HCI virtual machine opens pass-through mode to support AVX instruction set

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Customers need to install 3D software on the windows operating system of the virtual machine on the UIS to meet business requirements. This function requires the CPU to support the AVX instruction set. And there is feedback that the windows operating system directly installed on the HP server supports the AVX instruction set. Ask us why the UIS virtual machine does not support it.

1.win10 professional installed on HP server support AVX and AVX2 like this:

2. Currently found Windows server 2016 OS in UIS installed on H3C UIS Server not supported AVX and AVX2 like this

The server model of the customer on site is UIS-Cell-3030-G3, which is a machine modified from H3C R4900 G3. The CPU model is -6240R (2.4GHz/24 core/35.75MB/165W) CPU This CPU supports the AVX instruction set from Intel’s official website:

https://ark.intel.com/content/www/us/en/ark/products/199354/intel-xeon-gold-5220r-processor-35-75m-cache-2-20-ghz.html

Therefore, it can be determined that the hardware of our server supports AVX extensions. To eliminate hardware problems, it is necessary to check whether the VM supports the AVX instruction set after virtualization. Under cat /proc/cpuinfo in the UIS system, observe the flag field: 

1. Is there avx, if so, it represents the hardware-level AVX extension support 

2. Is there vmx, if not, it means that the BIOS has not opened VMX, enter the bios to open the option 

The part marked in yellow indicates that the server opens the AVX extension support, and the AVX instruction set can be extended to the virtual machine.

 Finally, consult the cloud computing engineer, the virtual machine needs to turn on the CPU pass-through mode, transparently transmit the CPU function of the server host to the virtual machine, and perform the virtual machine shutdown and then power on, you can see the CPU-Z tool detection on the virtual machine Go to the AVX instruction set under the cpu. The CPU working mode is compatible by default.

The problem is solved by modifying the CPU of the virtual machine to pass-through mode.