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36.12. Enabling Intel VT and AMD-V virtualization hardware extensions in BIOS

This section describes how to identify hardware virtualization extensions and enable them in your BIOS if they are disabled.
The Intel VT extensions can be disabled in the BIOS. Certain laptop vendors have disabled the Intel VT extensions by default in their CPUs.
The virtualization extensions can not be disabled in the BIOS for AMD-V.
The virtualization extensions are sometimes disabled in BIOS, usually by laptop manufacturers. See Section 36.12, “Enabling Intel VT and AMD-V virtualization hardware extensions in BIOS” for instructions on enabling disabled virtualization extensions.
Verify the virtualization extensions are enabled in BIOS. The BIOS settings for Intel® VT or AMD-V are usually in the Chipset or Processor menus. The menu names may vary from this guide, the virtualization extension settings may be found in Security Settings or other non standard menu names.

Procedure 36.1. Enabling virtualization extensions in BIOS

  1. Reboot the computer and open the system's BIOS menu. This can usually be done by pressing the delete key, the F1 key or Alt and F4 keys depending on the system.
  2. Select Restore Defaults or Restore Optimized Defaults, and then select Save & Exit.
  3. Power off the machine and disconnect the power supply.

  4. Enabling the virtualization extensions in BIOS

    Note

    Many of the steps below may vary depending on your motherboard, processor type, chipset and OEM. See your system's accompanying documentation for the correct information on configuring your system.
    1. Power on the machine and open the BIOS (as per Step 1).
    2. Open the Processor submenu The processor settings menu may be hidden in the Chipset, Advanced CPU Configuration or Northbridge.
    3. Enable Intel Virtualization Technology (also known as Intel VT) or AMD-V depending on the brand of the processor. The virtualization extensions may be labeled Virtualization Extensions, Vanderpool or various other names depending on the OEM and system BIOS.
    4. Enable Intel VTd or AMD IOMMU, if the options are available. Intel VTd and AMD IOMMU are used for PCI passthrough.
    5. Select Save & Exit.
  5. Power off the machine and disconnect the power supply.
  6. Run cat /proc/cpuinfo | grep vmx svm. If the command outputs, the virtualization extensions are now enabled. If there is no output your system may not have the virtualization extensions or the correct BIOS setting enabled.