ARM Still Tackling Linux Xen Virtualization Support

More than a month ago I wrote about ARM working on Linux virtualization support via Xen. This work still hasn't landed in the mainline Linux kernel, but it continues to move along.

On Monday the "v2" patches to implementing Xen support for ARMv7 with virtualization extensions were published. This work allows a Linux guest to boot as Xen Dom0 and as DomU on Xen on ARM. The PV console, disk, and network front-ends are working when testing from a Versatile Express Cortex-A15 emulator.

Aside from the yet-to-be-merged kernel patches, this work is also being tested in conjunction with the Xen unstable 4.3 code-base. The Linux kernel patches weren't ready in time for the Linux 3.6 kernel so now the next merging opportunity would be later this year into Linux 3.7.

Those wishing to learn more about the ARMv7 Xen virtualization support can see this mailing list thread for the new v2 support patches.