How to create Virtual Machine that uses 5-level paging (LA57)?

Jan Ringoš 0 Reputation points
2024-11-20T10:33:50.46+00:00

Hey everyone,

Does anyone know, if it's possible, and if so how, to get a Windows Server Virtual Machine running NTKRLA57.exe kernel? That is: 57-bit address space (5-level paging) instead of classic 48-bit (4-level)?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Intel_5-level_paging

I can't get my hands on a physical Ice Lake+ or 8004/9004+ yet, so I was hoping to do some testing and validation on HW in Azure. I'm able to create VMs running on Xeons that should support this feature, but yet, the VMs run only regular 4-level paging.

I was assured virtualization doesn't degrade the paging mode, and that Windows Server will use 5-level paging kernel automatically in the presence of LA57 bit in CPUID. Perhaps that wasn't accurate.

I was advised to try bcdedit.exe /set linearaddress57 optin command to force the 57-bit kernel, but that only renders the VM unbootable ...which I kinda expected.

Thanks in advance for any ideas and thought.

Azure Virtual Machines
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An Azure service that is used to provision Windows and Linux virtual machines.
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