Date: Sun, 19 Jul 2009 20:11:42 +0300 From: Manolis Kiagias <manolis@FreeBSD.org> To: "Simon L. Nielsen" <simon@FreeBSD.org> Cc: Tom Rhodes <trhodes@FreeBSD.org>, doc@FreeBSD.org, pgj@FreeBSD.org, daichi@FreeBSD.org, scrappy@hub.org, freebsd-emulation@FreeBSD.org, keramida@FreeBSD.org, rene@FreeBSD.org Subject: Re: [PATCH] Add a VirtualBox section to Handbook's 'Virtualization' chapter Message-ID: <4A6353CE.7060403@FreeBSD.org> In-Reply-To: <20090719164310.GD1164@arthur.nitro.dk> References: <4A5C5F13.7030607@FreeBSD.org> <4A5D5ED7.5000101@freebsd.org> <20090717215636.GA1141@arthur.nitro.dk> <4A61733D.9010702@FreeBSD.org> <alpine.BSF.2.00.0907181436540.90690@hub.org> <4A62D333.9090203@otenet.gr> <20090719113438.07c05110.trhodes@FreeBSD.org> <20090719164310.GD1164@arthur.nitro.dk>
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Simon L. Nielsen wrote: > On 2009.07.19 11:34:38 -0400, Tom Rhodes wrote: > >> On Sun, 19 Jul 2009 11:02:59 +0300 >> Manolis Kiagias <sonicy@otenet.gr> wrote: >> >> >>> Marc G. Fournier wrote: >>> >>>> On Sat, 18 Jul 2009, Manolis Kiagias wrote: >>>> >>>> >>>>> But isn't qemu distinctly different in the way it works from a >>>>> virtualization program like VMWare or VirtualBox? I think the first >>>>> paragraph serves well as a gentle introduction to the topic. >>>>> >>>> How different? Wine, I could see, but qemu? Please elaborate ... >>>> >>> AFAIK qemu also provides processor emulation, thus is mostly referred to >>> as an emulator rather than a virtual machine. I am no expert on this >>> though - I've used qemu in the past but could never get the level of >>> performance possible with VirtualBox or VMWare (which beats them both I >>> believe). >>> >> Interesting - see, I tried doing an install of qemu a long >> while ago but never went beyond installing it. Though, from >> what I have read, I would not consider it a "virtual machine >> host solution" either. While I understand it runs image files, >> I don't think it's geared for several OS images, running >> concurrently. Again, note, I only installed - and when the >> image I had (passed by a friend) failed to run, I just removed >> it. >> > > I really don't see the big difference between qemu and VMware / > Virtual Box. qemu is more flexible in hardware support - VMware (and > Virtual Box?) is faster. > > Just like VMware server multiple concurrent virtual machines just run > in different processes. Yes, qemu is slower than VMware but e.g. for > testing og kernel hacking it works nicely. I can't comment on Virtual > Box's speed as I haven't tried it. > > [reordered] > > >>> The paragraph was loosely based on the original one stating "No >>> virtualization solution for FreeBSD as a host". Seems the original >>> author also did not consider qemu as a virtual machine in this sense. >>> > > Yes, it came from there, it wasn't any more correct IMO there :-). > > I guess my basic problem with the paragraph is that it seems to me to > be praising Sun a tad much for releasing Virtual Box while ignoring > that qemu has been available freely for years, but perhaps that's just > me. > > This is a good point, and one I have not actually considered. I believe Qemu is not mentioned anywhere in the Handbook and I guess it deserves a place here. > Anyway, I think I made my point and I will let it be up to Manolis as > the author was should be in the section and what should not. > > I will start writing a section on qemu. Installation is probably easier than VirtualBox, but since this is actually a command line tool, it will be interesting to show a few examples on installing a guest system etc. Will then rephrase this introduction paragraph accordingly. Will send in the patch for review here when it is ready (I need to brush up a bit on my qemu skills, haven't used it for a while). I have the patches for the trademark stuff you suggested and will commit them later on tonight - when my afternoon headache is hopefully over... Thanks!
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