Re: [sheflug] Free VMWare Server and Player

["Marcus D. Hanwell" <linux [at] xxxxxxxxx>]

On Tuesday 14 February 2006 23:38, Andrew J. Baker wrote:
> >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...
>
I read something about that, but lets be honest how many of us can afford to 
go out and upgrade our CPU specifically for Xen? That would mean me getting a 
new laptop, or possibly upgrading from my recently purchased Athlon64 X2 
processor in my desktop system.

VMWare works with my current hardware and covers a massive range of guest 
operating systems right now. I do intend to check Xen out for Linux guest 
operating systems but if special CPUs are required for unmodified guest OSes 
then take up will be correspondingly slower. QEmu can already do Windows 
hosts too, but the performance is significantly lower than VMWare too.

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