Missing "Nested VT-x/EPT" VM Optimization Setting - Parallels 8 & Windows 8

Discussion in 'Windows Virtual Machine' started by thezonie, Oct 30, 2012.

  1. thezonie

    thezonie Bit poster

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    From the Help Center information included with Parallels 8:

    I have created a Windows 8 VM in Parallels 8 but am unable to find this VM setting. It isn't greyed out, it is simply missing from where it should be according to the Help Center screenshot.

    Is there something that I have to enable or am I simply missing something?

    The reason I would like to enable this is that I am attempting to install and run the Windows Phone 8 emulator which requires Hyper-V running in Windows.
     
  2. Specimen

    Specimen Product Expert

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    3,242
    Are you sure that's PDM 8 user guide/manual(help center? Link please.

    In google, the only references to this nested thing are for this thread and VMWare.
     
    Last edited: Oct 30, 2012
  3. thezonie

    thezonie Bit poster

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    I am referencing the Help Center documents from within Parallels 8 itself. I cannot find the same information online.

    The local file link is: file:///Applications/Parallels%20Desktop.app/Contents/Resources/en.lproj/ParallelsDesktopHelp/33236.htm
     
  4. Specimen

    Specimen Product Expert

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    3,242
    What CPU do you have?
    I'm guessing this setting only appears if the CPU(s) supports VT-x/EPT, not all that support Hyper-V support VT-x/EPT.

    Although all CPUs that can run Parallels support VT-x (it's supported since P4), EPT is different:

    "Intel states that the feature (EPT) is available in all their Nehalem-based CPUs with virtualization support; namely in Core i7, Core i5, Core i3, Pentium G6950 and appropriate Xeons.[not in citation given] It is not available in Core 2-based and earlier Intel CPUs."

    from the wikipedia page.
     
    Last edited: Oct 30, 2012
  5. thezonie

    thezonie Bit poster

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    Thanks for the reply. It is a 12-core Mid 2010 Mac Pro (MacPro5,1) with 2 x 2.66 GHz 6-Core Intel Xeon processors.

    (I am assigning 2 of the CPUs to the VM, if that matters.)
     
  6. Specimen

    Specimen Product Expert

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    Last edited: Oct 30, 2012
  7. thezonie

    thezonie Bit poster

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  8. Specimen

    Specimen Product Expert

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    Wait... I'm unsure if it has or not, I opened the link again and the information that appears is different, and says it has EPT...

    EDIT again: ok there's something wrong with the previous link probably because of the ()'s

    this link: http://ark.intel.com/products/47922/Intel-Xeon-Processor-X5650-12M-Cache-2_66-GHz-6_40-GTs-Intel-QPI

    And yes, it confirms it doesn't have EPT.

    ---
    Anyway, I'm just assuming this is the reason, I have no evidence at all that this setting is controlled by the presence of EPT, I haven't seen it myself either.
     
    Last edited: Oct 30, 2012
  9. thezonie

    thezonie Bit poster

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    Thanks, yes, that does appear to be the case.

    I am going to attempt to install Parallels 8 and Windows 8 on my 13-inch, Mid 2012 MacBook Air that contains a 2 GHz Intel Core i7 (which I believe does support it) to see if the option appears in Parallels.

    http://ark.intel.com/products/64898/Intel-Core-i7-3667U-Processor-4M-Cache-up-to-3_20-GHz
     
  10. thezonie

    thezonie Bit poster

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    Well, I gave it a try on my MacBook Air and still did not see the Nested VT-x/EPT option in Parallels 8. Perhaps Parallels 8 doesn't yet properly detect that Windows 8 has been installed? I did a clean install from the ISO as opposed to an upgrade.
     
  11. Specimen

    Specimen Product Expert

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    3,242
    Or the feature isn't properly implemented yet.
     
  12. GregMunn

    GregMunn Bit poster

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    I have a retina MBP (15") and I don't have that option either. I'd really like to be able to run the Windows Phone 8 emulator and I think because nested virtualization isn't enabled that that is the reason it won't run.

    Any ideas??

    Cheers,
    Greg
     
  13. GregMunn

    GregMunn Bit poster

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    Just as an exercise, I tried vmware and, with a little manual editing of the vmx file, it works. It looks like that it's not quite fully implemented in Parallels.

    Cheers,
    Greg
     
  14. å¼ å“²

    å¼ å“² Bit poster

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    Is there anyway to enable it by editing the file "config.pvs" manual? I also want to use wp8 simulator.

    Thanks

    Nicky
     
  15. GregMunn

    GregMunn Bit poster

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    I edited mine, setting VirtualizedHV to 1, but that didn't help me.
     
  16. å¼ å“²

    å¼ å“² Bit poster

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    Thanks,I also do that and not working for me.

    have you run the wp8 simulator successful by using vmware?
     
  17. GregMunn

    GregMunn Bit poster

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    4
  18. å¼ å“²

    å¼ å“² Bit poster

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    Thanks a lot.

    Hope the parallels desktop fix this problem asap.
     
  19. alev

    alev Parallels Team

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    Hello,

    Thanks for your interest.

    This functionality is not available yet.
    Please subscribe to this KB article: http://kb.parallels.com/en/115067, to be informed when it will be.

    Thanks,
    Alex
     
  20. tadanderson

    tadanderson Bit poster

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    3
    alev... there is nothing in that KB about this topic. Are you saying that there will be some day?

    This is going to become a hot topic very quickly. VMWare supports this today. We need Parallels to support it today!!
     

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