Doesn't that message date back to a time that either predates or is almost concurrent with the introduction of x86 hardware-assisted virtualization? I wasn't around playing with VMs back then, but I'm not sure that the track record of x86 virtualization 20 years ago was that great.

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tptacek 3 hours ago | parent | next [-]

It does, but that's an argument about implementations, and his comment is an argument about design. Just read it again and see if you think it's reasonable. Pay attention to the tone and (especially) the conclusory certainty he deploys.

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SoftTalker 3 hours ago | parent [-]

And since then, OpenBSD has developed its own VM subsystem vmm(4), vmd(8), vmctl(8).

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tptacek 2 hours ago | parent [-]

Sure, I mean, he was wrong, and I assume he knows he's wrong, and wouldn't say the same thing today. He's not dumb. Just this take is.

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otterley an hour ago | parent [-]

I’ll take someone who’s dumb over someone who is smart but rudely and confidently incorrect any day. Modesty, thoughtfulness, and kindness are too-undervalued virtues in our business.

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tptacek an hour ago | parent [-]

I agree with everybody else who's wondered why this got posted today.

	▲	otterley an hour ago \| parent [-]
		I too wonder why as it’s not news. That said, I don’t know whether Theo has since “eaten crow” or has otherwise personally evolved.

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justsomehnguy 18 minutes ago | parent | prev [-]

The letter is dated 2007-10.

AMD released (ie commercially available) Pacifica on May 23, 2006 while Intel did released their Vanderpool a half of year earlier November 14, 2005. [0]

Windows Server 2008 was RTM'ed on February 2008 which provided Hyper-V as a first class component. [1]

Virtual Server 2005 R2 SP1 added support for both Intel VT (IVT) and AMD Virtualization (AMD-V) and was released 11 June 2007. [2]

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/X86_virtualization#AMD_virtual...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Windows_Server_2008

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Microsoft_Virtual_Server#Versi...