RE: [Xen-users] Paravirtualised drivers Novell & Intel available

["Petersson, Mats" <Mats.Petersson@xxxxxxx>]

> -----Original Message-----
> From: xen-users-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx 
> [mailto:xen-users-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of 
> Tijl Van den Broeck
> Sent: 13 February 2007 09:38
> To: xen-users@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> Subject: [Xen-users] Paravirtualised drivers Novell & Intel available
> 
> According to some news posts I've seen (this one being the most
> extensive: 
> http://www.linuxlookup.com/2007/feb/12/virtual_windows_to_run_
> unmodified_on_linux
> ).
> 
> Intel & Novell have paravirtualised drivers for Windows now. This was
> a Virtual Iron & Xen Enterprise domain only at first.
> 
> Does anyone have more information about these drivers and more
> specifically their license. It would be great if they were GPL'd :-)
> But I'm having doubts seeing the statement "The paravirtualized device
> drivers are now available to members of the pilot program." ... will
> they go Open Source (or free at least)? This could be a huge
> performance enhancer for Windows running on HVM.

There may be a slight problem in that you need the Windows DDK to build
drivers for Windows, and that's probably going to prevent any GPL. 

Ok, so it's technically possible to reverse-engineer the Windows API and
make your own driver header-files, but then you'd have to:
1. Support those reverse-engineered files for the foreseeable future,
including changes in the Windows API.
2. Take the risk that MS decides that what was done was not legal and
fight MS in court for the next decade (or until money runs out, which is
likely to happen before said time in case of a small company). 

[Be aware that I'm NOT A LAWYER - what I say is just my best
understanding of the situation, not a legal statement as such]. 

--
Mats
> 
> greets
> 
> Tijl Van den Broeck
> 
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