[NTLUG:Discuss] Virtualization recomendations (was Video card recommendations)

[Bob Netherton]

Thanks Fred. 

> Oddly enough, Ubuntu has decided to standardize on KVM instead of Xen. 
> 
> http://news.cnet.com/8301-13580_3-9867657-39.html
> 
> I have privately wondered whether it had anything to do with the Citrix 
> acquisition of Xen, or some new Citrix strategies afterwards.

I had seen that.  I don't run into that many customers running Ubuntu -
sure lots of folks running it at home (I do, but more in a keeping up
with the Joneses voyeurism).  I attribute the decision more to the
Ubuntu approach of keeping close to the core bits (kernel + GNOME) and
use derivative distributions for projects that don't align conveniently
to the release schedule.  Maybe there's more to it than that, but the
Xen release schedule would make me lose what's left of my hair if I had
to build product plans around it :-)

I know Thomas Cameron is around here - but being suspiciously quiet :-)


And Ted adds
> Now I all need is more RAM! ;)

Ain't that the truth ?????   We will push total memory footprint
for a while until we get used to all of these virtual environments,
then we will go back to wanting more cores.  Then it will be IOMMU
based devices (disks, network card, and - graphics adapters -
the thought makes my head hurt).


Which gets me back to my earlier question, for virtualization systems
are folks using ATX, microATX or for the Frankenstein's - do you
use server motherboards and set your thermostats down another 15
degrees in the house :-)   That 2nd socket and row after row of
memory slots is making me drool :-)   Perhaps there is a 12
step program for me somewhere....


Anyone have a recommendation for a quad core Intel (or AMD I
suppose...), lots of SATA (intel preferably - we have drivers
for them), PCI-e 2.0 x16, and some legacy slots PCI or PCI-x ?
Any ones to stay away from (goofy BIOSes, general problems, etc) ?


Bob


Bob