Can a Linux guest use both Cores?

Hello

I use a mac mini dual core and Suse 10 as linux guest.
I was able to unlock VT-x as described in this http://forum.parallels.com/thread1508.html
thread. Everything works fine, I had no crashes so far.

However, Suse 10 reports only one processor being present at boottime.

Comparing for example the speeds of some Eclipse jobs I have, on OS X and
Suse 10, I have the feeling that processor bound things take about twice as
long in the guest than in OS X. Those jobs are highly multi threaded.

On OS X I can see that both processors are active for over 90 %.
On the Linux guest it seems that both processors are active for less than 50 % each.

Therefore the question,
can a guest system use both processors?
If no, will that be included in the future?

Greetings!

Peter

 

I think Parallels emulates the processors as one.

 

All VMs use a single core because Intel implements VT-x on only one of the two cores. So you are not likely to see your requested implemented anytime soon.

 

Hello Plarusa

do you know of any web page that describes what Intel is doing with VT-x on a dual
core machine?

I would be interested in learning more about the issue, before I decide
whether to stick with (parallels)-virtualisation or move over to a dual
boot OS-X / Linux setup.

The truth is I have no need to run OS-X at all, I bought the Mac Mini as a small
and silent Linux machine that I need for testing during my programming work.
I could not find a similar PC, AOpen has announced one for months now,
but I did not succeed buying it in Europe for the last 4 months.

And after seeing that parallels would allow me to let OS-X runand
have Linux at the same time, I thought, what the heck, might as well
learn something from having OS-X around.

Greetings!

Peter

 

if you dont need OS X, and you require max performance, and actually have an application that can take advantage of multiple cores, i wouldnt bother with parallels as you would be better off with a baremetal setup

easiest way to get that on the mac is to leave OS X installed and use bootcamp. carve off most of the disk for the non-OSX partition and install linux there. that still leaves a "supported" system installed and you will have done minimal tweaking


boogie

 

Hello Boogie

IMHO there is at least one other issue that should be considered.
Inside the parallels VM I have installed the Suse 10.0 system without
any further problems.

In order to get any "bare metal" Linux to work, the PPLs at
http://www.mactel-linux.org seem to think that it is not at all
that easy.

Which brings me back to my question.
Is there anything inherent in Intel's VT-x which will
prevent both cores to be visible from a guest system.

Please let me know, if you know of any pages describing the answer.

Hello parallels, is there any info you might shed into this matter?

Greetings!

Yours Peter Graf