Comments on: Apple and VMware…or Xen? http://blog.scottlowe.org/2007/09/27/apple-and-vmwareor-xen/ The weblog of an IT pro specializing in virtualization, storage, and servers Thu, 09 Sep 2010 11:41:22 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=abc hourly 1 By: slowe http://blog.scottlowe.org/2007/09/27/apple-and-vmwareor-xen/comment-page-1/#comment-42901 slowe Mon, 22 Dec 2008 13:50:56 +0000 http://blog.scottlowe.org/2007/09/27/apple-and-vmwareor-xen/#comment-42901 Not exactly an on-topic comment, Vilhelm, but interesting to hear nevertheless. Thanks for reading and sharing! Not exactly an on-topic comment, Vilhelm, but interesting to hear nevertheless. Thanks for reading and sharing!

]]> By: Vilhelm Klink http://blog.scottlowe.org/2007/09/27/apple-and-vmwareor-xen/comment-page-1/#comment-42900 Vilhelm Klink Mon, 22 Dec 2008 11:19:31 +0000 http://blog.scottlowe.org/2007/09/27/apple-and-vmwareor-xen/#comment-42900 I use ZFS read/write as a universal file system for Windows Server, Mac and Solaris and I have yet to lose a single bit of data, literally. This is true under the worst form of connection, so far no lost data in USB external drives with power losses and yanked connectors...and I have reconstructed those very same drives with my most worshiped NTFS/FAT godsend file recovery app, GetDataBack from Runtime (even Raid 5 under NTFS has been recovered), BUT just because I can recover them does not mean I like to crash my NTFS in RAID or USB or whatever. So Microsoft d/n give out an easy to obtain ISCSI target so I go elsewhere, NTFS is less reliable than ZFS and rocks and I don't lose data, plus it is free and runs in OSX and Solaris. No brainer so far, but still in testing and not for production scenario. VilhelmKlink aaat dc dot rr dot com I use ZFS read/write as a universal file system for Windows Server, Mac and Solaris and I have yet to lose a single bit of data, literally. This is true under the worst form of connection, so far no lost data in USB external drives with power losses and yanked connectors…and I have reconstructed those very same drives with my most worshiped NTFS/FAT godsend file recovery app, GetDataBack from Runtime (even Raid 5 under NTFS has been recovered), BUT just because I can recover them does not mean I like to crash my NTFS in RAID or USB or whatever. So Microsoft d/n give out an easy to obtain ISCSI target so I go elsewhere, NTFS is less reliable than ZFS and rocks and I don’t lose data, plus it is free and runs in OSX and Solaris. No brainer so far, but still in testing and not for production scenario. VilhelmKlink aaat dc dot rr dot com

]]> By: slowe http://blog.scottlowe.org/2007/09/27/apple-and-vmwareor-xen/comment-page-1/#comment-33839 slowe Mon, 22 Oct 2007 12:32:00 +0000 http://blog.scottlowe.org/2007/09/27/apple-and-vmwareor-xen/#comment-33839 xVM looks very interesting, but I'm not sure how well it would port over to OS X. Besides, xVM is really just Xen anyway, but with a Solaris kernel instead of a Linux kernel. An OS X implementation would also be Xen, but with a FreeBSD kernel instead of a Linux or Solaris kernel. Otherwise, I agree with your views. It will be interesting to see how things develop! xVM looks very interesting, but I’m not sure how well it would port over to OS X. Besides, xVM is really just Xen anyway, but with a Solaris kernel instead of a Linux kernel. An OS X implementation would also be Xen, but with a FreeBSD kernel instead of a Linux or Solaris kernel.

Otherwise, I agree with your views. It will be interesting to see how things develop!

]]> By: Jim Callahan http://blog.scottlowe.org/2007/09/27/apple-and-vmwareor-xen/comment-page-1/#comment-33836 Jim Callahan Mon, 22 Oct 2007 02:49:43 +0000 http://blog.scottlowe.org/2007/09/27/apple-and-vmwareor-xen/#comment-33836 My scenario is that Sun's xVM migrates to Darwin to a post-Leopard OX/X. Sun's R&D plus Apple's marketing is a winning combination. I suspect the entire OS industry is scared of VMWare -- it could be the next Microsoft and the OS vendors/distros loose control. VM capabilities will be built into Windows, Linux, OS/X and will be enabled when the supporting chip technologies (Intel VT-x, AMD-V and multi-core) becomes standard. Applications software will be optimized for the VM environment (virtual devices) because that is where almost all of the software development will take place. New software will be available first and most reliably for the VM configuration and only later for all other hardware configurations. Uses for VM Application maintenance: Test/QA/Production VMs Software development: multiple OS and versions Home PC: Home / safe web browsing / work desktop and VPN for access to workplace LAN Jim Callahan Orlando, FL My scenario is that Sun’s xVM migrates to Darwin to a post-Leopard OX/X. Sun’s R&D plus Apple’s marketing is a winning combination.

I suspect the entire OS industry is scared of VMWare — it could be the next Microsoft and the OS vendors/distros loose control.

VM capabilities will be built into Windows, Linux, OS/X and will be enabled when the supporting chip technologies (Intel VT-x, AMD-V and multi-core) becomes standard.

