CentOS virt - Mar 2008 - Question on best way of configuring this

I have a Windows XP machine that I don't use very often, but I leave it
powered up because once in a blue moon I need to remotely access it (eg
from work), and to keep the Antivirus software up to date.  When I do use
it at the console I'm mostly doing basic video editting or transcoding
(eg from transferred TiVo content).  I sometimes play older games on it
(eg Carmaggedon or Worms 2; I'm not into Warcrack, or City Of Heros or
anything that needs a super-duper gaming card).

I also have an aging Linux machine.  This is my main workstation,
although I primarily access it as a server (ssh into it, screen).  I do
occaisionally use the console as an X display, eg when scanning stuff
or previewing my nroff documents before sending them to the printer.
This machine has all my email, runs leafnode etc etc.

What I'd like to do is run them both as virtual instances on a new
machine (quad core duo) I've ordered.  What I would really like to have
is something like the dom0 being on tty0, map the Linux domU consoles
to tty1->5, allow the Linux domU X server to run fullscreen on tty6,
and have the windows GUI appear fullscreen on tty7.

I really don't want to remotely access the windows GUI (it makes video
editting harder, and game playing almost impossible), and would want to
avoid displaying it inside another X session.  Ideally it'd feel like a
"real" machine.

Does this sound like a feasible option?

-- 

rgds
Stephen

Stephen Harris wrote:
> 
> I have a Windows XP machine that I don't use very often, but I leave it
> powered up because once in a blue moon I need to remotely access it (eg
> from work), and to keep the Antivirus software up to date.  When I do use
> it at the console I'm mostly doing basic video editting or transcoding
> (eg from transferred TiVo content).  I sometimes play older games on it
> (eg Carmaggedon or Worms 2; I'm not into Warcrack, or City Of Heros or
> anything that needs a super-duper gaming card).
Carmaggedon, damn that's old. I remember that, Ultima IV, Duke Nukem,
yeah good times...
> I also have an aging Linux machine.  This is my main workstation,
> although I primarily access it as a server (ssh into it, screen).  I do
> occaisionally use the console as an X display, eg when scanning stuff
> or previewing my nroff documents before sending them to the printer.
> This machine has all my email, runs leafnode etc etc.
Old PCs make good X-terminals.
> What I'd like to do is run them both as virtual instances on a new
> machine (quad core duo) I've ordered.  What I would really like to have
> is something like the dom0 being on tty0, map the Linux domU consoles
> to tty1->5, allow the Linux domU X server to run fullscreen on tty6,
> and have the windows GUI appear fullscreen on tty7.
I have been looking at ways to try and get the SDL of Xen to use either
the Linux framebuffer, or direct VGA, but the Xen implementation needs
X. I think the Xen framebuffer is none standard due to dom0 actually
being a VM and there is a hidden Xen console that actually has direct
control of the VGA adapter.
> I really don't want to remotely access the windows GUI (it makes video
> editting harder, and game playing almost impossible), and would want to
> avoid displaying it inside another X session.  Ideally it'd feel like a
> "real" machine.
Yes you'll need the SDL Window for Windows game playing or video editing,
but I think you can bring that SDL Window up on a remote X-terminal (if
you have a good local network, gigabit?) or a local X-terminal in dom0.
> Does this sound like a feasible option?
I suggest doing a dom0 X-terminal displaying a list of domU X servers to
handle it and have each domU have X servers running advertising
themselves with their VM names, then use the X-picker to pick which
domU to connect to (can use audio server for remote sound). You could
run 2 or more X-terminal virtual consoles to get more simultaneous
sessions. Still can use the old PC as yet another X-terminal.

If you create a special xen bridge on the loopback driver you can
keep all this traffic localhost and high-speed.

There still may be a way to get the SDL consoles to use a virtual
console framebuffer or the the VGA/XGA adapter directly. If you find
out how let me know.

-Ross

______________________________________________________________________
This e-mail, and any attachments thereto, is intended only for use by
the addressee(s) named herein and may contain legally privileged
and/or confidential information. If you are not the intended recipient
of this e-mail, you are hereby notified that any dissemination,
distribution or copying of this e-mail, and any attachments thereto,
is strictly prohibited. If you have received this e-mail in error,
please immediately notify the sender and permanently delete the
original and any copy or printout thereof.