Packaging of Windows Guest Paravirtual Drivers

Registered by Robbie Williamson

Request from OEMs to package the Windows Paravirtual drivers similar to how we provide the virtualbox-guest-edition package.

Blueprint information

Status:
Complete
Approver:
Robbie Williamson
Priority:
Low
Drafter:
Al Stone
Direction:
Approved
Assignee:
Ubuntu Server
Definition:
Approved
Series goal:
Accepted for oneiric
Implementation:
Implemented
Milestone target:
None
Started by
Dave Walker
Completed by
Dave Walker

Related branches

Sprints

Whiteboard

Problems:

- PV Drivers cannot be installed on an exhisting or pre-installed Win VM
- Red Hat PV Drivers are signed and allow install on exhisting guests, drivers must be signed to be installed (initial) for 2008/Win 7
- Signed drivers can be installed but are not supported by Microsoft unless WHQLed (MS Certiified and couter-signed)
- RH owns copyright, and while it remains GPL2, they could fork it any time, leaving us responsible for bugfixes.

== Questions ==
- Is there an outside source for these drivers?
- WHQL support boundries?
- Who will own/maintain and run the certification tests on LTS releases the drivers once signed/WHQLed?
- Partner or Multiverse

== Drivers ==
- SCSI (2x/3x speed increase)
- Network (decrease latency but may be flaky)
- Serial (used?)
- Balloon (unknown/untested)

Priorities:
1) SCSI, 2) Network (if not flaky), 3) Baloon, 4) Serial,
1) 2008 R2 SP1/Win 7, 2) everything else

Work Items:
[ahs3] Build the latest drivers from the latest source: DONE
[markashtonb] Find out if we want to sign, WHQL, support (possibly code updates), Logo, assign build/test responsibilities for driver updates/LTS releases: POSTPONED
[mahmoh] Get input on release(s) to certify from hallyn (target latest LTS + latest Natty): DONE
 - per hallyn, 10.04.02 and 11.04 64 bit server releases (ISOs, no updates, June) - should be good
[mahmoh] Test the drivers as possible - 1) 2008 R2/SCSI on LTS, 2) Oneiric: DONE
 - latest net and scsi drivers pass testing, hypervisor stack will pass on Lucid (w/ pending SRU -201110~15) and Oneiric passes (release)

(see https://launchpad.net/kvm-guest-drivers-windows for downloads of latest drivers from source.)
Compare driver performance to existing WHQLed performance (wishlist): TODO

(?)

Work Items

Dependency tree

* Blueprints in grey have been implemented.