AMD unveils open source virtualisation offering

AMD announced today that it plans to port XenSource's Xen open source virtualisation package to its 64-bit processor technology.

The chip firm claimed that the move will create the industry's first x86-based 64-bit open source virtualisation offering. The technology, which will be unveiled at the LinuxWorld Conference and Expo, is scheduled to ship "in the first half of 2005".

Marty Seyer, vice president and general manager of the Microprocessor Business Unit, Computation Products Group, at AMD, said that the ongoing collaboration with XenSource will allow the chip firm to broaden its portfolio of server virtualisation offerings.

The Xen Hypervisor, a x86 virtual machine monitor, is designed to enable a single machine to run multiple operating systems efficiently while maintaining secure, resource-guaranteed isolation.

In order to enable more efficient server virtualisation, AMD said it plans to introduce 'Pacifica' technology into its next-generation AMD64 processors. Designed to enhance virtualisation at the processor level, Pacifica provides underlying support for virtualisation systems.

According to AMD, this technology will directly benefit users by delivering IT resource utilisation advantages through server consolidation, legacy migration and increased security benefits.

"AMD believes that AMD64 is the best platform to enable server virtualisation solutions due to the unique architecture benefits that direct connect architecture delivers," said Seyer.