Re: Xen vs VMware

[Joerg Sonnenberger <joerg@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On Wed, Oct 18, 2006 at 08:18:59PM +0200, Saverio Iacovelli wrote:
> 1) What is the difference beetwen Xen and VMware?

Xen is a small kernel which provides an interface for specially modified
kernels to issue privileged instructions. Means that instead of
modifying e.g. the page table directly, the kernel instructs Xen to do
so. It also provides modified interfaces to provide efficient
inter-domain network traffic etc.

VMware emulates a full PC with all hardware, by dynamically modifying
the OS and/or trapping when necessary.

> 2) What is the better choice: Xen or VMware?

Xen if it is available. Less overhead both in terms of memory and CPU
usage. With Pacificia or VT the difference blurs though for unmodified
kernels.

> 3) Why does it exist a project of porting for Xen on
> DragonFly, and why it doesn't exist the same project
> for VMware?

See (1)

Joerg