Ryzen 3 - Nested Virtualization

[enjin_]

I am wondering about support on Ryzen 3 for nested virtualization for VMware workstation (or any other hypervisor). With the insane core counts and performance on Ryzen 3, particularly Ryzen 9, it makes sense to make your gaming machine double as a home lab. Today, I do this with and Intel CPU with the VT-X extensions and VMware workstation. One of the applications I run is Eve-NG for a network lab, but it says it doesn't support AMD. Does anyone know if AMD now supports nested virtualization? I haven't found great information. I want to build a new system soon, and this is the deciding factor for me. I want to support AMD, and the price point is super attractive. I don't suppose anyone has any experience with this?

 

Thanks for any information!

[Wolly9102]

2 minutes ago, enjin_ said:

I am wondering about support on Ryzen 3 for nested virtualization for VMware workstation (or any other hypervisor). With the insane core counts and performance on Ryzen 3, particularly Ryzen 9, it makes sense to make your gaming machine double as a home lab. Today, I do this with and Intel CPU with the VT-X extensions and VMware workstation. One of the applications I run is Eve-NG for a network lab, but it says it doesn't support AMD. Does anyone know if AMD now supports nested virtualization? I haven't found great information. I want to build a new system soon, and this is the deciding factor for me. I want to support AMD, and the price point is super attractive. I don't suppose anyone has any experience with this?

 

Thanks for any information!

Nope amd doesn't. You could try editing the vmx but I don't think that will work

[enjin_]

That's pretty nutty considering EPYC has, what, 32 cores per die? Is it just vendor support for AMD-V or does the instruction set just not exist at the hardware level?

[Wolly9102]

1 hour ago, enjin_ said:

That's pretty nutty considering EPYC has, what, 32 cores per die? Is it just vendor support for AMD-V or does the instruction set just not exist at the hardware level?

I don't know exactly. I will try tomorrow with vm's if nested VM's are working or not. (I had an school assignment about it a few months back) I did it partically on my laptop because the instructor talked about this problem. Haven't tested it yet with my ryzen CPU. 

[Wolly9102]

19 hours ago, enjin_ said:

That's pretty nutty considering EPYC has, what, 32 cores per die? Is it just vendor support for AMD-V or does the instruction set just not exist at the hardware level?

Well I tested today. And it acutally seems to boot on my R7. So you should be fine  

[Wolly9102]

21 hours ago, enjin_ said:

That's pretty nutty considering EPYC has, what, 32 cores per die? Is it just vendor support for AMD-V or does the instruction set just not exist at the hardware level?

I looked at the hardware features for virtualisation. And it seems Ryzen supports it

[enjin_]

It looks like the AMT-V and RVI extensions are what is needed. Eve-ng and Cisco VIRL do support these extensions, but users on forums complain of sometimes unpredictable behavior. Eve-NG does say it's capable, but not supported. 

 

I really like Ryzen, and I don't want to sleep on PCIE 4, but is saving a few hundred bucks to get 12 cores (which I do need) worth possible frustration? Yikes! 

 

I'm hoping that AMD is doing a better job with getting people on board as virtualization partners. Their core counts per cost is extremely desirable for Home Labs.