[dundee] Virtualisation - Linux & Microsoft

[Bruce Stewart]

On Sunday 09 September 2007 00:07:02 Daniel Lamb wrote:
> I personally agree, virtualization is a brilliant alternative, to me as an
> it professional having various different operating systems at the push of a
> button makes it a lot easier, and space saving, and brilliant for the
> energy conscious as you only need to run 1 machine, Dell have been talking
> for a while and there techies are suggesting running multiple servers on 1
> server, this enables you to always have a full backup and if one breaks,
> simply replace it by booting up a different image of the same software.
>
> For home users as well it makes the transition to linux a lot easier
> because if the find that linux does not run the program they can simply
> install a virtual machine with windows on it, I hope that it help move more
> people across as they still feel comfortable.
>
> Qemu has nice frontends for kde and gnome as well which allows less
> technical people to install and test various distros and new updates as
> well as more technical people to test programs and play around knowing that
> the image will be restored to its original state next time it is started.
>
> Virtualisation is at such a stage now that intel has even bought into
> VMware, as this will definitely reduce the amount of processors being sold
> in the near future.
>

But then, you have to get more *powerful* processors to get good performance 
out of a VM. So it's still a win for them.

> Does anyone else know of good opensource vms like qemu?
>
> Regards,
> Daniel
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: dundee-bounces at mailman.lug.org.uk
> [mailto:dundee-bounces at mailman.lug.org.uk] On Behalf Of gordon dunlop
> Sent: 08 September 2007 22:47
> To: Tayside Linux User Group
> Subject: [dundee] Virtualisation - Linux & Microsoft
>
> Hi All.
>
> Regarding the recent posts about using virtual Linux systems in PC's,
> this is the area where I think Microsoft is getting fearful, thanks to
> Daniel Lamb's posts (hopes he forgives me for being a bit senile).
> Virtualisation technology has taken off in the past year with 51
> different types being offered now, everyone is getting on the
> virtualisation bandwagon, as it offers benefits not only on the server
> but on the desktop, with aim of achieving close to native performance as
> is possible. Intel & AMD are creating more virtualisation instructions
> within their processors. Dell are thinking about putting virtual Linux
> machines on the Vista desktop to increase their share of the market
> (trying to overtake HP). Microsoft charge for their operating systems
> per individual license and Linux is free therefore an individual can run
> as many copies of Linux as their hardware allows rather than incurring
> the cost of multiple Microsoft licenses. I have found that Windows users
> within my family are quite happy to have Linux virtual machines
> installed as it costs nothing and gives them extra Internet security,
> they are not interested in being sole Linux users, but is getting them
> to be familiar with Linux. If this happens a lot for Windows users (90%
> of desktops) then Linux would become more mainstream. I think that if
> you cannot get a Windows person to try Linux as an alternative operating
> system then offer to put a Linux virtual machine (Daniel recommends
> qemu, what do others think?) in their Windows system then they will
> become more familiar with Linux. These are some of my thoughts, if you
> think that I am on the wrong track let me know.
>
> Gordon
>
>
[snippage]

Bruce S.