Proliant ML370 G4 - possible to upgrade CPUs> VT?

[yikes]

Hi, we've got a Proliant ML370 G4 tower with 2 3.2GHz Xeon processors; they're the 800MHz ones that came with the unit (2nd was an upgrade at time of purchase) and don't have VT hardware virtualization support.

I'm wondering if there's an upgrade path -- can I purchase processors that will work in our ML370G4 that do support VT? Is there an updated BIOS for the server that will allow this feature to be supported and/or turned on and off?

We bought the server 3 years ago and it's been absolutely great, and I'd love to be able to run it as a VM host, but not without VT.

Thanks for your time.

[yikes]

I noticed that the Xeon 7130M has very similar specs -- socket 604, 3.2GHz/800MHz FSB -- but does support VT. Anyone know if this processor specifically would work in our ML370 G4? And again, would the ML370 G4 mobo & bios be able to handle VT, even if this processor would work?

[Marshall Penn · Accepted solution]

The 7130M has a different motherboard, your G4 wont support VT unless you upgrade the board and processors together.

We use DL385 G1's - they run 64 bit VMs under ESXi 4.0 no problem, as long as they dont have the earliest opterons for that chipset.

[yikes]

Thanks, looking at prices we'll probably just seek a new entry-level box with a VT-capable processor -- ends up cheaper than a new mobo & CPU(s).

Thanks for your help.