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The OpenVZ project announced today that its OS-level server virtualization software technology has been ported to—and is now available for—systems based on 64-bit Power processors.

When you think virtualization and Linux, chances are the first program that comes to mind is Xen, followed quickly by VMware.

OpenVZ, however, is pushing hard to win your mind with this new Power processor release.

OpenVZ is SWsoft’s open-source virtualization engine from its container-based Virtuozzo virtualization program for Windows and Linux on the x86, x86_64 and IA64 processors.

Debian Linux adds OpenVZ virtualization software. Click here to read more.

OpenVZ, itself, is built on top of Linux. Unlike Xen’s paravirtualization technique, with container (or virtual server) virtualization, the operating environment—rather than the hardware—is virtualized.

Thus, while there is only one operating system kernel, multiple programs run in isolation from each other within the single OS instance.

“This turned out to be a simple procedure to port our code to the Power 64 processor, which demonstrates the portability of OpenVZ software,” OpenVZ project manager Kir Kolyshkin said in a statement.

Read the full story on Linux-Watch: OpenVZ Virtualization Powers Up Power

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