[Xen-users] Paravirtualized vs HVM - how big is the performance gap?

[Tim Edwards <tedwards@xxxxxxxxx>]

We are currently in the situation of needing to use Scientific Linux 4.x
(a RHEL derivative) in paravirtualized mode. The problem is that the
virt-install command/libvirt don't support installing Scientific Linux
4.x (only 5.x) so I'm having great trouble installing SL4.x in a
paravirt domU.

I see 3 possibilities but don't really know if they are realistic so
need people's thoughts on them:

* Find a way to install SL4.x in a HVM domU and then convert that domU
to paravirt mode (I'm trying this now but with no success)

* There is some technique to allow booting of paravirt VMs off of .iso
images or over PXE (or any other method that could lead to a Kickstart
installation)?

* Just run 4.x in HVM mode - roughly how big is the performance impact
and how could I minimise it?

The hardware we're running this on supports AMD-V virtualisation, the
domain0 OS is Scientific Linux 5.3 x86_64.

Thanks

Tim Edwards

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