[CoLoCo] virtualization in hardy: kvm

[Kevin Fries]

On Thu, 2008-03-13 at 14:30 -0700, Neal McBurnett wrote:
> On Thu, Mar 13, 2008 at 03:17:22PM -0600, Kevin Fries wrote:
> > > > I tried to set up my VMs and... well... lets just say, not pretty.
> > > > Problems with Grub, problems with kernel options, and now only Opera is
> > > > in the commercial repo, no vmware.  Tried vmware from the vmware site,
> > > > but the headers are missing.  This is all stuff that will be fixed by
> > > > release, but not today... oh well
> > > 
> > > The virtualization direction for Ubuntu is kvm - the open source stuff
> > > that is clean and well integrated with the standard kernel:
> > > 
> > >  https://wiki.ubuntu.com/MeetingLogs/devweek0802/Vitrualize
> > 
> > hmmmmmm, interesting because Jous is only designed for use in VMWare.
> > Something is not making sense.  Also, my lab machines are never going to
> > handle the KVM kernel module.  Hell, they don't handle the standard
> > kernel all that well to start with.  I hope I don't have to switch
> > distros again!  I am really getting settled in the Ubuntu!
> 
> JeOS is a generic term the way I see it, and can be implemented with
> any number of different VM systems.  The documentation needs revision
> to clarify that, and I think the revisions are forthcoming.

no JeOS is a actual distro like kubuntu.  It is preloaded with specific
optimizations in the kernel, and drivers specifically for VMWare.  It
even has the VMWare extentions.

> Yeah - lack of hardware support will be an issue for a few more years,
> I guess.  But nice to see that things are converging relatively well
> now, I think.

I would not call this a good turn, not by a long shot.  Our corp
standard is RedHat/Fedora, and I was starting to make headway with
Ubuntu.  RH/F's convergence on KVM was one of the reasons Ubuntu got
looked at so hard.  We refuse to use it here, and purchase VMWare.  With
VMWare in the repos for building test and lab environments, this was a
much more natural fit than the KVM based RedHat.

As someone that has built probably 75 VMs since the first of the year,
there is not much in the VM world I have not tried.  VMWare just works.
KVM, does not work reliably.  Never has.  I would have preferred VBox
over KVM.  VBox has some fantastic features such as "Seamless Mode".

> I'm told that vmware should be in the partner (commercial) repository
> around the time of release.  Such is the nature of dealing with
> proprietary stuff, I guess.  But I assume that vmware will be working
> hard to make sure it works well.  Giving them feedback might help.

God I hope so.  I just broke the news to my boss, and he is not a happy
man.  If I end up with a Windows Server box, somebody is going to get
fired (hint: me, for the fit I will end up throwing)

-- 
Kevin Fries
Senior Linux Engineer
Computer and Communications Technology, Inc
A Division of Japan Communications Inc.