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Software Virtualization Software for Intel Macs Takes Advantage of Intel's VT Technology
Tuan Nguyen (Blog) - April 7, 2006 11:11 AM

14 comment(s) - last by InternetGeek.. on Apr 10 at 5:07 AM

Parallels Workstation 2.1 running an install of RedHat Linux

Windows XP running in virtual mode

Solaris and even Windows 3.11 are supported

Parallels Inc. claims its virtualization software allows users to run guest OSes at near native speeds on Apple's Intel-based Macs

When Apple announced Boot Camp Beta two days ago, many users were thrilled to be able to install Windows XP on their Intel-based Macs in a simple and easy manner. Many users are now able to run both OS X and Windows XP, covering applications in both OSes on one machine. Users who previously hesitated to switch to Macs because of the need for specific Windows-only software, are now able to make the switch without reservation. Despite being in beta form, Apple says that its dual-boot feature will be integrated into its next major release of OS X, called Leopard.

A company named Parallels Inc. has announced the availability Parallels Workstation 2.1, the company's virtualization platform that fully takes advantage of Apple's new Intel-Macs. Parallels says that with its new software, the Virtualization Technology that Intel has built into Core Duo processors can be fully utilized. According to the company, guest operating systems run at near native speeds thanks to Core Duo's VT technology.

Intel's VT technology allows virtual OSes to be completely isolated from each other, with each OS having access to real hardware resources without conflicts. VT essentially partitions system resources and hardware for each virtual OS.

Parallels says that its software is the first virtualization software for Intel-Macs and will allow users to run many different types of operating systems including flavors of Linux, Solaris and Windows. Parallels claims:

Parallels’ full support of Intel Virtualization Technology, which is included in most new Core Duo chipset, ensures that virtual machine performance is close to near-native and that each virtual machine is stable and completely isolated from other virtual machines and the host physical machine.

Many analysts believe that Apple's decision to switch to Intel processors along with native support for Windows is paving the way for greater market acceptance of Macs. While its OSes have significant advantages over Windows, Apple has always been a hardware company with a niche market. Analysts say that Apple is evolving into a company that competes directly with PC manufacturers such as Dell, HP and Sony.

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Better solution than boot camp for me.

By plinden on 4/7/2006 11:36:56 AM , Rating: 2

I don't have a WinXP install disk handy (I think I have one in the basement in a box but can't be bothered looking for it) but I'm more interested running Linux distros in virtualization.

So I've installed Debian in a VM on my iMac, and it works great. I haven't managed to work out a full set of benchmarks, but Java compilation is as fast as the iMac, but apache2 compilation is a good bit slower than another Linux machine I have, but not much slower than the iMac.

20 iterations of super_pi takes 28 seconds, which is pretty damn good.

There is no 3D acceleration though, so no high CPU games.

This is more useful to me than Boot Camp, since I don't want to be bothered rebooting. I have a few older Windows games that I sometimes miss but they are not 3D games (Civs II and III, MOO2BAA, Sim City 4)

It's not very buggy, sometimes it loses the mouse cursor when exiting the VM window, but that's about it.

By lamplamp on 4/7/2006 11:43:15 AM , Rating: 2

that's nice, but current core duos dont support VT

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RE: VT

By plinden on 4/7/2006 11:55:43 AM , Rating: 2

So, you think I'm lying?

I thought it was disabled too, but it appears they do support VT. According to Parallels's website, it's disabled only on the Mac Mini Core Solos. And if it's disabled, they use software virtualization.

Even if they are lying and it is disabled on my iMac, I get close to 90% native speeds running Linux, so it's still good enough for me.

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RE: VT

By ninjit on 4/7/2006 3:26:48 PM , Rating: 2

hey plinden,

What does Windows see as the CPU under virtualization?

According to Parallels' website they emulate a Pentium II and an AMD duron - which is pretty crappy if that's true. I'd hope that with VT, the guest OS would still see the actual hardware it's running on.

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RE: VT

By AnaxagorasZeres on 4/7/2006 4:09:33 PM , Rating: 2

"I don't have a WinXP install disk handy (I think I have one in the basement in a box but can't be bothered looking for it) but I'm more interested running Linux distros in virtualization. "

That's the first part of his post...

