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== Virtualization ==
== Virtualization ==
In this section, we cover discussion of Fedora virtualization technologies on the
In this section, we cover discussion of Fedora virtualization technologies on the
@fedora-virt list.
@fedora-virt and @virt-tools lists..


Contributing Writer: [[User:Dale | Dale Bewley]]
Contributing Writer: [[User:Dale | Dale Bewley]]
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as it gives the message "Setup was unable to format the partition. The
as it gives the message "Setup was unable to format the partition. The
disk maybe damaged." -- any ideas welcome."
disk maybe damaged." -- any ideas welcome."
<references />
=== Other Sources ===
==== Using Kernel Samepage Merging with KVM ====
An upcoming feature  of [[Releases/12|Fedora 12]] is
KSM<ref>http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Features/KSM</ref>.
"Kernel SamePage Merging is a recent linux kernel feature which combines
identical memory pages from multiple processes into one copy on write memory
region."
[[HaydnSolomon|Haydn Solomon]] described<ref>http://www.linux-kvm.com/content/using-ksm-kernel-samepage-merging-kvm</ref> how KSM and KVM work together.


<references />
<references />
Line 94: Line 82:
such as {{package|python-virtinst}} and <code>virt-inspector</code>. LibOSinfo was first proposed<ref>http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/FWN/Issue180#libosinfo:_Library_for_Virt_OS.2Fdistro_Metadata</ref>
such as {{package|python-virtinst}} and <code>virt-inspector</code>. LibOSinfo was first proposed<ref>http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/FWN/Issue180#libosinfo:_Library_for_Virt_OS.2Fdistro_Metadata</ref>
by [[ColeRobinson|Cole Robinson]].
by [[ColeRobinson|Cole Robinson]].
<references />
=== Other Sources ===
==== Using Kernel Samepage Merging with KVM ====
An upcoming feature  of [[Releases/12|Fedora 12]] is
KSM<ref>http://fedoraproject.org/wiki/Features/KSM</ref>.
"Kernel SamePage Merging is a recent linux kernel feature which combines
identical memory pages from multiple processes into one copy on write memory
region."
[[HaydnSolomon|Haydn Solomon]] described<ref>http://www.linux-kvm.com/content/using-ksm-kernel-samepage-merging-kvm</ref> how KSM and KVM work together.


<references />
<references />

Revision as of 05:51, 26 October 2009


Virtualization

In this section, we cover discussion of Fedora virtualization technologies on the @fedora-virt and @virt-tools lists..

Contributing Writer: Dale Bewley

Fedora Virtualization List

This section contains the discussion happening on the fedora-virt list.

KVM and Paravirtualization

The Linux Kernel-based Virtual Machine is a form of hardware assisted virtualization[1] as opposed to software-only or paravirtualization. This means the underlying hardware must have CPU features like Intel-VT or AMD-V. While common in the last few years, there are still many servers in operation which lack these extensions.

Giovanni Tirloni asked[2] about the state of paravirtualization support in KVM, and asked about a set of KVM patches[3].

Dor Laor answered[4] there is no plan to support non-VT hardware with KVM. While Xen is not supported on Fedora, it is still a paravirtualization for such hardware option under Redhat 5.

Installing Virtio Drivers in Windows XP Setup

Richard Hughes posted[1] the following directions for installing VirtIO drivers[2] during Windows XP setup.

  • create a 1.44Mb image file
  • mount it by loopback
  • format it with vfat
  • copy the Install/Xp/x86/viostor.sys, Install/Xp/x86/wnet.inf, and the txtsetup.oem file below to the root of the mounted image
  • umount the loop device
  • attach the floppy image as a floppy storage element in the VM's details pane
  • boot the VM
  • remember to press F6 when booting the windows xp setup and select the VirtoIO device.

File txtsetup.oem:

[Disks]
d1 = "Viostor SCSI driver disk",\disk1.tag,\

[Defaults]
SCSI = viostor

[SCSI]
viostor = "Viostor SCSI Controller"

[Files.SCSI.viostor]
driver = d1,viostor.sys,viostor
inf = d1,wnet.inf

[HardwareIds.scsi.viostor]
id = "PCI\VEN_1AF4&DEV_1001","viostor"

Richard added "I'm still unable to install XP using ide, scsi or virtio drivers as it gives the message "Setup was unable to format the partition. The disk maybe damaged." -- any ideas welcome."

Virtualization Tools List

This section contains the discussion happening on the virt-tools-list list.

libosinfo Revisited

Arjun Roy revived[1] discussion of a library to track details of OS distributions for use by tools such as Package-x-generic-16.pngpython-virtinst and virt-inspector. LibOSinfo was first proposed[2] by Cole Robinson.

Other Sources

Using Kernel Samepage Merging with KVM

An upcoming feature of Fedora 12 is KSM[1]. "Kernel SamePage Merging is a recent linux kernel feature which combines identical memory pages from multiple processes into one copy on write memory region." Haydn Solomon described[2] how KSM and KVM work together.