Hi My goal is to create a xen domain using lvm backed storage. It sounds simple and probably is but I am getting caught down in the details. I am using RH5 which I am hopefull will be similar enough to be able to ask on this list. Its the only list on https://www.redhat.com/mailman/listinfo with xen in the name.
Up to now I have been using virt-install to create new domains. It takes care of a lot of detail but this is a lot like spoon feeding and you learn nothing plus it is limited in capabilities at the moment.
Confusion one: When creating a new domain it creates a config file that xm can use: name = "test03" uuid = "80bd6bda-c559-3a68-643c-df0f29d672b9" maxmem = 200 memory = 200 vcpus = 1 bootloader = "/usr/bin/pygrub" on_poweroff = "destroy" on_reboot = "restart" on_crash = "restart" vfb = [ ] disk = [ "tap:aio:/root/temppart/test03.img,xvda,w" ] vif = [ "mac=00:16:3e:24:15:79,bridge=virbr0" ]
When I dump the config using virsh it adds some additinal paramters:
<os> <type>linux</type> <kernel>/var/lib/xen/boot_kernel.nNlfNC</kernel> <initrd>/var/lib/xen/boot_ramdisk.jV4otH</initrd> <cmdline>ro root=/dev/VolGroup00/LogVol00 console=xvc0</cmdline>
This names changes every time you restart the xen domain. What creates this <random> kernel and initrd and would using the following config be the same thing:
<kernel>/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.18-53.el5xen</kernel> <initrd>/boot/initrd-2.6.18-53.el5xen.img</initrd>
I am also a bit confused about the <cmdline> value and how it is used and what it should be. If anybody has a brief explanation of how this fits into the greater scheme of things it would be really appreciated.
Lastly, I have managed to create a xml config file for virsh which does not immediatly complain about any errors. However I am still unsure how/where to specify the installation (http) source. I dont want to copy a existing installation I want to create a new one, would this just be a kernel parameter?
The config file I am using: <domain type='xen' id='3'> <name>test-a-01</name> <os> <type>linux</type> <kernel>/boot/vmlinuz-2.6.18-53.el5xen</kernel> <initrd>/boot/initrd-2.6.18-53.el5xen.img</initrd> <cmdline>ro root=/dev/VolGroup00/LogVol00 console=xvc0</cmdline> </os> <memory>202144</memory> <vcpu>1</vcpu> <on_poweroff>destroy</on_poweroff> <on_reboot>restart</on_reboot> <on_crash>restart</on_crash> <devices> <interface type='bridge'> <source bridge='virbr0'/> <script path='vif-bridge'/> </interface> <disk type='phy' device='disk'> <driver name='tap' type='aio'/> <source file='/root/parts/test-a-01.img'/> <target dev='xvda'/> </disk> <console tty='/dev/pts/2'/> </devices> </domain>
Regards