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Re: [Xen-users] Clear definitions

To: "Petersson, Mats" <Mats.Petersson@xxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: [Xen-users] Clear definitions
From: Nico Kadel-Garcia <nkadel@xxxxxxxxx>
Date: Thu, 05 Apr 2007 11:58:54 +0100
Cc: Fabio Viero <fviero@xxxxxxxxx>, xen-users@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
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Petersson, Mats wrote:
[snip]
Let´s go for a practical example. Assume i´m using SLES10 and booting
the Xen kernel that comes with the distribuition. Right? Let´s go
ahead. I don´t like too much the yast way of doing things but let´s
use it now. I create a virtual machine, the only option available is
"paravirtualization" because i don´t have VT or V as processor. I will
not lie now and tell you that i did install an unmodified linux OS
(say stock Fedora). But i´ve read reports of people doing it. You
said: "To run unmodified (any OS), you'll need a processor that has
AMD-V or Intel VT.". I know i´m missing something here, as soon as i
discover what is this "miss" i´ll probably head in the right
direction. I´m afraid i still in need of some guidance :) and the
question that arose is: wich is true on the above? i will NOT be able
to install Fedora? or i WILL be able to run un unmodified OS, contrary
to what you said?

Ok, let's take a step back and discuss what I mean by "unmodified". I'm pretty sure some people (for example XenSource, Virtual Iron, SuSE, RedHat/Fedora) have developed tools that allow you to install a guest from the base-install media (or at least that will help you through part of that process). [Of course, whether those tools allow you to install a Fedora image with SuSE tools or SuSE image with Fedora tools is a different matter - I don't know the answer to this]. However, if you don't have AMD-V or Intel VT on the processor, the kernel used in such an installation MUSST be one that uses a MODIFIED kernel. That is, a kernel that is specifically built to talk to Xen, rather than the kernel that you'd use for bare-metal (the hardware without Xen). This is what's meant by "modified" vs. "unmodified". The unmodified uses exactly the same binary image as you'd use on "bare-metal", which means that no special kernel is needed.
With the virtualization extensions, you can just take the installation CD/DVD 
and set the virtual machine to say:
Your CD/DVD is this (either the physical device or an ISO-image). Your Hard-disk is this (a file, logical volume or physical device)

And off you go and install it, just like you would on bare-metal - the only difference is the fact that your "console" is a window instead of the full screen.
Has anyone done PXE installations on DomU setups, rather than inserting the disk (or mounting an ISO, always lots of fun too!)

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