I've worked with a number of different virtualization solutions for both large server based deployments (xen, kvm, vmware esx, z/VM, virtualbox on top of ZFS) and personal use (vmware fusion, parallels, virtualbox).
The things I've noted that are significant differences for a z solution vrs any of the intel ones are: Pros: ===== Hipersockets for fast on frame communication Best resource allocation and overcommitting I'm aware of in any hypervisor. Best hardware reliability of any I've worked on. Cons: ===== Long learning curve to manage if you're not already a mainframe type. CPU Architecture differences - Some vended packages not available or not as well supported Several of the things I've seen mention of as specific Z advantages in this thread, though, are just as easily doable on other platforms. For instance someone mentioned fast cloning on Z; however I know a guy here who has a virtualbox on top of Solaris/x86 using ZFS where he does about 30 seconds to clone a windows virtual desktop. Someone else mentioned live adding memory and connecting disconnecting disk. That's been possible on vmware esx for quite some while. Be careful about touting something as a Z specific advantage when it might not be all that specific. -- Pat On 11/26/2012 12:57 PM, Rick Troth wrote: > friends -- > > I posted the same question on the z/VM discussion list (to which some > here are also subscribed). What do you like about z/VM compared to > VMware or VirtualBox or other PC virtualization methods? > > This is NOT flame bait. I am presenting at the local Linux user group > this week, tag teaming with another club member. We will be > presenting our combined knowledge (small tho it be) of virtualization > tools and schemes. It's not a contest and it's not a debate. > > So ... anything pro-z/VM, lemme hear it. I have my own laundry list > of fabulous features in my favorite V12N facility ... what are yours? > Thanks! > > -- R; <>< > > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > For LINUX-390 subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, > send email to lists...@vm.marist.edu with the message: INFO LINUX-390 or visit > http://www.marist.edu/htbin/wlvindex?LINUX-390 > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- > For more information on Linux on System z, visit > http://wiki.linuxvm.org/ > ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For LINUX-390 subscribe / signoff / archive access instructions, send email to lists...@vm.marist.edu with the message: INFO LINUX-390 or visit http://www.marist.edu/htbin/wlvindex?LINUX-390 ---------------------------------------------------------------------- For more information on Linux on System z, visit http://wiki.linuxvm.org/
