After using VMWare for a while and getting tired of it breaking every time I upgraded my linux guest kernel, I decided to look around for other virtualization technology.

KVM looks promising, but I have a some questions:

Are there open source paravirtualization drivers on KVM for the following:

1. Linux, BSDs and Windows's
2. For Network, DiskIO and Accelerated 2D Video
3. That have near native performance
4. Without monopolizing most or all of the host CPU
5. Is there a virtual networking layer that allows me to create internal virtual switches, routers etc

After checking around a while it seems that there are open source PV linux drivers, but not for Windows. I have no gripes about someone trying to make some money for their hard work, but it hardly seems better than the situation with XenSource last time I looked at them. How far would the open source world have gotten if Samba or smbclient was binary only?

It might be a closer decision if I'd seen benchmarks that show low CPU utilization and high performance for the Windows PV drivers. Then KVM would have one advantage. My linux guests wouldn't need another day worth of hacking after every guest kernel upgrade. I'd actually bite the bullet and pay for the Windows drivers at that point (if they were reasonably priced).

I know it takes a pretty incredible effort to develop PV drivers for any platform, so I'm not really griping. Someone has to support those drivers. It has more to do with not wasting my lab time.

Otherwise I think VMWare ESXi + open vmware tools on the guest looks like the best option so far.

I'll keep hoping though.

Regards,

eris