Oracle VM Server for x86

Basic information

Oracle VM Server for x86 is a server virtualization solution developed by Oracle Corporation. It utilizes the open-source Xen hypervisor technology to enable the deployment, management, and support of enterprise applications in a virtualized environment.

• Model: Oracle VM Server for x86
• Version: 3.4.6.3
• Release Date: The general availability of Oracle VM 3.4.6 was November 30, 2018. Version 3.4.6.3 was released on June 3, 2020.
• Minimum Requirements:
  • Processor: 64-bit x86 processor (i686-class or newer), with hardware virtualization support (Intel VT or AMD-V) for hardware-virtualized guest operating systems.
  • RAM: 1GB (2GB recommended).
  • Storage: 4GB available hard disk space.
  • Network: At least one stable and static IP address.
• Supported Operating Systems (Host): Oracle VM Server for x86 runs on bare-metal x86_64 host hardware. It includes a minimized Linux kernel (Dom0) and does not require a pre-existing operating system.
• Supported Operating Systems (Guest): Oracle VM Server for x86 supports a broad range of guest operating systems, including Oracle Linux, Oracle Solaris, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server, CentOS, and Microsoft Windows.
• Latest Stable Version: 3.4.6.3
• End of Support Date: Oracle VM Server for x86 entered sustaining support on July 1, 2024, and no longer receives new patches or updates. Premier Support for Oracle VM 3.x ended in March 2021, with Extended Support ending in June 2024.
• End of Life Date: The product is now in sustaining support, effectively marking its end of life for active development and security fixes. It has been replaced by Oracle Linux Virtualization Manager.
• Auto-update Expiration Date: Not explicitly stated, but new patches and updates are no longer provided as of July 1, 2024.
• License Type: The Oracle VM Server component is licensed under GNU GPL. The Oracle VM Manager is proprietary but redistributable freeware. The solution is described as "zero license cost."
• Deployment Model: On-premise, bare-metal installation on x86_64 servers. It is also integrated with Oracle Engineered Systems.

Technical Requirements

• RAM: Minimum 1GB, with 2GB recommended for the host. Guest memory requirements vary by operating system. An additional 1MB of RAM per LUN or target is needed for SAN-based physical disks.
• Processor: 64-bit x86 processor (i686-class or newer). Hardware virtualization support (Intel VT or AMD-V) is required for hardware-virtualized guests (e.g., Microsoft Windows). Dual-core or multiple CPUs are recommended for running multiple guests. Supports up to 384 physical CPUs and 2048 designed CPUs per server.
• Storage: Minimum 4GB of available hard disk space for installation. Significant disk space is required to support virtual machines and storage repositories.
• Display: Not a primary requirement for the server itself, but the Oracle VM Manager provides a web-based management console accessible via a browser.
• Ports: At least one stable network interface with a static IP address is required. Supports standard 10/100/1000Mbit Ethernet and 10Gbit Ethernet interfaces.
• Operating System: Oracle VM Server for x86 installs directly on bare-metal x86_64 hardware, providing its own minimized Linux-based management operating system (Dom0) with the Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel (UEK).

Analysis of Technical Requirements

Oracle VM Server for x86 has relatively modest minimum hardware requirements, making it accessible for a range of x86_64 server hardware. The emphasis on 64-bit processors and hardware virtualization support reflects its role as a modern hypervisor. Scalability is a key feature, supporting a large number of CPUs and substantial RAM per server, accommodating demanding enterprise and cloud applications. The network requirements are standard for server virtualization, emphasizing stable connectivity. The integrated Linux-based Dom0 simplifies host OS management by eliminating the need for a separate host OS installation.

Support & Compatibility

• Latest Version: 3.4.6.3
• OS Support (Host): Runs on x86_64 bare-metal hardware.
• OS Support (Guest): Supports Oracle Linux, Oracle Solaris, Red Hat Enterprise Linux, SUSE Linux Enterprise Server, CentOS, and Microsoft Windows. Both Hardware Virtualized (HVM) and Hardware Virtualized with PV Drivers (PVHVM) guests are supported.
• End of Support Date: Sustaining support began July 1, 2024, meaning no new patches or updates. Premier Support for Oracle VM 3.x ended March 2021, and Extended Support ended June 2024.
• Localization: Not explicitly detailed in general documentation, but as an enterprise product, it typically supports various locales.
• Available Drivers: Xen PV drivers are included by default with kernels for supported Linux guests. Oracle Enterprise Linux paravirtualized drivers are available on the Oracle VM Server CD or Oracle Enterprise Linux Network (ULN). Oracle Solaris guests also include required PV drivers. Oracle VM Paravirtual Drivers are available for Microsoft Windows guests to improve I/O throughput.

Analysis of Overall Support & Compatibility Status

Oracle VM Server for x86 offers broad compatibility with various Linux distributions, Oracle Solaris, and Windows as guest operating systems, leveraging both hardware and paravirtualization for optimized performance. However, its support status is critical. The product is now in sustaining support, indicating that it no longer receives active development, new features, or security patches. This means organizations using Oracle VM Server for x86 should consider migrating to its successor, Oracle Linux Virtualization Manager, for continued support and security updates. While free to download, commercial support was available through Oracle Premier Support.

