pkg/39189: Xen3 network I/O performance enhancement

[randolf+netbsd.org%inter-corporate.com@localhost]

>Number:         39189
>Category:       pkg
>Synopsis:       Xen3 network I/O performance enhancement
>Confidential:   no
>Severity:       non-critical
>Priority:       low
>Responsible:    pkg-manager
>State:          open
>Class:          change-request
>Submitter-Id:   net
>Arrival-Date:   Tue Jul 22 04:05:00 +0000 2008
>Originator:     Randolf Richardson
>Release:        NetBSD v4.99.70
>Organization:
Inter-Corporate Computer & Network Services, Inc.
>Environment:
NetBSD netbsd.test.lumbercartel.ca 4.99.70 NetBSD 4.99.70 (XEN3_DOM0) #0: Mon 
Jul 21 04:34:08 PDT 2008  
builds@wb38:/home/builds/ab/HEAD/i386/200807210002Z-obj/home/builds/ab/HEAD/src/sys/arch/i386/compile/XEN3_DOM0
 i386

>Description:
Suggestion for additional package to enhance Xen3's network I/O when 
Microsoft's Windows is a DomU:  Add this package to the pkgsrc system:  
XenWindowsGplPv

XenWindowsGplPv
http://wiki.xensource.com/xenwiki/XenWindowsGplPv

Having Windows work faster in NetBSD means more people will consider it for 
their solutions.  Windows XP Professional already runs very well in a DomU on 
NetBSD v4.99.70, and every extra little bit of enhanced performance will make a 
big difference (now if only the disk I/O could be improved when a file is used 
for the virtual disk).



...details from the aforementioned web page...

These drivers allow Windows to make use of the network and block backend 
drivers in Dom0, instead of the virtual PCI devices provided by QEMU. This 
gives Windows (in theory) a substantial performance boost, and most of the 
testing that has been done confirms that. This document refers to the new WDM 
version of the drivers, not the previous WDF version. Some information may 
apply though. 

Supported Xen versions

I am using Xen 3.1.x and 3.2.x from Debian for my testing. I tested with 3.0.x 
by mistake once and it crashed my Dom0 hard, so don't expect these drivers to 
work under anything lower than 3.1.x 

Supported Windows versions

In theory the drivers should work on any version of Windows supported by Xen. I 
have tested on XP, 2003x32, 2003x64, and 2008x32. I have heard of reports of 
successfully running on 2008x64 and Vista. Someone reported that they kind of 
had it working on 2000 after tweaking the ini file. 

Building

The latest source is available from the xen hg repository (make sure you check 
out the wdm branch). In addition you will need the Microsoft DDK, version 6001 
is what is being used at this time. See here for more info. 

Downloading

Recent binaries are available from http://www.meadowcourt.org/downloads/
[sNip]

>How-To-Repeat:

>Fix: