Re: xen-bootable DomU images for linux

[Chuck Zmudzinski <frchuckz%gmail.com@localhost>]

On 1/10/2023 1:36 PM, Brook Milligan wrote:
> > On Jan 9, 2023, at 1:07 PM, Brad Spencer <brad%anduin.eldar.org@localhost> wrote:
> > 
> > It will depend on how you ultimately want to run the DOMU,
>
> For now, I’m just trying to get something to work.
>
> > This is a ArchLinux config using HVM:
> > kernel = "/usr/pkg/lib/xen/boot/hvmloader"
> > builder='hvm'
> > device_model_version="qemu-xen-traditional"
> > memory = 2048
> > cpu_weight = 64
> > name = "archlinux"
> > vif = [ 'bridge=bridge4, type=ioemu' ]
> > disk = [ 'phy:/dev/mapper/rustvg0-archlinuxlv0,ioemu:hda,w' ]
> > boot='c'
> > vfb = [ 'type=vnc,vnclisten=10.1.2.1' ]
>
> This is helpful as it seems to make a bit of progress.
>
> I downloaded a Debian image

You might have chosen the wrong Linux distro:

https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=1005308

The root cause of that problem is:

https://bugs.debian.org/cgi-bin/bugreport.cgi?bug=983357

It is clearly not a priority for Debian to provide good support for its
installation media in a Xen HVM.

There is a workaround to alter the iso file to make it work, but unless
you really want Debian, I would recommend trying a Fedora live image.
It does work on Xen HVM without special hacks, last time I tried it.

Cheers,

Chuck

> and tried to create a Xen instance with the following conf file modeled after yours:
>
> kernel = "/usr/pkg/lib/xen/boot/hvmloader"
> builder='hvm'
> device_model_version="qemu-xen-traditional"
> memory = 2048
> cpu_weight = 64
> name = "debian"
> vif = [ 'mac=aa:00:00:d1:00:09,bridge=bridge0' ]
> disk = [ 'file:/path/to/xen/debian-live-11.6.0-amd64-cinnamon.iso,hda,w', ]
> boot='c'
> vfb = [ 'type=vnc,vnclisten=X.X.X.X' ]
>
> I get the following message:
>
> 	WARNING: you seem to be using "kernel" directive to override HVM guest firmware. Ignore that. Use "firmware_override" instead if you really want a non-default firmware
>
> Is this something to worry about?
>
> More importantly, I am not able to connect to the running instance.  Connecting with “xl console” just hangs.  Perhaps vnc should work, but I’m not sure how to do that.  I have tried vncviewer commands that are analogous to what I use for other systems, but nothing connects, despite trying several different IP addresses for the vfb.  Do I also need to define a display?
>
> I’m not sure how to see what is actually running.  Does anyone have a known-good image and conf file to share (off list).
>
> Any suggestions welcome.
>
> Thanks a lot.
>
> Cheers,
> Brook
>