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Next G5 Multitasks Operating Systems

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the little-bit-of-this-a-little-bit-of-that dept.

squiggleslash writes "IBM has big plans for the 970, Apple's so-called "G5". The CPU will support partitioning, similar to IBM's mainframe systems, allowing multiple operating systems to run at the same time on a single CPU. A Mac built around this chip could theoretically run OS X, GNU/Linux, Mac OS 9, and the PowerPC version of Windows NT, all simultaneously and independently."

10 of 449 comments (clear)

  1. great by jrl87 · · Score: 5, Funny

    so now I can crash at least five systems at the same time?

  2. PowerPC version of Windows NT? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    What is this, 1994?

    1. Re:PowerPC version of Windows NT? by tanguyr · · Score: 5, Informative

      a ppc version of the nt kernel will run the next xbox.

      --
      #!/usr/bin/english
  3. In theory yes by computerme · · Score: 5, Interesting

    >A Mac built around this chip could theoretically run OS X, GNU/Linux, Mac OS 9, and the PowerPC version of Windows NT, all simultaneously and independently."

    But in reality, i believe this is so apple can release "big iron" type systems (servers), the VM would allow Multiple versions of the server OS to run for maximum uptime, protection etc...

    Most people are going to take it as "Cool i can run windows and OSX at the same time at full speed" But in reality its closer to what i described above.

    But if others care to chime in i could be completely wrong...

  4. Sounds great... by iamzack · · Score: 5, Funny

    But will it come in a stylish case with a 4-figure price tag?

  5. OMG! by Chief+Typist · · Score: 5, Funny

    I'm going to need more than one mouse button!

    -ch

    1. Re:OMG! by Otter · · Score: 5, Funny
      ...in Linux it will be command-click...

      Actually, that's only in KDE. It'll be ctrl-click in GNOME, option-click in Motif, :-click in vi and hitting every key simultaneously in emacs.

      --
      What I'm listening to now on Pandora...
  6. G5 can't boot OS 9 by rgovostes · · Score: 5, Interesting

    A Mac built around this chip could theoretically run OS X, GNU/Linux, Mac OS 9, and ... The G5 cannot natively boot Mac OS 9. However, you can run most OS 9 software through the Classic Environment in Mac OS X. If we count the Classic Environment, though, why stop at that list? You could run virtually any OS, through various emulators. Windows 95, DOS, BeOS, etc...

  7. That's old news.. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Informative

    ..the REALLY cool partitioning is the new POWER5 based iSeries and pSeries. Hell, we've been using a Linux LPAR on our iSeries for two years now.

    Now it just works better with POWER5. The FSP (Flexible System Processor) that contains the Hypervisor code is just a card that runs an embedded Linux kernel. Plug that in to a IBM "HMC", or a xSeries Xeon box running SuSE Enterprise 8, which boots into Fluxbox. Open a Java-based config utility, and control all your partitions. Do you see a ongoing theme here? That's right folks, IBM trusts Linux enough to stake the reputation of their Big Iron on it.

    With POWER5 all the partitioning is transparent to the OSes. WIth out i5/520 I can move RAM and CPU seamlessly without OS reboots. Hell, I can (and do) have my Linux partition specified with just 2/10ths of one of the POWER5's, with a "burst" limit of 8/10ths. You just setup the FSP/Hypervisor with permissions/profiles for the OSes. If it sees that OS/400 needs more CPU and has a higher priority than Linux, it gets it.

    However, this is a very cool move for apple. If I could get a Mac that did all that?

    Well, yeah. That would own.

    Insert profit.

  8. Re:Except that by Elwood+P+Dowd · · Score: 5, Informative

    The G5 is a 970. The 970 is a G5.

    The Power5 is not a 970. They scaled down the Power5 to make the 970.

    --

    There are no trails. There are no trees out here.