'Use more CPU Cores/SMP' broken #316

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adam · 2025-12-29T00:24:08+01:00

adam commented

2025-12-29 00:24:08 +01:00

Originally created by @lexxxel on GitHub (Jan 27, 2022).

If CPU_STRING is set like explained neither Big Sur or Monterey installations are starting.

docker run -it     \
  --device /dev/kvm\
  -p 50924:10022 \
  -v /tmp/.X11-unix:/tmp/.X11-unix\
  -e "DISPLAY=${DISPLAY:-:0.0}" \
  -e GENERATE_UNIQUE=true \
  -e MASTER_PLIST_URL='https://raw.githubusercontent.com/sickcodes/osx-serial-generator/master/config-custom.plist' \
  -e CPU_STRING=$(nproc) \
  sickcodes/docker-osx:monterey

I do get a boot screen and select to install, but afterwards I get stuck:

1 CPU has 100% utilization, but nothing happens. If I do not set CPU_STRING, everything is fine and the installer starts.

Originally created by @lexxxel on GitHub (Jan 27, 2022). If `CPU_STRING` is set [like explained](https://github.com/sickcodes/Docker-OSX#use-more-cpu-coressmp) neither Big Sur or Monterey installations are starting. ``` docker run -it \ --device /dev/kvm\ -p 50924:10022 \ -v /tmp/.X11-unix:/tmp/.X11-unix\ -e "DISPLAY=${DISPLAY:-:0.0}" \ -e GENERATE_UNIQUE=true \ -e MASTER_PLIST_URL='https://raw.githubusercontent.com/sickcodes/osx-serial-generator/master/config-custom.plist' \ -e CPU_STRING=$(nproc) \ sickcodes/docker-osx:monterey ``` I do get a boot screen and select to install, but afterwards I get stuck: ![image](https://user-images.githubusercontent.com/5159138/151359878-d1a2d920-cb43-42ac-987a-16aae3f5c793.png) 1 CPU has 100% utilization, but nothing happens. If I do not set `CPU_STRING`, everything is fine and the installer starts.

adam closed this issue

2025-12-29 00:24:08 +01:00

adam commented

2025-12-29 00:24:09 +01:00

@felipestt commented on GitHub (Jan 28, 2022):

Same behavior here.
Also, when setting CPU and SMP parameters with values other than 4, I get stuck on the same step.

It runs successfully with:

SMP=4 / CORES=4
Without setting SMP / CORES

It gets stuck with:

SMP=6 / CORES=6
SMP=2 / CORES=2

@felipestt commented on GitHub (Jan 28, 2022): Same behavior here. Also, when setting `CPU` and `SMP` parameters with values other than `4`, I get stuck on the same step. It runs successfully with: - SMP=4 / CORES=4 - Without setting SMP / CORES It gets stuck with: - SMP=6 / CORES=6 - SMP=2 / CORES=2

adam commented

2025-12-29 00:24:09 +01:00

@lexxxel commented on GitHub (Jan 28, 2022):

I figured out, it works with 8 and 16, but nothing in between. Is this a strange formula think that I can't see?

@lexxxel commented on GitHub (Jan 28, 2022): I figured out, it works with 8 and 16, but nothing in between. Is this a strange formula think that I can't see?

adam commented

2025-12-29 00:24:09 +01:00

@felipestt commented on GitHub (Feb 10, 2022):

According to this, macOS only supports power-of-two cores.
But you can increase the number of sockets to get the virtual cores you need.

If you need 6 cores, go with:

-e EXTRA='-smp 6,sockets=3,cores=2'

@felipestt commented on GitHub (Feb 10, 2022): According to [this](https://github.com/foxlet/macOS-Simple-KVM/issues/319#issuecomment-1003775896), macOS only supports power-of-two cores. But you can increase the number of sockets to get the virtual cores you need. If you need 6 cores, go with: ``` -e EXTRA='-smp 6,sockets=3,cores=2' ```

adam commented

2025-12-29 00:24:10 +01:00

@lexxxel commented on GitHub (Feb 17, 2022):

@felipestt thank you so much, that worked

@lexxxel commented on GitHub (Feb 17, 2022): @felipestt thank you so much, that worked

adam commented

2025-12-29 00:24:10 +01:00

@sickcodes commented on GitHub (Feb 19, 2022):

If anyone feels like expanding on the CPU arrangement in the README feel free to submit a PR! :)

@sickcodes commented on GitHub (Feb 19, 2022): If anyone feels like expanding on the CPU arrangement in the README feel free to submit a PR! :)

adam commented

2025-12-29 00:24:11 +01:00

@sickcodes commented on GitHub (Mar 19, 2022):

Confirmed this is wrong and thankyou @felipestt for bringing this up

@sickcodes commented on GitHub (Mar 19, 2022): Confirmed this is wrong and thankyou @felipestt for bringing this up

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Reference: starred/Docker-OSX#316