Xen question

jcaleb

Is Xen similar to KVM that VMs run their own kernel? What I do know is Linux only. But I'm not sure if each has their own kernel

Sorry if this is a common question, but since Xen is not common nowadays I forgot the answer tot he question.

ihatetonyy

Xen HVM can run any OS, IIRC.

If your provider supports it, Xen-PV servers can run their own kernel with pygrub/pvgrub/something ending in grub

Maounique

There are 2 types, -pv and -HVM
pv from paravirtualization, while runs own kernel (can without too) is a special kernel aware is running in a VM and has special relations with the host kernel.
HVM can run unmodified OSes, including windows.

Now there is a project to take the advantages of PV to hvm, promissing so far.

jcaleb

If pv, and I only need Linux, is it safe to assume it will behave like KVM? Meaning it's not hackish as OpenVZ and I expect things to run like a dedicated?

Maounique

It depends, pv does not support booting from iso, for example, but supports debootstrap.
You can expect most things to work as in a kvm, though, you have "real" emulated nics, can compile own kernel, if the original one lacks support for something, etc. Most distros have xen kernels.

sleddog

@jcaleb said:
If pv, and I only need Linux, is it safe to assume it will behave like KVM? Meaning it's not hackish as OpenVZ and I expect things to run like a dedicated?

Yes.

jcaleb

Thanks for the answers!

DewlanceVPS

XenHVM is good for Windows OS.

I am using XenHVM and never face a any issue(Easy to upgrade/downgrade and easy to manage/debug,etc)