Security Status

• Security Features:
  • Secure live VM migration using SSL links.
  • Integration with Ksplice for kernel, Xen hypervisor, and key user space library patching without service interruption.
  • High availability features to automatically restart failed VMs.
  • Small footprint hypervisor managing basic system resources like CPU and memory utilization, privilege checks, and hardware interrupts.
• Known Vulnerabilities: Multiple vulnerabilities have been identified in past versions, including privilege escalation, use-after-free errors, and denial-of-service conditions. Some vulnerabilities have been exploited in the wild. Oracle regularly released security bulletins (OVMSA) to address these issues.
• Blacklist Status: No general blacklist status, but specific versions have known vulnerabilities.
• Certifications: Oracle VM Server for x86 is part of the Oracle ecosystem, with Oracle Applications stack fully tested and certified in this environment. It is also recognized for hard partitioning in Oracle licensing.
• Encryption Support: Secure live VM migration uses SSL links.
• Authentication Methods: Oracle VM Manager provides centralized, browser-based management with event tracking and system health status.
• General Recommendations: Oracle strongly recommends applying security patches as soon as possible. Given its sustaining support status, migration to a currently supported virtualization solution like Oracle Linux Virtualization Manager is recommended for ongoing security.

Analysis on the Overall Security Rating

Oracle VM Server for x86 includes several security-conscious features such as secure live migration and integration with Ksplice for patching. However, like any complex software, it has had known vulnerabilities, some of which were critical and exploited in the wild. Oracle provided security bulletins and patches during its active support lifecycle. The current sustaining support status means that new security patches are no longer issued, which significantly lowers its security rating for new deployments or environments requiring active threat mitigation. Organizations must transition to a supported platform to maintain a secure posture.

Performance & Benchmarks

• Benchmark Scores: Specific, independent benchmark scores comparing Oracle VM Server for x86 directly against competitors are not readily available in the provided data. However, it is noted that bare-metal performance is considered on par with ESXi 5.5 in some user discussions.
• Real-world Performance Metrics:
  • Low-overhead architecture with Xen hypervisor provides scalable performance.
  • Supports up to 384 physical CPUs and 6TB memory per server.
  • Each guest VM supports up to 256 virtual CPUs and 2TB memory.
  • Can host a maximum of 300 VMs per server.
  • Paravirtualized drivers for Linux and Windows guests improve I/O throughput.
  • Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel (UEK) for Dom0 provides performance optimization.
• Power Consumption: User feedback suggests it becomes more efficient in utilizing power.
• Carbon Footprint: Not specifically detailed, but virtualization in general contributes to reduced hardware footprint and energy consumption, indirectly lowering carbon footprint.
• Comparison with Similar Assets: Often compared to VMware vSphere, Citrix XenServer, Red Hat Virtualization, and KVM. Users note that while it performs well, its management interface may not be as rich as vCenter. It is also seen as a free alternative that can lock users into other Oracle products.

Analysis of the Overall Performance Status

Oracle VM Server for x86 is engineered for high performance and scalability, leveraging the Xen hypervisor and Oracle's Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel. It supports large-scale deployments with significant CPU and memory resources per server and per VM, making it suitable for demanding enterprise applications. Paravirtualized drivers enhance I/O performance for guest operating systems. While direct, recent benchmark comparisons are scarce, user feedback generally indicates solid performance, often comparable to other leading hypervisors, especially for Oracle workloads. Its "zero license cost" model makes it an attractive option for those already invested in the Oracle ecosystem.

User Reviews & Feedback

User reviews for Oracle VM Server for x86 highlight several strengths and weaknesses:

• Strengths:
  • Zero license cost for the hypervisor and management solution.
  • Good performance and scalability, especially for Oracle applications.
  • Simple installation and configuration.
  • Supports a broad range of guest operating systems (Linux, Windows, Solaris).
  • Features like secure live VM migration, high availability, and rapid VM provisioning.
  • Centralized, browser-based management with Oracle VM Manager.
  • Effective for consolidating workloads and increasing IT efficiency.
  • Considered stable by some users.
• Weaknesses:
  • Obsolete product with no new features or active development.
  • User interface of Oracle VM Manager is not as rich or user-friendly as competitors like VMware vCenter.
  • Concerns about Oracle's support quality and the need for paid support to access knowledge base information.
  • History of bugs and repeated issues across versions.
  • Lacks some advanced features found in more mature virtualization platforms.
  • Perceived lack of flexibility and scalability issues by some users.
  • Risk of vendor lock-in with other Oracle products.
• Recommended Use Cases:
  • Organizations heavily invested in the Oracle ecosystem, particularly for running Oracle applications and databases.
  • Environments seeking a cost-effective (zero license cost) virtualization solution for non-critical applications or development/testing.
  • Consolidating x86 server workloads.

Summary

Oracle VM Server for x86 is a robust, Xen-based server virtualization solution designed by Oracle to efficiently run enterprise applications on x86_64 hardware. Its primary strengths lie in its zero license cost, high performance, and scalability, supporting a wide array of guest operating systems including Linux, Windows, and Solaris. Key features like secure live migration, high availability, and integration with Oracle's Unbreakable Enterprise Kernel contribute to its reliability and optimization for Oracle workloads. The centralized, browser-based Oracle VM Manager simplifies administration.

However, the most significant weakness is its current status: Oracle VM Server for x86 entered sustaining support on July 1, 2024, meaning it no longer receives new patches, updates, or security fixes. This effectively marks its end of life for active development and makes it an obsolete product in terms of ongoing support and feature enhancements. While it has historically provided solid performance, its management interface is often criticized for not being as feature-rich or user-friendly as competitors. Past versions also had known vulnerabilities, necessitating timely patching during its active support phase.

For organizations currently using Oracle VM Server for x86, the immediate recommendation is to plan and execute a migration to a currently supported virtualization platform, such as Oracle Linux Virtualization Manager, which is its designated successor. For new deployments, Oracle VM Server for x86 is not recommended due to the lack of ongoing support and security updates. While it was a viable and cost-effective solution for Oracle-centric environments, its lifecycle has concluded, and continued use without active support poses significant risks.

The information provided is based on publicly available data and may vary depending on specific device configurations. For up-to-date information, please consult official manufacturer resources.