KVM Dirvers Bring More Stability To Linux OS Inside Windows
By Savio Rodrigues
Expert Author
Article Date: 2009-09-02
News that paravirtual drivers for Windows on KVM have been released by Red Hat isn't, and shouldn't be a big deal. In the virtualization wars, it is clear that every hypervisor will strive to support Windows and Linux guest operating systems at the very least.
Yes, it was news when Microsoft added drivers to the Linux kernel to help Windows Hyper-V better manage Linux guest operating systems. But this was more about the GPL code contribution and the following controversy.
Second, it doesn't look like the KVM drivers for Windows are ready for prime time. Even the original blog post from Hadyn Solomon states:
"Paravirtual block drivers for windows has been very low key and known to be unstable."
He goes on to ask:
"With Redhat expecting to release it's Enterprise 5.4 version in September , maybe they've got windows paravirtual block drivers in working order?"
Who wants to bet that the stability, or lack thereof, of the Windows drivers is the reason that Red Hat has been "low key" about the work? There is virtually no way that Red Hat Enterprise Linux 5.4, due out in September, will have working, enterprise ready Windows paravirtual block drivers. Will that change in the future? Absolutely. Will it be news then? Sure, because it'll mean that Red Hat isn't happy to just be a guest in a Windows world. Fight! Fight! Fight! ;-)
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About the Author:
Savio Rodrigues is a product manager with IBM's WebSphere Software division. He envisions a day when open source and traditional software live in harmony. This site contains Savio's personal views. IBM does not necessarily agree with the views expressed here.
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