Error when try to install KVM on CentOS

Question

I am trying to install KVM from Installation doc.

When I run the command modprobe kvm-intel I get the error FATAL: Error inserting kvm_intel (/lib/modules/2.6.32-279.5.2.el6.x86_64/kernel/arch/x86/kvm/kvm-intel.ko): Operation not supported.

I also run the cat /proc/cpuinfo and output is as below.

processor       : 0
vendor_id       : GenuineIntel
cpu family      : 6
model           : 42
model name      : Intel(R) Core(TM) i5-2520M CPU @ 2.50GHz
stepping        : 7
cpu MHz         : 2494.420
cache size      : 3072 KB
fpu             : yes
fpu_exception   : yes
cpuid level     : 13
wp              : yes
flags           : fpu vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 apic mtrr pge mca cmov pat pse36 clflush dts acpi mmx fxsr sse sse2 ss syscall nx rdtscp lm constant_tsc up arch_perfmon pebs bts xtopology tsc_reliable nonstop_tsc aperfmperf unfair_spinlock pni pclmulqdq ssse3 cx16 sse4_1 sse4_2 popcnt aes xsave avx hypervisor lahf_lm ida arat epb xsaveopt pln pts dts
bogomips        : 4988.84
clflush size    : 64
cache_alignment : 64
address sizes   : 40 bits physical, 48 bits virtual
power management:

May be I am missing some command but which I dont know :(.

Answer 1

Unfortunately, your Intel chipset isn't supported. You don't have an Intel VT chipset (no vmx flag in your /proc/cpuinfo), so you can't run KVM on your machine. From the KVM FAQ:

Q: How do I know if my hardware supports KVM?

A: Run the following command:

 
grep -E 'vmx|svm' /proc/cpuinfo
flags : fpu vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 apic sep mtrr pge mca cmov pat
pse36 clflush dts
acpi mmx fxsr sse sse2 ss ht tm pbe nx lm constant_tsc arch_perfmon pebs bts
pni monitor ds_cpl vmx
est tm2 ssse3 cx16 xtpr lahf_lm ida
flags : fpu vme de pse tsc msr pae mce cx8 apic sep mtrr pge mca cmov pat
pse36 clflush dts acpi mmx fxsr
sse sse2 ss ht tm pbe nx lm constant_tsc arch_perfmon pebs bts pni monitor
ds_cpl vmx est tm2 ssse3 cx16 xtpr lahf_lm ida

If this command returns output, then your system supports KVM. The vmx processor feature flag represents Intel VT chipset while the svm flag represents AMD-V.

Answer 2

There may be hope yet, some BIOS versions mask the bit when disabling virtualization extensions so it does not appear in procinfo.

I would try to enable VT in the BIOS, then disconnect the power cord (it's a requirement), if it's a laptop you may have to take the battery out and put it back in as well.

Afterwards when you boot, check again. As I said, only some versions do this so you may still fail, but it's worth a try.

Checking your processor model number indicates that it does support VT-d (specs), though the chipset may not support it and make it unavailable.