Linux kernel 2.6.21 with VMware VMI and KVM para-virtualization support is out

As announced last month, newest Linux kernel version, 2.6.21, includes for the first time an adapted version of VMware Virtual Machine Interface (VMI), able to interoperate with paravirt_ops virtualization interface.

At this point new Linux distribution going to use this kernel version will be able to run paravirtualized in upcoming VMware Workstation 6.0, and at a later time in Server and ESX Server new releases.

But kernel 2.6.21 also introduces remarkable new KVM features:

  • Initial paravirtualization support
  • Live migration (the guest continues running even while being migrated) support
  • Host Suspend/resume support
  • CPU hotplug support