From mboxrd@z Thu Jan 1 00:00:00 1970 From: Avi Kivity Subject: Re: User feedback Date: Fri, 05 Oct 2007 14:56:21 +0200 Message-ID: <47063475.5040802@qumranet.com> References: <84ad660e0710050502q3f4a3156g5451f7c70f2f7fdd@mail.gmail.com> Mime-Version: 1.0 Content-Type: text/plain; charset="us-ascii" Content-Transfer-Encoding: 7bit Cc: kvm-devel-5NWGOfrQmneRv+LV9MX5uipxlwaOVQ5f@public.gmane.org To: rob wilco Return-path: In-Reply-To: <84ad660e0710050502q3f4a3156g5451f7c70f2f7fdd-JsoAwUIsXosN+BqQ9rBEUg@public.gmane.org> 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 rob wilco wrote: > Hello, > > I have been using KVM on debian 4.1 lenny with several virtual > machines (debian 4.0 etch, fedora 7, centos4) every day for work for > the past two weeks. The machine is a Dell Optiplex 745 with an Intel > Core Duo 2. > > What I like the most is the simplicity of the set up. The wiki page on > debian is short, super clear and correct. > (kvm.qumranet.com/kvmwiki/Debian) > > Compared to Xen, I like the fact that I keep my debian kernel and > drivers. It is less invasive: 'modprobe kvm-intel' is really > convenient. Also, compared to Xen it works 'out of the box'. > > VM configuration with command line options also helps to get a VM > running in a few seconds. Compared to VMware, the creation of a new VM > is easier: less mandatory parameters. Except maybe for the '-net' > parameters which are not cristal clear to me. > > So far, the host and VMs have never crashed which is a great confort > when you want it to 'just work' and focus on your job. > > Also, there are few things that I find not easy to do : > > - I can't mount the logical volume where the VM sits, I guess it is > the qcow format not 'recognised' by mount. It is cool to be able to do > that with Xen or Vserver, you do not have to boot the machine or read > the docs on the qcow format to check out a file. > qcow is just one of the formats supported by kvm. You can easily use a logical volume for your disks, just as with Xen. > - I can't launch kvm from a console and still see the kernel boot > message (i'll dig into the qemu options someday) > You can, using the '-serial' option. > - the VM will almost pause when you're not watching! It is quite > obvious on a VM boot: when you're working on another virtual desktop > ! Does it have something to do with the debian kernel being maybe > optimized for 'desktop usage' and the active window getting most of > the responsiveness? I tried to 'nice' kvm without much noticeable > effect. > This has been reported before. I can't understand why it happens though. Can you check if it happens with the -no-kvm switch? > > We work in the Telco field and see the virtualization tools mainly for > development and tests purpose. Production architecture based on > virtualization are in the roadmap though. > > I guess the company will go VMWare as it has an ecosystem of third > party companies offering expertise on VMWare deployment architectures. > If the techies have a say, we will propose Xen or Vserver as these two > technologies have > several years of experience and user feedback. > > One thing that kvm uniquely supports is the ability to run real-time applications alongside virtual machines. I don't think any other solution provides that facility. -- Any sufficiently difficult bug is indistinguishable from a feature. ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 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/