[CentOS] Centos 5.2 and Xen

[Ned Slider]

Robert - elists wrote:
> 
> Using XEN or Vmware or Both?
> 
> Thanks!
> 
>  - rh

I've run VMware Server (free, as in cost, not as in open source) on 
CentOS to host WinXP VMs since it was in beta and have no complaints. 
There is an RPM package available on VMware's site:

$ rpm -q VMware-server
VMware-server-1.0.6-91891.i386

It's only available in i386 package but installs fine on x86_64 and 
supports 64-bit VMs provided the underlying hardware supports it. I 
believe VMs are limited to a max of 2 processors each.

I've used VMware Server on systems varying from old AthlonXP, 512MB RAM 
through to Intel Quad Core Q6600 with 4GB RAM. Note VMware will run on 
older processors without hardware virtualization. In my experience 
there's little noticeable difference between software and hardware 
virtualization (on VMware), and each run at about the perceived speed 
you would expect if it was on native hardware (I've not conducted any 
benchmark tests). The main consideration is that you have enough RAM to 
support the host OS (CentOS) and any VM(s) running on it.

I've not used Xen so can't offer a comparison.

Ned