Xen Dom0 boots, runs, but not really? [solved]

dvh · Last edited by dvh on Sun Aug 15, 2010 11:34 pm; edited 1 time in total

I am totally new to Xen, but I have been using Gentoo for several years. Just created a new 64-bit Gentoo machine using the xen-sources (2.6.34). I followed this guide (http://www.gentoo.org/doc/en/xen-guide.xml). The xen kernel boots just fine, and appears to function *normally* as I am able to work in dom0 without issues.

so, just to verify that the xen hypervisor was alive and well, I did this:

idella4 · Posted: Sun Aug 15, 2010 5:38 pm Post subject:

dvh,

this won't be hard.

Forget about python. It's not that. Go to your xen kernel end enter and post
grep EVTCHN .config

Do you have libvirt installed? Which version of xen? xen can be tender. Won't take too much Also, have a look at your /etc/xen/xend-config.sxp and describe the settings. Don't post it it's too long. There's only a handful of settings in between all the commented text.
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dvh · Posted: Sun Aug 15, 2010 5:47 pm Post subject:

thanks for the quick response, idella4. here is what you asked for:

idella4 · Posted: Sun Aug 15, 2010 5:51 pm Post subject:

right,
lsmod
look for evtchn

My guess it's not there. If not
modprobe evtchn
Post that xend-config if you're not there yet but it won't be long
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idella4@aus

dvh · Posted: Sun Aug 15, 2010 5:53 pm Post subject:

oops, missed you last request. Here are the only lines in xend-config:

dvh · Posted: Sun Aug 15, 2010 5:57 pm Post subject:

you are correct. no evtchn shown by lsmod. after doing the modprobe, I now get this response:

idella4 · Posted: Sun Aug 15, 2010 6:07 pm Post subject:

dvh

Uhhhh, it's fixed.
gentoo-64 xen # xm list
Name ID Mem VCPUs State Time(s)
Domain-0
is exactly right. xm has listed the running domains. There is only Domain-0, your gentoo.
Module or builtin, either way. your choice, both are fine. Leave as a module, add the module to autoloading on boot, is fine.

what is wrong with your second cited output?
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idella4@aus

dvh · Posted: Sun Aug 15, 2010 6:11 pm Post subject:

ok. thanks again. you were right, that was easy. I guess I was still thrown off by the xend process listing, but I guess that will change when xend is started using the rc process. you asked about libvirt...do I need this, and what value will it add?

-dvh

idella4 · Posted: Sun Aug 15, 2010 6:18 pm Post subject:

well, depends what you are aiming to do. My preference is using virt-manager to run vms. The vms are listed in the manager gui.
It pulls in libvirt and virtinst and some more python packages, and they really need the right use flags.
It's an option, not a required component. Chances are if you have a clear plan to do, settle for it and don't worry about the others.
I find running bare xen is very manual.
If you go for virt-manager, fine. It means you might be back for more to support ti get libvirt straightened out, maybe.
virtinst is very good, if you want to do some installing of vms. If not and you have a plan, just as well do that.
Just add [solved] in your thread title.
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idella4@aus

dvh

guess I don't know WHAT I am aiming to do. I'm just getting started with this. I have been using Virtualbox on Mac OSX to run both gentoo and arch linux VMs. I have stability issues with those VMs. I have installed now (for dual boot) my gentoo-64 onto the Mac mini, and I want to investigate Xen, so that I can compare vs. Virtuabox. I don't have a corporate need or any real reason to need virtualization, but I do want to learn, and gentoo has helped me learn in the past, so I thought I would try this for me second approach to virtualization.

With Virtualbox, I can and do run windows and linux guests, and for the most part, they are unmodified from their normal configurations (I do add something called "guest additions", which provide 3D graphics accel, mouse and keyboard integration, and shared folders). I don't know enough about xen yet, but it looks to me like I will need specifically configured guests, as opposed to just their plain variants. read just a bit about "HVM" kernels, but I don't yet know enough about those to be dangerous.

I quite obviously have a lot to learn. thanks again for your help, and for pointing me towards virt-manager. I will be checking that out.

-dvh