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Satori was the original project name for the first XenSource / Microsoft project under which we delivered components to Microsoft (for free download for use with Windows Server 2008 Hyper-V)to enable Xen-ready Linux guest OSes to run with optimal performance on the Hyper-V hypervisor. This involved developing an adapter that ensured that what we call paravirtualized (and Microsoft calls enlightened) Xen VMs could interface directly to the hypercall API of the Hyper-V hypervisor and run with optimal performance, while respecting the need for a clear line of separation between GPL and proprietary code bases.
In addition to the Satori hypercall adapter Satori delivered enlightened disk (StorVSC) and network (NetVSC) drivers for Xen-enabled Linux guests on Hyper-V, that interface directly to the I/O Virtualization Stack in the Parent Partition of the hypervisor via the VMBus ABI. This optimizes virtualized I/O for high performance and removes the need for emulation of legacy hardware. Hyper-V VMs are completely compatible with the now free XenServer virtual infrastructure platform as a result of our close attention to driver and virtual hardware compatibility with Microsoft.
We are now adding an enlightened mouse driver (InputVSC) to offer major usability enhancements for Linux guests on Hyper-V. The reason for the delay in releasing this driver is that it requires interaction with part of the USB framework in Linux, for which no GPL exports are available. To workaround this limitation the InputVSC driver code is based on a back-port of the HID driver used in upstream versions of Linux which does have GPL exports. Code linked with the back-ported HID driver also needs to be released as GPL v2, which is what xen.org has now done. You can download the InputVSC driver for Linux guests for Hyper-V here. (the enlightened mouse comes from [here|http://www.childrensillustrators.com/illustratorDetails.cgi/32627])
Comments (6)
Mar 25, 2009
Anonymous says:
>> Hyper-V VMs are completely compatible with the now free XenSe...>> Hyper-V VMs are completely compatible with the now free XenServer virtual infrastructure platform
Simon, could you clarify if the Satori work enables Hyer-V enlightened guests to run on Xen? I thought Satori helps Xen enabled guests to use Hyper-V enligtenment APIs without changes, so this is one way only, right??
Mar 26, 2009
Simon Crosby says:
No, not one way. XenServer VMs stored in VHD format will just run on Hyper...No, not one way. XenServer VMs stored in VHD format will just run on Hyper-V, and Hyper-V VMs will just run on XenServer. What is required is some artfulness in managing the drivers available to the VM when it boots on the virtual hardware; this is an area we've been working with Microsoft on for quite a while.
Mar 25, 2009
Anonymous says:
Huzzah!! What an amazing advancement in technology. Because y'know, XenS...Huzzah!! What an amazing advancement in technology. Because y'know, XenServer has everything else covered (support for VLAN tagging, dynamic load balancing, etc) so pointing development resources at stuff like this is clearly worthwhile.
But I can see why this is important, because anyone who would seriously run Linux on Hyper-V in any sort of capacity clear needs a GUI, and more importantly a psychologist.
Stu
www.vinternals.com
Mar 26, 2009
Anonymous says:
This is important to Citrix's partnership with Microsoft, which actually, y'know...This is important to Citrix's partnership with Microsoft, which actually, y'know, helps users of all sizes. Unlike the lip service to dynamic load balancing, and the four or five customers who trust that to move thier VMs around on its own.
Apr 01, 2009
S A says:
Sorry but this is nonsense - no sane person will use that messy crap called MS v...Sorry but this is nonsense - no sane person will use that messy crap called MS virtualization. On the market MS' solutions regularly end up being the WORST possible solution for a problem.
Aside of un-avoidable server and desktop OSes I wouldn't touch any MS solution with a 9 ft pole, that's for sure - during the past decade ALL MS solutions, applications etc turned out to be a completely loser joke: utterly convoluted, clunky UIs, messy features, bugfests after bugfests etc.
Mar 27, 2009
Anonymous says:
So just to get this confirmed... If I have a hyper-v guest os that has the int...So just to get this confirmed...
If I have a hyper-v guest os that has the integration components installed (IC). I can boot that VM from XenServer without any modification?
thanks,
Geoff
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