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Virtual Machine Brings X86 Linux Apps To ARMv7 Devices
DeviceGuru writes Eltechs announced a virtual machine that runs 32-bit x86 Linux applications on ARMv7 hardware. The ExaGear VM implements a virtual x86 Linux container on ARMv7 computers and is claimed to be 4.5 times faster than QEMU, according to Eltechs. The VM is based on binary translation technology and requires ARMv7, which means it should run on mini-PCs and SBCs based on Cortex-A8, A7, A9, and A15 processors — but sadly, it won't run on the ARM11 (ARMv6) SoC found on the Raspberry Pi. It also does not support applications that require kernel modules. It currently requires Ubuntu (v12.04 or higher), but will soon support another, unnamed Linux distro, according to Eltechs, which is now accepting half price pre-orders without payment obligation.
Other than a desire to run the x86 version of Doom on your BeagleBoard, why would you need this when software is just a recompile away?
I want to delete my account but Slashdot doesn't allow it.
How hard is it to cross compile an application?
I wonder if they are some of the same people as these (reading about theiur team it does not sound unlikely): http://www.embedded.com/electronics-news/4397737/X86-emulation-coming-to-ARM-processors
This would be a much more interesting technology for Windows RT as it would make those devices actually semi useful if the Windows back catalog was available on them.
QEMU does the same and much more, however it cannot make use of multicore, therefore it is not difficult to beat in performance. This is starting to hurt more and more and I am not surprised that alternative solutions are being developed.
4.5 times faster than QEMU is still very slow
How about converting the binary directly?
X86->LLVM IR->anything:
http://infoscience.epfl.ch/rec...
Opensource, too. repository:
https://dslabgit.epfl.ch/git/s...
(checkout revgen)
has anyone tried it?
qemu-user-mode + wine has been done for some time already. It more or less works for Windows x86 executables on ARM Linux.
(In fact, the first user-mode emulators where designed to help run x86 code back when Apple used PPC).
The novelty of TFA's emulator is its claimed performance.
That's the interesting stuff. Doing translation (like some emulators running on x86 host do) is going to take a lot less CPU than emulating a complete CPU in software (as qemu currently does on ARM host). Which means longer battery life, which is a big advantage in some markets (tablets and smartphone).
"Sufficiently advanced satire is indistinguishable from reality." - [Tips: 1DrYakQDKCQ6y52z6QbnkxHXAocMZJE61o ]
- For the closed-source windows application that you are running on your open-source wine. (This kind of emulator can bring executing Windows x86 software on your ARM chromebook. Except TFA's emulator is much faster a this than qemu-user-mode).
- For some shitty closed source stuff that you are forced to use (weird proprietary SSL VPN, Microsoft Skype, Adobe Flash, etc.)
"Sufficiently advanced satire is indistinguishable from reality." - [Tips: 1DrYakQDKCQ6y52z6QbnkxHXAocMZJE61o ]
Meh. I don't care.
assholes.
And what DOES run on the Raspberyy Pi? The Raspberry Pi requires special binaries, and even then the performance is bad. It was already-obsolete when released, now it's vintage. Just buy an ODROID-U3. For a price different that is essentially pocket change, you get much more utility. And it runs Real Android (tm) with Play Store. I even run Vector Unit's games with no third party app (and Gameloft games with the Tincore Keymapper app).
different = difference
Most games available in the Linux section of Steam are proprietary software.
For the closed-source windows application that you are running on your open-source wine.
Not when the majority of desirable applications are rated garbage, as another comment points out.
Not all applications are available from their respective publishers under a free software license. Did you want me to give names of particular proprietary applications for Linux?
nobody wants to pay MS 30% of their revenue
Them explain applications in PlayStation Store, Xbox Live Marketplace, Nintendo's eShop, Apple's App Store, Amazon Appstore, Google Play Store, Steam, etc. Sometimes a 30% cut can be can be easier than buying SSL hosting, a merchant account, and store tech support staff, especially with the swipe fees that card processors charge for small purchases and the $5 setup fees that stores charge for MC/Visa/AMEX gift cards.
Seriously, I'd love to run older apps (games) on my Mac Pro. Very little reason for Apple to Kill Rosetta except spite.
Remember kids, if you're not paying for the service, YOU ARE THE PRODUCT THAT IS BEING SOLD.
The Raspberry Pi is designed as a pedagagical, easy-to-access entry point for new programmers to get involved and learn about experimenting and adventuring on computers. It was never about being 'the ideal embedded platform' for slashbots to use for their Media Center computer. Sure it's vintage, but other successful and popular single-board systems are even 8-bitters, like the Arduino, and still very successful and valuable to have out there for people to use.
Moving targets are not 'friendly' to the general public, and the Pi gives everyone a stable starting point.
Ah, the days that an Acorn Archimedes with an ARM2 running at 8MHz could emulate a 80186 (if I recall correctly) at (near) native speed. It was a very smart move by Acorn: there was a Beeb emulator and a PC emulator.
Perl Programmer for hire
So theoretically, if someone finds a Windows program that's worth running, this could be useful?
In this day and age of such powerful advanced hardware in our hands they should be offering emulation of all past significant processors including 68K, PPC, x86, etc as well as all previous OSs.
We have applications for accessing data that we still need to work with. Just because the processors change doesn't mean we can throw away our old data or tools. It is arrogance and greed of the industry that creates this problem. They've are on a disposable mentality.
The result as it stands is we have to keep older hardware running to use our old applications to access our long term data. That means we don't buy new hardware and that is a short sighted mentality of the hardware makers like Apple, HP, etc. If they made new hardware that would run all past stuff I'd upgrade my hardware in a heart beat putting money in their pockets.
My understanding is that Apple have done the work to make it viable to use LLVM for certain levels of Javascript JITing so it is now feasible to use LLVM to compile long running dynamic code. Said code needs to be long running to a) build up information about the instructions being run b) offset the overhead of compilation.