RE: Framebuffer (was [Xen-devel] Xen port of ReactOS)

[Ian P. <m+I...@cl...>]

> One thing I think xen could do with (if it isn't there=20
> already) is some sort of virtual framebuffer like with disk=20
> and network. Dom0 could provide the backend of the virtual=20
> framebuffer (on virtual consoles or inside X windows or=20
> whatever), and the other domains could make use of the=20
> exported framebuffers. It wouldn't be great for performance,=20
> but would provide a simple interface to the other domains,=20
> and be reasonably migratable.

There's a plan for this:=20

The intention is to have a shared memory bitmap frame buffer, with a =
'side channel' into which information about which rectangles of the =
screen have been blited, filled, copied etc can optionally be sent.

In dom0 we can use vnclib to export the disaply over the network (over =
SSL) if required, or render it on the local X server.

Any volunteers?

Ian=20

> > -----Original Message-----
> > From: xen...@li... [mailto:xen-devel-
> > ad...@li...] On Behalf Of Ge van Geldorp
> > Sent: Friday, 25 March 2005 02:52
> > To: 'ReactOS Development List'; xen...@li...
> > Subject: [Xen-devel] Xen port of ReactOS
> >=20
> > Hello,
> >=20
> > After doing some research, I've decided to go ahead and=20
> start a port of
> > ReactOS to Xen. For those in the Xen community not familiar=20
> with ReactOS:
> > it's an open-source (GPL) re-implementation of the Microsoft Windows
> > NT-based line of operating systems, aiming to provide=20
> binary compatibility
> > for both applications and drivers
> > (http://www.reactos.com). For those in the ReactOS=20
> community not familiar
> > with Xen: it's an open-source (GPL) virtual machine monitor=20
> that supports
> > execution of multiple guest operating systems with=20
> unprecedented levels of
> > performance and resource isolation
> > (http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/Research/SRG/netos/xen/index.html).
> >=20
> > Initially I'll focus on getting ReactOS running as a guest=20
> OS. This should
> > benefit ReactOS primarily, since this will make it possible=20
> to develop
> > large
> > parts of ReactOS (everything except for hardware drivers=20
> and some low-
> > level
> > memory management) inside Xen. It will also give ReactOS=20
> access to some
> > hardware not natively supported yet (by using the Linux driver). The
> > benefit
> > for Xen at this stage would be the development of ReactOS=20
> device drivers
> > for
> > interfacing
> > with Xen, which could also be used for a Windows XP port.=20
> On the longer
> > term, I see no reason why ReactOS couldn't function as a=20
> driver domain. As
> > driver compatibility improves in ReactOS, this could=20
> provide Xen guests
> > access to hardware for which the manufacturer provides only Windows
> > drivers
> > (due to Xens nature, not every driver
> > could be used this way, but I bet a large percentage of the=20
> drivers depend
> > on the kernel to do the really low-level stuff).
> > All in all, it seems a win-win proposition for both=20
> projects. And even
> > more
> > importantly, I think it's a cool project :-)
> >=20
> > I've made a branch in ReactOS svn,=20
> svn://svn.reactos.com/branches/xen, for
> > this port. Of course, the goal is to merge the changes into trunk
> > eventually. I expect the port to take at least a few=20
> months, my initial
> > feeling is that it should be done by the end of the year=20
> (there's lots of
> > other stuff in ReactOS I want to work on too). The wiki page at
> > http://wiki.reactos.com/Xen_port will be used to keep track=20
> of progress.
> > The
> > game plan is just start working from the boot code, until a=20
> problem is
> > hit.
> > Fix that problem and continue until the next problem.
> >=20
> > Any support and help from the Xen and ReactOS communities=20
> are of course
> > greatly appreciated.
> >=20
> > G=E9 van Geldorp.
> >=20
> >=20
> >=20
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