IBM Reveals New Virtual Linux Environment

jenwren1010 writes to mention that IBM has just announced the new open beta version of their virtual Linux environment that allows users to run x86 Linux programs on POWER processor-based IBM System p servers. "Designed to reduce power, cooling and space by consolidating x86 Linux workloads on System p servers, it will eventually be released as the [rolls-off-the-tongue] 'IBM System p Application Virtual Environment (System p AVE).' With a 31.5% global revenue share during 2006, IBM hopes to build on System p UNIX success and extend firmly into the Linux marketplace. Considering there are almost 2,800 applications that already run natively on Linux on System p servers, the chances are good that it will succeed."

Re:What's the point?

[Biggerveggies]

The point is that you can run a unified infrastructure with scalable LPARS for different clients on one box (think p595).

ie - the marketing term: "Power on Demand".

Re:'nix on p Series? Run AIX.

[cgh4be]

I think there are a couple of reasons:

1) There are some (not many, but some) applications that run on Linux that don't run on AIX (i.e. won't compile on AIX)
2) There are a lot of Linux gearheads out there that a company might not want to retrain for AIX

The whole point is to be able to run (almost) any operating system you own on (almost) any platform IBM sells. If Windows and Intel weren't in bed, Windows would be running on the pSeries. In fact, it is in the lab, it's just not for sale :)

Re:What's the point?

[Anonymous Coward]

Obiously you've never tried to port from Linux to AIX. Sure, "Hello, World!" ports over just fine, but beyond that you're going to have issues. The gcc tools on AIX are not good. You're forced to use the AIX linker. Shared objects, static linking...good luck figuring out the differences from what you're used to on Linux and what they mean to your program. Oh, you want to throw a C++ exception from a library? Good luck.

Trust me, this software will help a lot of people get their big apps working on AIX.

AIX is an interesting platform. I have a love-hate relationship with it. The management tools are great. The OS is rock solid and the p-series hardware is fantastic. You can scale these things in several ways and its not that expensive when you look at what you're getting. I'd rather admin 50 AIX machines than 50 Linux machines. But...when it comes to using the GNU tools on AIX, its just a lot of headaches. You can get most things working...but it just takes a lot of time. I hope this software helps with that issue.

Finally PPC used for what it was designed!

[PaulBu]

As far as I remember one of the original goals of PPC architecture in the times of original IBM/Moto/Apple consortium 15 years ago was to be able to emulate "other" (x86, maybe? ;-) ) processors efficiently. Strangely I have not heard about something like this being actually used up until today! (Yes, I know that POWER != PPC, but I think the parts are still there).

Paul B.