Hardware Virtualization Support Error Message for Intel® Compute Modules and Intel® Modular Server Systems

Documentation

Error Messages

000007693

10/05/2018

When installing a virtual operating system, you may see the following error message:

Hardware virtualization support is not available on this system. Either is not present or is disabled in the system's BIOS.

This message indicates the hardware virtualization settings in the BIOS, such as for:

  • Intel® Virtualization Technology (Intel® VT) (available on MFS5000SI and MFS5520VI)
  • Intel® Virtualization Technology (Intel® VT) for Directed I/O (Intel® VT-d) (available on MFS5520VI)

These products are either disabled or haven't been saved after having been configured by you.

In the first instance, after a BIOS update to the compute modules, follow the steps outlined in the firmware installation instructions, to make sure all BIOS settings are available and configurable.

How do I reset BIOS default settings?

Certain settings and features such as Remote USB (essential for proper Remote KVM operation) may not be functional until BIOS Defaults are loaded. To ensure proper operation, reset BIOS defaults as soon as possible after updating the BIOS. The BIOS defaults are set by pressing F9 (Reset To Defaults) while in the BIOS setup.

In addition, to ensure that VT is properly activated on any compute module, please activate virtualization in the BIOS, save the settings, power down the compute module and remove all power from the module by physically removing it from the chassis and re-inserting it into the chassis after 20 seconds.

BIOS default settings for both MFS5000SI and MFS5520VI are as follows:

  • Intel® Virtualization Technology: Disabled by default
  • Execute Disable bit: Enabled by default

These settings mean that due to the requirement to reset BIOS defaults after a firmware/BIOS upgrade, you must re-enable Intel® Virtualization Technology (VT)  in the BIOS after resetting it to defaults. Next, remove the powered off compute module from the chassis and re-insert it as described above.