Re: [Xen-devel] RAM allocation and miscellaneous questions

[Keir Fraser <Keir.Fraser@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> Another option, and I'm thinking you are all going to say 'go for that one!', 
> would be to use 64bit machines for our main cluster, perhaps just using the 
> two dual Xeon machines I have now for development purposes. That way I could 
> use lots of RAM and presumably load up even more VMs into each. If I go down 
> this road, I'm wondering what kind of hardware I should get. Does Xen work 
> well with Opterons? I'm an AMD fan and would be very happy to use them if I 
> went for this option. I'm after inexpensive commodity servers, so if anyone 
> has any recommendations (especially if you are in NZ or Australia), I'm all 
> ears.

Opteron isn't supported yet in 64-bit mode, but it /is/ on the todo
list to get it finished off. As opposed to PAE36 mode, which it is
highly likley that we will never support.

> May I ask how much RAM I could use with a dual Opteron system in a sensible 
> Xen configuration? What's been tested?

You will be able to stuff in as much RAM as the machine will take. :-)

> One final question: if I were to ask the directors of the company if they 
> would be interested in sponsoring big memory on Xeon-based machines, what 
> kind of commitment would we be talking about? It could be cheaper to do this 
> than to buy a cluster of dual Opteron machines! I do realise though that the 
> true impediment will probably be the amount of time you developers have, so 
> I'll brace myself for disappointment! :o) 

So you already have an existing 32-bit cluster that you would have to
sideline?

 -- Keir


-------------------------------------------------------
This SF.net email is sponsored by: IT Product Guide on ITManagersJournal
Use IT products in your business? Tell us what you think of them. Give us
Your Opinions, Get Free ThinkGeek Gift Certificates! Click to find out more
http://productguide.itmanagersjournal.com/guidepromo.tmpl
_______________________________________________
Xen-devel mailing list
Xen-devel@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
https://lists.sourceforge.net/lists/listinfo/xen-devel