Hi, I''m trying to make sure I understand if and how Xen is supported in various Linux kernel distributions. Could someone tell me which of the following are right or wrong? - Xen has only patched kernels up to 2.6.18 with Xen support. - However, some Linux distributions may have patched later kernels with Xen support. For instance when I install Fedora 7 with Xen support, I notice the xenified Dom0 kernel that is used, as well as any DomU kernels creatd by virt-manager, are 2.6.20. - But, as of 2.6.23, Xen support has been upstreamed into the vanilla Linux kernel. So theoretically it will no longer be necessary for Xen to maintain a fork of the Linux kernel and integrate the Linux kernel build with the Xen build? Thanks, Dave _______________________________________________ Xen-users mailing list Xen-users@lists.xensource.com http://lists.xensource.com/xen-users
David Stone wrote:> Hi, I''m trying to make sure I understand if and how Xen is supported > in various Linux kernel distributions. Could someone tell me which of > the following are right or wrong? > > - Xen has only patched kernels up to 2.6.18 with Xen support. > - However, some Linux distributions may have patched later kernels > with Xen support. For instance when I install Fedora 7 with Xen > support, I notice the xenified Dom0 kernel that is used, as well as > any DomU kernels creatd by virt-manager, are 2.6.20. > - But, as of 2.6.23, Xen support has been upstreamed into the vanilla > Linux kernel. So theoretically it will no longer be necessary for Xen > to maintain a fork of the Linux kernel and integrate the Linux kernel > build with the Xen build?Afaik, the Xen parts in vanilla are only for domU. _______________________________________________ Xen-users mailing list Xen-users@lists.xensource.com http://lists.xensource.com/xen-users
Mark Williamson
2007-Nov-09 17:09 UTC
Re: [Xen-users] Xen support in various Linux kernels
> > - Xen has only patched kernels up to 2.6.18 with Xen support.Yep.> > - However, some Linux distributions may have patched later kernels > > with Xen support. For instance when I install Fedora 7 with Xen > > support, I notice the xenified Dom0 kernel that is used, as well as > > any DomU kernels creatd by virt-manager, are 2.6.20.OS distros have forward ported the Xen patches to other kernels, but it''s still based on the mainline Xen patches.> > - But, as of 2.6.23, Xen support has been upstreamed into the vanilla > > Linux kernel. So theoretically it will no longer be necessary for Xen > > to maintain a fork of the Linux kernel and integrate the Linux kernel > > build with the Xen build? > > Afaik, the Xen parts in vanilla are only for domU.Only for domU, and not with full functionality: suspend / resume is not supported (and therefore live migration too), framebuffer isn''t supported, ballooning isn''t supported. Just the basic functionality required to boot an SMP guest with block and net access. The code in kernel.org vanilla is currently a different tree to Xen''s XenLinux, so it''s different code and less well tested. There have been some bugs in 2.6.23 - I believe I know of one which may not be fixed yet in 2.6.24 but I need to investigate. Once the kernel.org Xen support has been stabilised, solidified and fleshed out, the eventual plan would be for Xen''s XenLinux to just be a patch adding extra functionality (dom0 functionality + any extra domU functionality) on top of mainline Linux''s Xen support. Cheers, Mark -- Dave: Just a question. What use is a unicyle with no seat? And no pedals! Mark: To answer a question with a question: What use is a skateboard? Dave: Skateboards have wheels. Mark: My wheel has a wheel! _______________________________________________ Xen-users mailing list Xen-users@lists.xensource.com http://lists.xensource.com/xen-users