Did not work on my Mac Pro. Followed all the steps, no errors. Still telling me VT-X is not enabled. I haven't gotten the sleep trick to work either. Still runs pretty fast, though.

Sep 15, 2006, 07:06 PM #12
j-active Member Join: Apr 2006 Posts: 43	The original instructions worked on a Mac Pro Dual Xeon 2.66 with 2MB ram. VT-x appears to be permanently enabled now. Yeah! Interesting observation about the booting. I thought I was imaging it, but my machine boots much, much faster now too.

Sep 15, 2006, 07:58 PM #13
irie Junior Member Join: Aug 2006 Posts: 2	Did not work on my 3Ghz Mac Pro. The computer seems to take longer to shut down and enter sleep mode. Is there any way to undo this?

Sep 16, 2006, 08:31 AM #14
poshpaws Junior Member Join: Sep 2006 Posts: 7	I would think a pram reset would get rid of this

Sep 16, 2006, 08:32 AM #15
poshpaws Junior Member Join: Sep 2006 Posts: 7	[quote=j-active]The original instructions worked on a Mac Pro Dual Xeon 2.66 with 2MB ram. VT-x appears to be permanently enabled now. Yeah! Interesting observation about the booting. I thought I was imaging it, but my machine boots much, much faster now too.[/QUOTE Cool , it's confirmed then :)

Sep 16, 2006, 08:53 AM

#16

jbmelby
Member

Join: Apr 2006
Posts: 79

Quote:

Originally Posted by j-active

The original instructions worked on a Mac Pro Dual Xeon 2.66 with 2MB ram.

VT-x appears to be permanently enabled now.

Yeah!

Interesting observation about the booting. I thought I was imaging it, but my machine boots much, much faster now too.

When you say "the original instructions", do you mean the ones in monoclast's post of July 13th? If not, which post are you referring to?

Sep 16, 2006, 01:20 PM

#17

j-active
Member

Join: Apr 2006
Posts: 43

Quote:

Originally Posted by jbmelby

When you say "the original instructions", do you mean the ones in monoclast's post of July 13th? If not, which post are you referring to?

I followed the list of instructions and used the downloads available in the first post of this thread. Of course, I skipped the mini firmware update listed in step 1.

[edit: found an interesting problem related to OS X build, starting a new thread]

Sep 20, 2006, 09:14 PM #18
sydbarrett74 Member Join: Aug 2006 Posts: 61	This didn't work for me -- I still go into a VM and it says VT-x is locked by the firmware. Also, I got a message saying that Parallels would only work with 2GB (I have 4GB in my Mac Pro), and so it disabled the other 2GB.

Oct 5, 2006, 11:27 PM #19
foulgernz Junior Member Join: Sep 2006 Posts: 2	Please help an idiot. I stuffed up the procedure by putting vmx folder in wrong place. Can some kind person tel me how to uninstall the VT-x refit so that I can start again, please. E-Mails to foulger@macservice.co.nz. Thanks so much

Oct 5, 2006, 11:43 PM #20
darkwing Junior Member Join: Sep 2006 Posts: 5	Try installing 10.4.8 and RC 1922 -- that fixed the matter for me

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How To Enable VT (aka VTX or VT-x) with rEFIt and vmx-var-set.efi