VMware Communities: What kernel is ESX based on

Up to Discussions in ESX Server 2.x - VC 1.x Archives

1 2 Previous Next

21 Replies Last post: Sep 19, 2005 7:08 PM by Mike_Laverick

What kernel is ESX based on

Sep 19, 2005 7:46 AM

blackd 18 posts since
Mar 12, 2005

I saw a presentation that talk about the root kernel that ESX is based on, it was a strange name, does anyone know what it is?
I know the console is based on a redhat guest, but I'm looking for the CORE ESX.
Thanks.

Re: What kernel is ESX based on Sep 19, 2005 7:49 AM

Ken.Cline 5,145 posts since
Jul 7, 2004 VMware

The vmkernel is a 100% proprietary piece of code developed by VMware. The concepts were derived from some early projects including Disco and cellular Disco...

Re: What kernel is ESX based on Sep 19, 2005 7:51 AM

DougBaer 600 posts since
Oct 20, 2004

You may have heard the term 'hypervisor', but that's a generic term for the management layer between the hardware and the VMs...

Re: What kernel is ESX based on Sep 19, 2005 7:52 AM

in response to: DougBaer

dominic7 2,134 posts since
Jan 11, 2005

How abou VMnix?

Re: What kernel is ESX based on Sep 19, 2005 7:53 AM

in response to: dominic7

Ken.Cline 5,145 posts since
Jul 7, 2004 VMware

How abou VMnix?

That's what they call the COS, a.k.a. the service console, a.k.a. the management interface, a.k.a. ....

Re: What kernel is ESX based on Sep 19, 2005 8:01 AM

GeorgeS 683 posts since
Feb 19, 2004

Rumor has it that the base code for the kernel started with BSD Unix. It is so highly customized at this point complete with a lot of patented technologies developed as a University project at Stanford that I doubt they will every go back to that base build again.

Re: What kernel is ESX based on Sep 19, 2005 8:29 AM

in response to: GeorgeS

PepeVM 562 posts since
Jul 6, 2005

I've heard it is based on Windows 98 first edition. In fact ESX 3.0 will be based on W98SE!!!

Re: What kernel is ESX based on Sep 19, 2005 8:50 AM

in response to: PepeVM

jasonboche 5,894 posts since
Jan 7, 2004 Moderator

I've heard it is based on Windows 98 first edition.
In fact ESX 3.0 will be based on W98SE!!!

That must be NDA because I've never heard that before.

Message was edited by: jasonboche

I'll have what he's having \^^^^^

Re: What kernel is ESX based on Sep 19, 2005 8:48 AM

in response to: jasonboche

DougBaer 600 posts since
Oct 20, 2004

Sounds awfully hard to believe... Based on the requirements of the vmkernel (it's a THIN layer), I'd imagine it would be closer to DOS than ANY flavor of Windows.

BSD would be a MUCH better guess, I'd imagine, but probably just for the basis. It seems to be that it would be more efficient to start completely from scratch.

Re: What kernel is ESX based on Sep 19, 2005 8:52 AM

Mike_Laverick 4,059 posts since
Jan 5, 2004 Moderator

I saw a presentation that talk about the root kernel
that ESX is based on, it was a strange name, does
anyone know what it is?
I know the console is based on a redhat guest, but
I'm looking for the CORE ESX.
Thanks.

As others have said the vmkernel is separate from the linux kernel which makes up the Service Console (or Console OS - COS as others call it)

VMware courseware in the past has explictly stated that the vmkernal is NOT linux - although it still appears to be an oft repeated urban/forum myth...

Regards
Mike Laverick
RTFM Education - VMware

Re: What kernel is ESX based on Sep 19, 2005 9:08 AM

in response to: DougBaer

PepeVM 562 posts since
Jul 6, 2005

Sounds awfully hard to believe... Based on the
requirements of the vmkernel (it's a THIN layer), I'd
imagine it would be closer to DOS than ANY flavor of
Windows.

That's why you can manage only 3,6Gbyte per VM and no more...
In W98SE more than 4Gbyte allocation is granted

Re: What kernel is ESX based on Sep 19, 2005 9:11 AM

in response to: PepeVM

GeorgeS 683 posts since
Feb 19, 2004

Not really a Windows feature, but a 32-bit x86 architecture one. 4GB is the max memory addressable in 32-bit w/o using page translation.

Re: What kernel is ESX based on Sep 19, 2005 9:19 AM

graemer957 54 posts since
Jul 11, 2004

Hi blackd

As others have said, the core ESX kernel (vmkernel) is proprietary in-house patent/patent-pending technology. I think I am right in saying that they do use linux drivers for some hardware (Qlogic driver comes to mind).

The CoS is called VMnix and is based on an early version of RedHat linux, seriously cut down, hardened and tweaked to run on-top of the vmkernel. The CoS is used to boot loader for the vmkernel.

G

Re: What kernel is ESX based on Sep 19, 2005 9:28 AM

dpomeroy 3,901 posts since
Apr 12, 2004 Moderator

Windows 3.1.1 is what I heard.

Re: What kernel is ESX based on Sep 19, 2005 9:31 AM

in response to: dpomeroy

PepeVM 562 posts since
Jul 6, 2005

Great!!!

1 2 Previous Next

Actions

View as PDF

Up to Discussions in ESX Server 2.x - VC 1.x Archives