But Big Blue's efforts aren't likely to squash a potential rival just flexing its muscles.
IBM has released source code for its Research Hypervisor, or rHype, on its Web site, letting anyone examine the approach of a company renowned for its expertise in the field. One distinguishing feature: rHype works with multiple processor varieties, including IBM's Power family, widely used x86 chips such as Intel's Xeon, and the new Cell microprocessor codeveloped by IBM, Sony and Toshiba.
The project potentially competes with two commercial products--Microsoft's Virtual Server and EMC's VMware--and with the open-source Xen software that has attracted support from numerous computing heavyweights.But given rHype's open-source nature and IBM's actions so far, rHype is more likely to be a help than a hindrance to Xen. Specifically, it could help Xen move from its current base of x86 chips to IBM's Power.
"We've spent quite some time talking to its authors," Xen founder Ian Pratt said. "Now that the rHype code is open source, it's a great starting point for a port of Xen to Power."
The rHype software may be incorporated directly into Xen because both packages are governed by the General Public License (GPL), Pratt said. And IBM isn't shying away: Its programmers have been contributing to the Xen project.
It makes sense for IBM to help Xen, said Charles King, principal analyst of Pund-IT Research. "It sounds like a natural point of intersection, given IBM's natural interest in open source and in virtualization," King said.
IBM is the 800-pound gorilla when it comes to hypervisor software, which it has supported for decades on its mainframes and has brought to its Power-based Unix servers. But for x86 servers, IBM chose a partnership with VMware rather than bring its own technology to market.
IBM declined to comment on most details of rHype. However, Tom Bradicich, chief technology officer for IBM's Intel-based xSeries server line, said Tuesday that it's not likely IBM will turn rHype into a product.
"It's in the realm of the possible, but we don't foresee it at this time," Bradicich said.
IBM has used rHype to aid three internal projects. One is sHype, the Secure Hypervisor project to build barriers between different virtual machines. Another is validating features of the Cell processor, which has nine separate processing cores. And a third is an IBM supercomputing project called PERCS (Productive, Easy-to-use, Reliable Computing System).
Hypervisor hype
A hypervisor--a term IBM is trying to trademark--is
basic software that runs atop the processor, allocating resources such as
processing power, memory and network links. By creating virtual connections to
these resources--"virtualizing" them--the hypervisor provides a flexible
foundation that can let a computer run multiple operating systems and thus
multiple tasks more efficiently.
Juggling numerous tasks has long been a useful ability for corporate computing centers. Now such abilities are increasingly useful at home as computer networks get more complex and useful, King said.
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