I may be a bit too new to comment on this but...
I like the idea too. Since plex86 already has (or at least "will have" when
this is implemented) an emulation for ne2k in Linux, then it should be simple
to make the VM monitor act like an n-port hub with a ne2k card already
conected. This way, the linux host will see a ne2k card while up to n-1
plex86 guests can connect to the same nwtwork. This frees the need for
special guest drivers since all that is needed is a router on the host.
Just a thought.
R. King
On Wednesday 30 May 2001 11:31 pm, you wrote:
> David C wrote:
<snipped>
> This sounds quite interesting. I haven't played with network
> drivers on Linux, but since we are free to define our own network
> card interface (which is really a redirect to the VM monitor),
> sounds like it'd be quite doable. As well as on other guests.
>
> Not only is it good in that all the standard tools/infrastructure
> work without modification, but it also saves a round trip for data
> packets (eliminates the extra hostOS -> host user -> hostOS trip),
> since packets stay at the kernel level.
>
> We would need to be able to move the network card emulation, and
> some minimal IO device interface stuff into the VM monitor.
>
> Special guestOS specific drivers could use the same network
> packet VM -> host interface as would the real network card emulation.
>
> Other people want to comment? I like this idea.
>
> -Kevin
