Re: Xen 4.2 added to pkgsrc

[Jean-Yves Migeon <jeanyves.migeon%free.fr@localhost>]

Le 15/05/2013 09:18, jnemeth%victoria.tc.ca@localhost a écrit :
> I've just committed sysutils/xenkernel42 and sysutils/xentools42.
> They have had fairly extensive testing, but they are just initial
> commits.  I've added them so that people can test them, break them,
> improve them, etc.

Thanks for your work!

>      Note that xm/xend is deprecated but they do still work.  xl is
> working in this version.  But, I've only tested it with file backed
> vbds.  I haven't tested it with LVM or raw partitions.
>
>      Major things that don't work yet are HVM and grant tables.  The
> issue with HVM is that Qemu wasn't compiling, and I just commented it
> out in order to move forward.  The issue with grant tables is that it
> appears that the interface has changed and I haven't fully adapted 
> the
> code.
>
>      So, have at it.  Let me know what breaks.  Patches would be
> greatly appreciated (or just commit if you have cvs access).
> Otherwise, I need enough details on what breaks in order to
> duplicate/fix the problem.
>
>      One thing to note is that Xen 4.3.0rc1 was released a week ago.
> This raises the question of whether to spend a lot of time working on
> improving the Xen 4.2 packages, or switch to starting work on the Xen
> 4.3 packages?  Any thoughts on this question?

That depends on the portability efforts of your patches from 4.2 to 4.3 
(that remark will not help you much, I know).

Regarding 4.3, there are a few things that will definitely impact 
NetBSD in terms of integration:
- PCI passthru is closer to the upstreamed QEMU (and also KVM); the 
upstreaming will likely require patches to adapt to this change in 
xpci(4) and pciback(4) (hence: more patches);
- CD insertion/ejection through xl (unknown impact on PV guests);
- the cpuidle feature does not require ACPI magic from dom0 anymore, so 
those that use Xen on a laptop (my case for example) will have an easier 
time with heat and battery consumption. No patch required, only testing 
(which I can easily do: booting it on my laptop).

Although 4.3 provides notable improvements, I would not rush into it 
instead of 4.2. The modifications affect other areas than those you had 
to patch in 4.2, and getting 4.2 working decently first (especially 
xl...) is a better choice IMHO.

Cheers,

--
Jean-Yves Migeon