Fusion

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  • 1.  What do I need to know before installing XP x64 on my MBP?

    Posted Feb 27, 2009 02:07 PM

    I want to create a Windows XP x64 VM to test my app on an x64 OS. Given my MBP's processor, is there anything I need to know or do before installing XP x64? Will the VM "really" run in 64-bit mode or will it be some kind of emulation mode?

    I'm using Fusion 2.0.2 (146107) with the following MBP hardware specs:

    Model Name: MacBook Pro

    Model Identifier: MacBookPro3,1

    Processor Name: Intel Core 2 Duo

    Processor Speed: 2.4 GHz

    Number Of Processors: 1

    Total Number Of Cores: 2

    L2 Cache: 4 MB

    Memory: 4 GB

    Bus Speed: 800 MHz

    Boot ROM Version: MBP31.0070.B02

    SMC Version: 1.16f8



  • 2.  RE: What do I need to know before installing XP x64 on my MBP?
    Best Answer

    Posted Feb 27, 2009 02:14 PM

    Since you have a Core 2 Duo, it should just work (assuming of course that you mean "in a virtual machine", technically you don't install OSes on processors). It will really be in 64-bit (technically, a few instructions may be emulated, just as with 32-bit virtual machines).



  • 3.  RE: What do I need to know before installing XP x64 on my MBP?

    Posted Feb 27, 2009 02:57 PM

    Thanks for the prompt reply and correction, Etung.

    It might have sounded like a naive question, but I really just wanted to know whether there is anything I need to know as all my experience has been with 32-bit VMs. For instance, does Fusion emulate a 32-bit CPU if the guest is 32-bit but the host is 64-bit? Does Fusion emulate a 64-bit CPU if the guest is 64-bit and the host is 32-bit? Does the host machine have anything to do with the processor emulated by Fusion?

    It sounds like you've answered the question for my use case: XP x64 will run on a 64-bit processor on my MBP. Again, thanks.



  • 4.  RE: What do I need to know before installing XP x64 on my MBP?

    Posted Feb 27, 2009 11:46 PM

    Unless you set special .vmx flags, the guest always sees a processor with the same capabilities as the physical processor. Some guests, such as Solaris, detect what type of CPU you have and determine the 64/32-bit question themselves (in this case, the .vmx flags are useful). From Fusion's point of view, I believe 32 vs 64-bitness of a virtual machine only affects optimizations/workarounds (but I'm not completely sure of this).

    Does the host machine have anything to do with the processor emulated by Fusion?

    Yes - as I explained above, the guest sees the same type of processor that the host actually has.