Newbie problems with amd64 FreeBSD installation

Helluin

Helluin

As it is my first post here, I would first like to say hello and thanks for providing all the great support in your brisk community. :)

While scouring the internet for an appropriate distribution of a Windows alternative, I found FreeBSD particularly appealing, due to it's programmer-orientation. (or so I understand from what info I was able to find)
I am a bit of a newb to Linux or UNIX based systems (only QNX basics in college and a little empiric experience on OpenSUSE 10.2 while it was a fresh release). Due to this fact, I am experiencing some difficulties installing FreeBSD.

I downloaded the 8.1 release for amd64 architecture, aiming to test it under VMPlayer. But, unfortunately, right after firing up the FreeBSD 64-Bit virtual machine I get an error saying:

You have configured this virtual machine to use a 64-bit guest operating system. However, 64-bit operation is not possible. This host does not support VT. For more detailed information, see http://vmware.com/info?id=152.
Do you want to continue?
Click to expand...

(the link of course gets me nowhere, as it says that I'm not allowed to access the document, even though I have an account on vmware.com)

My specs:
HP Pavilion dv5 EW-1140:
Processor- Intel Core 2 Duo T5800
RAM- 3 GB
Graphics- nVidia GeForce 9600M GT
Click to expand...

Is this kernel not suited for my processor architecture? I'm running x64 windows just fine.
After clicking 'yes' on the 64-bit support prompt, and trying to boot FreeBSD normally (choosing the first bootloader option), I get this:

sp81z7.png


I did all the searching I could ( which is not much, due to my lack of more advanced Linux/UNIX knowledge ) here on the boards and unfortunately found out nothing of use.

So is there a solution to my problem?

Sorry for the lengthy post and cheers :)
 
Hi and welcome.

I cannot speak much of vmware player's capabilities/settings, but it appears you created a 32-bit VM instead of a 64bit one. I am using VmWare workstation 7 under a win7x64 box running 8.0 amd64 without any problems.

Of course, if I configure a 32 bit machine, the amd64 image will spit out error. Double check your configuration (is vmware player allowing you to define a distinct 64 bit vm ?)
 
Welcome Helluin,

you might replace your processor with a VT-x capable CPU. Intel isn't generously providing all features on their CPUs. And VT-x is one feature cut out on a spectrum of Intel CPU.

You can visit http://ark.intel.com and type into the search field "T5800" for your CPU's description.

If you want to play in a VM a 32-bit OS should run. And FreeBSD-amd64 might run on bare metal (if hardware is supported).
 
The error message says that you can't use 64 bit guest os on your host, because your host does not support intels 64-bit technology(the VT part). You can only run 32 bit guests.

This could be a limitation in VMWare or that you maybe are running a windows 32-bit OS that can't simulate a 64 bit OS. You hardware seems to suggest that you are running a 32-bit OS, and not a 64-bit.

The error you do get also suggest that when the guest is trying to access the 64-bit part of the OS and can't find them, it crashes.

So to make a long story short: Go with the i386 version instead.
 
gilinko said:
The error message says that you can't use 64 bit guest os on your host, because your host does not support intels 64-bit technology(the VT part).
Click to expand...

That is not correct. VT-x is hardware support for virtualization. There are 64-bit processors from intel (such as the OP's) that do not support VT-x.

Unfortunately, vmware requires VT-x support to run 64-bit guest operating systems.

Adam
 
Many thanks for all the replies!

As to what system I'm running at the moment:

69gmmp.png


(I have also stated that in my first message but I know how easy it is to miss a line in a haze of too long a post :) )

Collating the info you gave me with the essence of what I need to know, and wrapping up:

is it impossible for me to run FreeBSD amd64 on my machine? (not only VMWare- that's just the testing platform, the compatibility with it is of no significance to me)
 
adamk said:
That is not correct. VT-x is hardware support for virtualization. There are 64-bit processors from intel (such as the OP's) that do not support VT-x.

Unfortunately, vmware requires VT-x support to run 64-bit guest operating systems.

Adam
Click to expand...

Thus the start of my second part: This could be a limitation in VMWare ;)
 
Helluin said:
is it impossible for me to run FreeBSD amd64 on my machine? (not only VMWare- that's just the testing platform, the compatibility with it is of no significance to me)
Click to expand...

No.
But it is not possible to run a 64-bit OS with VMWare on a Intel CPU without VT-x http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vt-x#64-bit.

As the CPU is providing 64-bit instructions, FreeBSD-amd64 is able to run on this CPU. But there might be conflicts with other hardware (or software i.e. bad ACPI implementation).

  • You could install FreeBSD-amd64 directly on your harddrive/pendrive and try it
  • or boot up a live-dvd/usb, enter fixit mode, dmesg > file-on-non-volatile-storage
  • or get PCBSD8.x-x64-DVD/USB, boot up in live mode and test your system.

To get familiar with BSD you can play with a 32-bit version of whateverBSD on your VMWare.
 
Helluin said:
is it impossible for me to run FreeBSD amd64 on my machine? (not only VMWare- that's just the testing platform, the compatibility with it is of no significance to me)
Click to expand...

A native amd64 version of FreeBSD should run on that system, just not in VMware (or other VM systems, I think). But it should not be necessary. 32-bit and 64-bit FreeBSD are the same from a user's point of view.

amd64 can access more than 4G of RAM, but you only have 3G and can't use all of that in a VM anyway.

Beyond that, some useful ported applications only work on 32-bit.
 
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