[linux-elitists] Virtualization

[Mike MacCana]

Martin Pool wrote:

>On 23 Feb 2005, "J. Paul Reed" <preed@sigkill.com> wrote:
>
>  
>
>>>I mean the kernel modules that are necessary to load if you are using
>>>Linux as the host os.  The ones that taint the kernel when loaded, and
>>>drive you all crazy with every new kernel release as the different
>>>kernel apis change all around you, with you all being helpless and
>>>constantly playing catch up.  Quite fun to watch if you ask me.
>>>      
>>>
>>Ahh... and Xen is different how? Oh right... they just modify the whole
>>damn kernel (and require you to patch your entire kernel every rev).
>>
>>The fact of the matter is, if you're not running a virtualization platform
>>(a la ESX), and you're running a "hosted" virtualization product, you have
>>to do this. UML does it. Xen does it. VMware does it.
>>    
>>
>
>qemu doesn't require kernel modules, though apparently it does suffer
>a performance hit as a result of being able to use less of the MMU.
>  
>
 From what I've read, it's a 5x performance hit if you don't use the 
QEmu modules tho.

Mike