[xen-tools-discuss] ubuntu

[Steve Kemp]

On Mon Feb 01, 2010 at 00:15:54 +1100, Mike Bailey wrote:

>    Steve has switched to KVM. Thanks for xen-tools, Steve. It's been both
>    useful and pleasant.

  Thanks.  My only self-complaint is that I let the code languish and
  didn't give it to somebody more suitable previously.

>    Some questions for Steve:
>      * Is pvopts going to solve the main issue with Xen (that preparing new
>        kernels is too much work)?

  I'm afraid I have no idea.  I follow the kernel articles on lwn.net,
 but that's the extent of my knowledge of xen-integration work.

  My current understanding is that domU support is in recent mainline
 kernels (and I think thats the pvopts stuff you're referring to) but
 that xen dom0 support is still external.

  If that is the case then having domU is eased slightly, but having
 a modern dom0 is still hard.

>      * Are there other benefits to switching from Xen to KVM other than ease
>        of installation?

  KVM is allegedly slower, and the toolsets are more manual but I think
 that this was the case with Xen initially and many people have learned
 valuable things about the support required - so I expect when the
 KVM-specific tools do come they will be built with a lot of
 prior-experience.

  So, right now, KVM is a little slower and the tools around it are
 missing, but I expect good things to happen in a speedy fashion.

  Benefits/Drawbacks of KVM vs. Xen probably depend largely on what
 you're using them for.  For generic "virtual machine hosting", or
 having guests to test random things with I consider them largely
 inter-changable, albeit with different focuses.

>      * Do you think people like Amazon and other VPS providers will switch to
>        KVM?

  I'm afraid I have no idea on this.  I can say there exist many hosting
 providers who offer xen, just as many who use openaz and a growing
 number who support KVM - but specific companies switching?  I guess
 you'd need to ask them.

  I hope they were moderately entertaining non-answers ;)

Steve
--
Debian GNU/Linux System Administration
http://www.debian-administration.org/