http://en.community.dell.com/blogs/direct2dell/archive/2006/10/31/3369.aspxIn a previous post on virtualization , Direct2Dell reader John Oliver asked for a comparison between Xen and VMware . In this post, I’ll cover some of the differences in architecture behind these two virtualization products and how the technology is shapingenCommunityServer 2008.5 SP2 (Build: 40407.4157)http://en.community.dell.com/blogs/direct2dell/archive/2006/10/31/3369.aspx#11020Mon, 09 Apr 2007 12:12:19 GMTe3197daa-ef0d-4a70-8402-29215ff9a0f2:11020Andy Bentley<p>We have been running a suit of servers in VMWare for some time.&nbsp; We would like to be able to port those VMWare images to Xen. Is there a free/opensource way to do that ?<br>&nbsp;</p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://en.community.dell.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=11020" width="1" height="1">http://en.community.dell.com/blogs/direct2dell/archive/2006/10/31/3369.aspx#9519Mon, 26 Mar 2007 10:48:58 GMTe3197daa-ef0d-4a70-8402-29215ff9a0f2:9519KevinCan you not use Raw Device Mapping (RDM) with IDE drives? You don't have to use VMFS.<div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://en.community.dell.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=9519" width="1" height="1">http://en.community.dell.com/blogs/direct2dell/archive/2006/10/31/3369.aspx#7615Wed, 07 Mar 2007 23:09:20 GMTe3197daa-ef0d-4a70-8402-29215ff9a0f2:7615Darren<p>In response to Jet:</p> <p>&nbsp;I'm afraid you can't do that with ESX either; ESX only supports virtual machines on VMFS, which cannot be used on IDE drives....</p><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://en.community.dell.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=7615" width="1" height="1">http://en.community.dell.com/blogs/direct2dell/archive/2006/10/31/3369.aspx#3847Wed, 29 Nov 2006 09:12:25 GMTe3197daa-ef0d-4a70-8402-29215ff9a0f2:3847JetPortability. IMHO, portability is very important. One great advantage with VMware is, I can easily port (copy) the vm image to another (more powerful) machine running ESX and just start. How about Xen? For example, migrate the image from an old machine running IDE to a new machine running SCSI drive. I haven't try this before. I think someone might have a hard time to do so. <br><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://en.community.dell.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=3847" width="1" height="1">http://en.community.dell.com/blogs/direct2dell/archive/2006/10/31/3369.aspx#3788Mon, 27 Nov 2006 20:18:16 GMTe3197daa-ef0d-4a70-8402-29215ff9a0f2:3788RikHowever, the Intel VT / AMD-V enhancements are still&nbsp;very limited.&nbsp; Benchmarks show that VMWare ESX is still faster today than Xen&nbsp;is with the Processor assist.&nbsp;Plus you have&nbsp;to re-compile the Guest OS. VMWare ESX lets you run a un-modified version of the OS. No compatibility issues when you have that. <div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://en.community.dell.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=3788" width="1" height="1">http://en.community.dell.com/blogs/direct2dell/archive/2006/10/31/3369.aspx#3420Thu, 02 Nov 2006 15:31:00 GMTe3197daa-ef0d-4a70-8402-29215ff9a0f2:3420Andrej@GXMAN: Wrong, Xen has been capable of running Windows guests ever since version 3.0, and that has been around since the beginning of 2006. In fact Xen is the first mover on the ground of Intel VT / AMD-V (Vanderpool / Pacifica) is concerned.<br><br>Don't confuse Xen with XenEnterprise, the commercial and packaged version of Xen by XenSource. Here integrated Windows-support is coming up but not yet available.<br><br>Cheers,<br>A.<br><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://en.community.dell.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=3420" width="1" height="1">http://en.community.dell.com/blogs/direct2dell/archive/2006/10/31/3369.aspx#3416Thu, 02 Nov 2006 01:47:16 GMTe3197daa-ef0d-4a70-8402-29215ff9a0f2:3416GXMAN<DIV>Actually, if you take into account VMware's HA strategy, it is more robust when it comes to hardware failure.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>Another thing left out of the article is Xen's lack of support for anything but linux at the current time.&nbsp; I had heard of upcoming support for Windows, but this will be a GEN1 product where VMware is already at version 3 with Windows support.</DIV> <DIV>&nbsp;</DIV> <DIV>Also is VMware's Virtual Center with VMotion technology.&nbsp; For the *Enterprise* this is where its at.&nbsp; Xen maybe good for some small time projects but for real server consolidation, there's not much to stand on with Xen.</DIV><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://en.community.dell.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=3416" width="1" height="1">http://en.community.dell.com/blogs/direct2dell/archive/2006/10/31/3369.aspx#3395Wed, 01 Nov 2006 13:31:53 GMTe3197daa-ef0d-4a70-8402-29215ff9a0f2:3395VMblog.com - Virtualization InformationIn a previous post on virtualization, Direct2Dell reader John Oliver asked for a comparison between Xen and VMware. In this post, I’ll cover some of the differences in architecture behind these two virtualization products and how the technology is shaping<img src="http://en.community.dell.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=3395" width="1" height="1">http://en.community.dell.com/blogs/direct2dell/archive/2006/10/31/3369.aspx#3394Wed, 01 Nov 2006 13:27:38 GMTe3197daa-ef0d-4a70-8402-29215ff9a0f2:3394jebtangGood explanation about the difference between the Vmware and Xenon the I/O part.<br><br>The farther question like this:&nbsp; Who is more serious impacted by the physical hardware malfunction ?<br><br>As the Guest OS of Xen only can access the physcial device by gothough the service VM, how can we prevent the service VM from the hardware failure ?<br><br>For the Vmware, as all of virtual devices will based on ESX kernel which drive from the RHEL linux kernel. The failure of ESX kernel will blow up everything...<br><br>Based on my understanding, Xen seems more robust as the Guest OS can use more device from the service VM.<br><br>Or maybe I am wrong ?<br><div style="clear:both;"></div><img src="http://en.community.dell.com/aggbug.aspx?PostID=3394" width="1" height="1">