| Novell, Intel deliver Xen-enabled Linux for dual-core Xeons |
Sep. 25, 2006
Like most Linux programs, Xen, the virtualization software, can run on almost any hardware. But, just like any program, it performs better when it's been optimized for a specific platform. That's exactly what Novell and Intel are doing with SUSE enterprise Linux, Xen, and dual-core Xeon chipsets.
The two companies are hoping that their new virtualization solution, built on SLES (SUSE Linux Enterprise Server) 10, will provide users with a low-cost, high-performing virtualization solution that has the ability to host Linux environments without the need to modify the guest operating systems. As part of the integration of Intel Virtualization Technology (VT) within Xen, Novell also announced plans to offer enterprise support for virtualized SLES 9 and RHEL (Red Hat Enterprise Linux) 4 running on SLES 10.
Novell plans to provide support for virtual RHEL 4 up through and including Level 3 (or core engineering) support. That means Novell will provide technical support for the Xen hypervisor if a customer uncovers an issue running a virtual instance of Red Hat Linux, and that issue is not reproducible in a native, or non-virtualized, environment.
As for its own Linuxes, Novell will offer Level 3 support for the host operating system, the Xen hypervisor, and the guest operating system. In addition, Intel and Novell will work together to fix all issues that are related to the hypervisor and Intel VT hardware.
Intel VT, which is used in the dual-core Xen, provides hardware-assistance to virtualization software. This reduces the need for Xen, or any other properly coded virtual machine program, to translate native software instructions.
Novell executive VP and CTO Jeff Jaffe stated, "This cross-platform approach to virtualization means both Novell and Red Hat customers will be able to take advantage of the cost and flexibility benefits of virtualization at a fraction of the cost of existing virtualization solutions."
Doug Fisher, general manager of Intel's Core Software Division, added, "Intel and Novell have worked extensively together to deliver an enterprise-ready virtualization solution based on Xen."
Both companies believe that this new virtualization path will do well for both them and their customers. As Mary Hubley, Gartner research director, has said, "Many customers are currently choosing virtualization to realize benefits from reduced hardware complexity and improved manageability and to capitalize on the hardware improvements in availability, reliability and scalability."
The new combination, however, is not yet available. Novell will begin a pilot program in late October with several large enterprise customers. General availability of this solution is expected by the end of the year. Servers featuring dual-core Intel Xeon platforms to run SLEX 10 virtualization are already available from all major server vendors.
-- Steven J. Vaughan-Nichols
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