From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 From: Farkas Levente Subject: a few may be wiki question Date: Tue, 14 Aug 2007 14:25:23 +0200 Message-ID: <46C19F33.40102@bppiac.hu> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit To: kvm-devel-5NWGOfrQmneRv+LV9MX5uipxlwaOVQ5f@public.gmane.org Return-path: List-Unsubscribe: , List-Archive: List-Post: List-Help: List-Subscribe: , Sender: kvm-devel-bounces-5NWGOfrQmneRv+LV9MX5uipxlwaOVQ5f@public.gmane.org Errors-To: kvm-devel-bounces-5NWGOfrQmneRv+LV9MX5uipxlwaOVQ5f@public.gmane.org List-Id: kvm.vger.kernel.org hi, i try to setup a centos host server with kvm and a few guest os for the first time. imho there is only a very limited docs about kvm (even if i try to read them:-). so there are a few general questions: - which is the recommended host config?: - should i used x86_64 or i386 host kernel? i don't know in advance, but probably most guest os will be 32 bit. is there any advantage or disadvantage to use x86_64 as a host os? - i'll use kernel-2.6.18-8.1.8.el5, but i read in the announcement for kvm-34: "running on a host earlier than Linux 2.6.23-rc2 will experience a slight performance degradation" what does exactly means and how much is the "slight"? or if i use older kernel it's better to use kvm-33? - i read in faq 3.6: "for the host. 1GB is probably a minimum configuration for the host OS." does this means i have to reserve 1GB for the host os? it's strange for me just because eg with xen dom0 we use 256MB and it was enough since dom0 don't have any real load. it's not the case with kvm? who much ram should i use for the guest os? eg if i use 6 guest then i need at least 6GB of ram? - is dynamic use of RAM for host operating system supported? - what is the recommended size for the host disk partition? - what is the recommended swap partition size for the host os ? - which is the recommended guest config? - what is the recommended memory for a guest os? same as i would run natively? - what is the recommended guest disk image format? should i use an lvm partition as guest os partition (like in xen)? what is the recommended format assuming that may be later i'd like to add new guests and what is the performance differences (ie. which is the fastest format)? - what is the recommended swap partition format and size for the guest os ? - what is the current general state of kvm ie. stability, performance support etc? i mean for non mission critical production server it's worth to choose in stead of xen or not? i know most of my questions are too general, but almost all answer will start as "it's depend on.." but still a general guideline would be useful. last but not least may be a kvm-user list would be useful where such questions can send and not disturbing all the developers. thank you for your help in advance. -- Levente "Si vis pacem para bellum!" ------------------------------------------------------------------------- This SF.net email is sponsored by: Splunk Inc. Still grepping through log files to find problems? Stop. Now Search log events and configuration files using AJAX and a browser. Download your FREE copy of Splunk now >> http://get.splunk.com/