KVM seems to be stuck between Desktop (VirtualBox) and Server (Xen)
I have been using VirutalBox for quite some time as desktop Virtualization technology for running XP on Linux and Have also used Xen for Server Virtualization. Lately I have been quite interested in exploring and using KVM as a silver bullet - that is, to use it as general purpose tool.
The idea has been to use it as one seamless solution for both client/desktop and Server virtualization but my playing around and testing KVM makes me feel that:
The best thing with VirutalBox is that it provides the best easy to use feature. You resize the window of the XP guest and it seamlessly changes the resolution of the guest to make it totally seamless. You can share files between guest and host very easily. Try doing same with KVM and you need lots of technical stuff to configure to just share files between the two.
Xen is of course the most mature free server virtualization tech in widespread usage.
I tried running many KVM minimal guests (CentOS to be specific) on my Fedora 15 Laptop/Host. Gusts keep consuming 10 to 20% CPU even if they are idle!
The good thing with KVM is that it comes with the Kernel out of the box. Further, RedHat is investing heavily in development of various tools and the core of KVM itself. Spice is very promising project for desktop virt.
All that means, I will still keep following KVM closely.
The idea has been to use it as one seamless solution for both client/desktop and Server virtualization but my playing around and testing KVM makes me feel that:
- VirtualBox is still the best free desktop virtualization technology
- Xen seems to be still ahead of KVM in Server Virutalziation
- KVM seems to be stuck between the two, trying to fulfill both the roles
The best thing with VirutalBox is that it provides the best easy to use feature. You resize the window of the XP guest and it seamlessly changes the resolution of the guest to make it totally seamless. You can share files between guest and host very easily. Try doing same with KVM and you need lots of technical stuff to configure to just share files between the two.
Xen is of course the most mature free server virtualization tech in widespread usage.
I tried running many KVM minimal guests (CentOS to be specific) on my Fedora 15 Laptop/Host. Gusts keep consuming 10 to 20% CPU even if they are idle!
The good thing with KVM is that it comes with the Kernel out of the box. Further, RedHat is investing heavily in development of various tools and the core of KVM itself. Spice is very promising project for desktop virt.
All that means, I will still keep following KVM closely.