Applications software will be optimized for the VM environment (virtual devices) because that is where almost all of the software development will take place. New software will be available first and most reliably for the VM configuration and only later for all other hardware configurations.

Uses for VM
Application maintenance: Test/QA/Production VMs
Software development: multiple OS and versions
Home PC: Home / safe web browsing / work desktop and VPN for access to workplace LAN

Jim Callahan
Orlando, FL

]]> By: slowe http://blog.scottlowe.org/2007/09/27/apple-and-vmwareor-xen/comment-page-1/#comment-33569 slowe Tue, 02 Oct 2007 20:52:44 +0000 http://blog.scottlowe.org/2007/09/27/apple-and-vmwareor-xen/#comment-33569 Prantl, I don't disagree--I personally believe that the value of being able to legally virtualize OS X would be phenomenal. However, until Apple can satisfy their own concerns about piracy I don't see that very likely to happen, at least not on non-Apple hardware. Apple is most likely to allow people to virtualize OS X on Apple hardware, even though that may not be the preferred scenario for most people. Prantl,

I don’t disagree–I personally believe that the value of being able to legally virtualize OS X would be phenomenal. However, until Apple can satisfy their own concerns about piracy I don’t see that very likely to happen, at least not on non-Apple hardware. Apple is most likely to allow people to virtualize OS X on Apple hardware, even though that may not be the preferred scenario for most people.

]]> By: Prantl http://blog.scottlowe.org/2007/09/27/apple-and-vmwareor-xen/comment-page-1/#comment-33566 Prantl Tue, 02 Oct 2007 16:39:18 +0000 http://blog.scottlowe.org/2007/09/27/apple-and-vmwareor-xen/#comment-33566 Hi slowe ! Erics point is correct - anybody, who knows a MAC and must run under Windows or Linux due to company restrictions would like to virtualize a MAC on his hardware - he would pay the fees for the MAC OS, if it runs with normal performance. APPLE may not be interested in virtualization of MAC OS now, but others are and therefore, who will be the first at least trying to virtualize a MAC OS. In the End, Hollywood etc. were not interested, htat somebody sells music and video electronically, not on DVD or CD, but we have ITUNE and the like now.... Hi slowe !
Erics point is correct - anybody, who knows a MAC and must run under Windows or Linux due to company restrictions would like to virtualize a MAC on his hardware - he would pay the fees for the MAC OS, if it runs with normal performance. APPLE may not be interested in virtualization of MAC OS now, but others are and therefore, who will be the first at least trying to virtualize a MAC OS. In the End, Hollywood etc. were not interested, htat somebody sells music and video electronically, not on DVD or CD, but we have ITUNE and the like now….

]]> By: slowe http://blog.scottlowe.org/2007/09/27/apple-and-vmwareor-xen/comment-page-1/#comment-33548 slowe Mon, 01 Oct 2007 00:28:14 +0000 http://blog.scottlowe.org/2007/09/27/apple-and-vmwareor-xen/#comment-33548 Eric, Unfortunately, the scenario where virtualized OS X has the greatest value is also the scenario that is least likely to happen. In my mind, Apple is unlikely to allow its operating system to run on non-Apple hardware for fear of damaging their vital hardware sales. Of course, I could be wrong (wouldn't be the first time). I appreciate your feedback. Thanks for reading! Eric,

Unfortunately, the scenario where virtualized OS X has the greatest value is also the scenario that is least likely to happen. In my mind, Apple is unlikely to allow its operating system to run on non-Apple hardware for fear of damaging their vital hardware sales. Of course, I could be wrong (wouldn’t be the first time).

I appreciate your feedback. Thanks for reading!

]]> By: Eric http://blog.scottlowe.org/2007/09/27/apple-and-vmwareor-xen/comment-page-1/#comment-33547 Eric Mon, 01 Oct 2007 00:04:48 +0000 http://blog.scottlowe.org/2007/09/27/apple-and-vmwareor-xen/#comment-33547 Scott - I'll preface this with the comment that I've got around 8,000 macs in my company. The value of virtualized OS X is to be able to run it on non-Apple hardware. Apple's server hardware is mediocre at best (for you Apple zealots out there, I can give you a list if you'd like), as is there on site support. We've got more than 1000 VM's across many hosts. Being able to spin up an OS X VM in our existing environment would increase the number of OS X systems in our company significantly. But I'm not about to put multiple mission critical VMs onto Apple hardware. while there is a niche for Xen on Apple hardware, it's the same small niche for enterprise apps on Apple hardware. Scott -

I’ll preface this with the comment that I’ve got around 8,000 macs in my company. The value of virtualized OS X is to be able to run it on non-Apple hardware. Apple’s server hardware is mediocre at best (for you Apple zealots out there, I can give you a list if you’d like), as is there on site support. We’ve got more than 1000 VM’s across many hosts. Being able to spin up an OS X VM in our existing environment would increase the number of OS X systems in our company significantly. But I’m not about to put multiple mission critical VMs onto Apple hardware.

while there is a niche for Xen on Apple hardware, it’s the same small niche for enterprise apps on Apple hardware.

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