Xen users - Jan 2008 - Support for "Un-Modified OS"

Hello list,

I''m currently exploring options for a QA testing environment, and
I''ve
come down to two potential hypervisor solutions, one of which being
Xen.  However, in reading the XenWiki OS compatibility page (among other
docs), I see there is support for "Un-Modified Operating Systems",
such
as Windows, as long as I''m running an Intel VTX processor.  However,
I''m
concered that the description "Initial support for unmodified guests"
is
double-speak for "have fun finding the drivers".  I''m hoping
that''s not
the case, and that someone on this list could clear up the ambiguity for
me.  I''d much rather stick with OSS if I can, but it''s
critical that
whatever solution I end up choosing is cost effective.  Thanks!

Best Regards,
Ryan


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Chuck McIntyre wrote:
> FWIW, we''re running Xen on Opteron 2200 series processors (with
HVM
> support) for this precise purpose. The "unmodified guests" work
mostly
> like you''d expect, though there are a few gotchas, none of which
(in
> our case) were driver related. The Linux distribution we are using for
> guests is primarily CentOS 4.4 and the Dom0 is CentOS 5. I would
> imagine that you will not find driver difficulties for your guests
> once you get your Dom0 working properly, though that might be somewhat
> troublesome (I leave it to others to comment on the support for Intel
> VTX). Some of the issues we''ve encountered center around: not
seeing
> enough RAM, time synchronization issues and console issues (as have
> been covered on this list ad naseum).
>
> Hope that helps,
> Chuck
>   
Chuck McIntyre wrote:
> FWIW, we''re running Xen on Opteron 2200 series processors (with
HVM
> support) for this precise purpose. The "unmodified guests" work
mostly
> like you''d expect, though there are a few gotchas, none of which
(in
> our case) were driver related. The Linux distribution we are using for
> guests is primarily CentOS 4.4 and the Dom0 is CentOS 5. I would
> imagine that you will not find driver difficulties for your guests
> once you get your Dom0 working properly, though that might be somewhat
> troublesome (I leave it to others to comment on the support for Intel
> VTX). Some of the issues we''ve encountered center around: not
seeing
> enough RAM, time synchronization issues and console issues (as have
> been covered on this list ad naseum).
>   
Well, my concerns were mostly that I''d have trouble with the Windows
variants as guest OS''s.  I''m reasonably confident that I can
get Debian
going as my host OS with little difficulty, but the Windows guest OS
question is nagging at me.  I don''t really care what version of
Windows,
(e.g., XP or 2003 Server would be fine), as long as I can get one of
them to work without too much jumping through hoops.  I''m all for the
pedagogical experience, but if getting those platforms to run is going
to be unreasonably difficult and require constant bug-fixing, I''d like
to know that beforehand so I can make accurate estimates for the
upcoming project.  Again, any advice the list can provide is welcome
and appreciated.  Thanks!


Best Regards,

Ryan


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