Re: [sheflug] Free VMWare Server and Player

["Andrew J. Baker" <ajb [at] xxxxxxxxxxx>]

(Ted Harding) wrote:

>On 14-Feb-06 Andrew J. Baker wrote:
>  
>
>>Marcus D. Hanwell wrote:
>>[...]
>>And let's not forget the open source offering, Xen:
>>
>>http://www.xensource.com/
>>
>>For those individuals interested in running Linux VMs on UltraSPARC 
>>check out this article on The Register...
>>
>>http://www.theregister.co.uk/2006/02/13/sun_hyper_xen/
>>
>>Cheers, Andy.
>>    
>>
>
>Be circumspect here. Xen may well be fine for running virtual
>Linux machines as it stands. However, unless there have been
>recent new developments, you cannot just install a Windows VM
>as you can on VMWare.
>
>  
>
As a consequence, I currently use VMware Workstation 5.

>This issue is glossed over in the www.xensource.com website,
>but if you go to the Cambridge University Computer Lab XEN
>website:
>
>  http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/Research/SRG/netos/xen/
>
>and see Q1.4 of the FAQ:
>
>  1.4. Does Xen support Microsoft Windows?
>  Unfortunately we do not currently support Windows;
>  the paravirtualized approach we use to get such high
>  performance has not been usable directly for Windows
>  to date. However recently announced hardware support
>  from Intel and AMD will allow us to transparently
>  support Windows XP & 2003 Server in the near future.
>  We are working on this and intend to have support
>  available by the time the new processors are available.
>
>  
>
Point acknowledged.

>I recall previously reading information to the effect that,
>while they have indeed installed a Windows VM on Xen, this
>was achieved using a "patched" version of Windows depending
>on proprietary (M$) OS interface details which they were not
>able to release.
>
>  
>
I believe there are preparations afoot to introduce MS Windows into the 
Xen guest OS list in a favourable manner. As I understand the situation, 
virtual translation support must feature within the host CPU. Therefore, 
the Xen development team are dependent upon the support of both AMD and 
Intel, which they appear to have secured.

I wonder if it's possible for any of the Xen guys and gals to clarify...

Ian?

>Best wishes,
>Ted.
>
>--------------------------------------------------------------------
>E-Mail: (Ted Harding) <Ted.Harding [at] nessie.mcc.ac.uk>
>Fax-to-email: +44 (0)870 094 0861
>Date: 14-Feb-06                                       Time: 21:25:01
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