On 5/17/06, Shachar Shemesh <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote:
Gil Freund wrote:
> Disclaimer: I am a VMware reseller.
>
> VMware EXP (the next version of GSX, which is now in beta and is
> provided free of change) seems to the most appropriate interim
> solution to such a platform, until such a time as Intel and AMD
> provide VT for the masses.
Care to give an estimated price quote on that one? Last time I checked
it costed about as much as buying another computer.
No. EXP is a replacement for GSX, and is free (Gratis). You are more
then welcome for a support contract (~$350/Year).
> I use Debian stable and XEN sources. With etch being pushed to
> production, it will be a fast moving target in the next few months.
I think you misunderstand how the Debian release process works. As the
release date approaches, so will etch become a SLOWER moving target.
Look up the term "stabilizing" in any dictionary.
This was not my experience with sarge....
v. sta·bi·lized, sta·bi·liz·ing, sta·bi·liz·es
v. tr.
1. To make stable or steadfast.
2. To maintain the stability of (an airplane or ship, for example)
by means of a stabilizer.
3. To keep from fluctuating; fix the level of: stabilize prices.
No 2 and 3 require opposing forces...
In fact, come October (assuming current schedule remains) hardly any
changes will be done to it at all.
I know that no other software project you know works like that, but
that's exactly what makes Debian so unique in terms of quality.
> You will need a XEN kernel for any distribution.
Unless he gets his hand on a VT enabled CPU, yes. VMWare GSX will not
require you to customize the kernels, but don't worry. You WILL pay for
it in performance. Then again, I highly doubt you'll manage to notice
the performance difference.
XEN is noticeably faster then GSX, especially in I/O intensive tasks.
But then again, XEN is more comparable to ESX and not GSX.
Notice that the above applies to the (Very Expensive (tm)) VMWare GSX,
which effectively works using the same technology as Xen. VMWare Server
Beta uses the same technology as VMWare Workstation. The main
differences are that it supports starting up the machines on reboot,
seperating the actual engine running the machines from the GUI, and
other features mostly intended for the administration of the process.
GSX was not Very Expensive (tm), only Expensive. EXP is Not Expensive.
ESX is Very Expensive (tm), and Virtual node (add P2V, Vmotion and
other stuff) is Bloody Expensive (Pat Pending).
As an interesting side note - people who need VMWare but are too cheap
to pay for it can create and install machines for themselves using
VMWare Server (free as in falafel), and then run them using VMWare
Player (also free as in falafel). You cannot switch hardware (i.e. -
point the CDRom to an ISO file or change the disk size), but it's
otherwise functionally equivalent to VMWare Workstation.
Of course, another thing you can't do is to install both on the same
OS.... :-)
My recommendation - don't be cheap, buy VMWare Workstation if you need it.
Shachar
--
Shachar Shemesh
Lingnu Open Source Consulting ltd.
Have you backed up today's work? http://www.lingnu.com/backup.html
--
Gil Freund, Systems Analyst
-------------------------------------------
Sysnet consulting
[EMAIL PROTECTED], http://www.sysnet.co.il
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