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RE: VT

By plinden on 4/7/2006 4:27:29 PM , Rating: 2

Duh. I didn't think of running cpuinfo. That'll get what the Debian install thinks is the CPU, so presumably will be similar for Windows. I'll do it when I get home later.

I don't think they "emulate" a P-II/AMD Duron. The website says:
"Parallels Workstation virtualizes a full set of the standard PC hardware including:
# CPU Pentium or AMD Duron;
# Generic motherboard compatible with Intel i815 chipset;
# RAM up to 1500 Mb;
# VGA and SVGA with VESA 3.0 support;
..."

The minimum requirement to run is a 400 MHz P-II or equivalent.

As far as I can tell, it's not multiprocessor aware, and the mouse lag I notice (it's only fraction of a second but it could get annoying) is probably due to no graphics card support. By the way, Windows VMs can install tools that make the mouse lag less noticeable, but apparently that impacts other performance.

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RE: VT

By plinden on 4/7/2006 4:37:02 PM , Rating: 2

Oh, and I must emphasise that this will NOT be good enough for games more than two or three years old. It's not important to me, but if it is to you right now, dual boot is the only way to go.

Virtual servers is basically what I've been looking for, not a full Windows install. But I can see myself installing Boot Camp later. I just like having more options, and being able to run Mac OS X, Linux and Windows, without needed to reboot, is a tremendous boost to me.

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RE: VT

By plinden on 4/7/2006 9:14:29 PM , Rating: 2

cat /proc/cpuinfo in the Debian VM shows the CPU as:
"Processor : 0
vendor_id : GenuineIntel
cpu family : 6
model : 6
model name : Genuine Intel(R) CPU 1400 @1.83GHZ
stepping : 5
cpu MHz : 2242.485
cache size : 64 KB
fdiv_bug : no
hlt_bug : no
f00f_bug : no
coma_bug : no
fpu : yes
fpu_exception : yes
cpuid level : 2
wp : yes
flags : fpu pse tsc mce cx8 sep mtrr pge cmov mmx fxsr sse sse2 ss pni
bogomips : 3801.08"

So although it doesn't recognize it as a Yonah dual core, it sees the correct CPU speed, with an effective clock rate of 2.24 GHz.

I've included all the cpuinfo for the CPU gurus among you to look over.

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RE: VT

By ToeCutter on 4/8/2006 11:26:06 AM , Rating: 2

Negative Dano.

All shipping Core Duo CPUs currently support Intel's Virtualization Technology (VMX), although it's left up to OEM's to implement, which Apple has in all MacBooks (the VMX flag is clearly displayed during POST). I suspect Apple will have a phenomenal year in '06.

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RE: VT

By JumpingJack on 4/9/2006 2:21:47 AM , Rating: 2

Here is the link to the Intel Core and Core Duo specification, look in the introduction, it specifically states Intel Virtualization technology as a key feature (dimwit)
http://download.intel.com/design/mobile/datashts/3...

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other host OS's too

By brownba on 4/7/2006 12:38:17 PM , Rating: 4

might want to add that this software is available for installation on Windows and Linux too, not just OSX.

Boot Camp & VT?

By kelmon on 4/7/2006 1:08:08 PM , Rating: 2

I'm sans an Intel-based Mac at the moment so I'm hoping that this situation will have resolved itself by the end of the year. However, for those that need 3D acceleration under Windows but who also wish to be able to run OS X at the same time for other applications, you've got to wonder whether 2 installations of Windows will happen (one for dual-boot and one under VT). I'm hopeful that some degree of 3D acceleration will eventually be possible under VT since dual-booting really is a pain and I wish to be able to share data between multiple operating systems.

* crosses fingers *

THIS is what im talkin about...

By Cygni on 4/7/2006 2:46:44 PM , Rating: 2

Been asking about VT on the new Intel Macs ever since the XP on a Mac announcements started getting made. I didnt know the current Core Duo's even supported full VT, but i guess im wrong. This is pretty darn awesome. THIS is what I, and probably thousands of others, have been waiting for.