Re: [gentoo-server] Re: Xen Dom0 using kernel 3.0

[Pandu Poluan <pandu@poluan.info>]

On Mon, Aug 15, 2011 at 19:47, J. Roeleveld <joost@antarean.org> wrote:
> On Mon, August 15, 2011 2:22 pm, Pandu Poluan wrote:
>> On Mon, Aug 15, 2011 at 16:08, J. Roeleveld <joost@antarean.org> wrote:
>>> On Mon, August 15, 2011 8:18 am, Pandu Poluan wrote:
>>>> On Mon, Aug 15, 2011 at 02:29, Joost Roeleveld <joost@antarean.org>
>>>> wrote:
>>>>> On Sunday, August 14, 2011 07:20:18 PM Pandu Poluan wrote:
>>>>>> On 2011-08-14, Joost Roeleveld <joost@antarean.org> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> (Sorry for top-posting. Gmail Java mobile client sucks.)
>>>>>
>>>>> (Fixed this for you)
>>>>>
>>>>>> I was thinking of something similar to XCP ... but with Gentoo as the
>>>>>> Dom0. I'll call it GeDZux (Gentoo Domain Zero Linux) :P
>>>>>
>>>>> A different name would be prefered by myself, not got an idea yet
>>>>> though.
>>>>>
>>>>
>>>> No worry. I know it sounds too... wishy-washy/unserious.
>>>>
>>>> Had originally wanted to call it "Xentoo", but some might mistake it
>>>> for Xen2, or worse Xen 2.0.
>>>>
>>>> Ah well... We'll think of something later :-)
>>>
>>> Xentoo doesn't sound too bad, actually.
>>>
>>>>>> The problem would be how to 'streamline' the installation of a
>>>>>> GeDZux-based Xen Platform. The SysAdmin already has lots of things to
>>>>>> think about; he/she doesn't need to think (too much) about which USE
>>>>>> flags to use, what CFLAGS to put in, which packages to emerge
>>>>>> *initially*, etc.
>>>>>
>>>>> I agree, tools to quickly generate/close new domUs based on templates
>>>>> would
>>>>> help as well. With different options for where the disks are stored:
>>>>> - File
>>>>> - LVM
>>>>> - physical partitions
>>>>
>>>> By domU here, do you mean Gentoo domU's or general domU's?
>>>
>>> Any domU. As far as I am aware, any domU can be configured to use any
>>> block-backend for the partitions/drives.
>>>
>>>> Citrix XenServer's 'template' feature comes to mind...
>>>
>>> Along with cloning/copying/export/....?
>>> VMWare ESX has similar options.
>>>
>>
>> Cloning/copying, check (both "fast storage-based clone" and "full copy")
>>
>> Export, check.
>>
>> Move/migrate, check.
>>
>> If we want similar features, we really should learn about XCP & XAPI
>> [http://wiki.xensource.com/xenwiki/XAPI_Developer_Guide]
>>
>> XCP is Citrix XenServer's "engine", released free a couple of months ago.
>>
>> XAPI is the 'smartness' of XenServer, and thus a part of XCP
>> [http://xen.org/products/cloudxen.html]
>
> Check...
>
>>>>>> That is, how to provide sensible defaults yet not irreversibly
>>>>>> removing Gentoo's freedom. So, GeDZux will be a Gentoo variant, a
>>>>>> 'submetadistro', if you will :P
>>>>>
>>>>> A profile putting all the necessary tools (xen, kernel, bridge,....)
>>>>> as
>>>>> required.
>>>>
>>>> Aha! Good idea. Let me learn how to make a profile then.
>>>
>>> That way we can also set default USE-flags suitable for when using Xen.
>>>
>>
>> Gotcha :-)
>>
>> I'm going to try out on my company's VMware boxes (the guys at
>> xen-users said that Xen runs okay on VMware, albeit without HVM domU
>> support).
>
> I think starting with a list of packages and use-flags needed to get PV
> and HVM domains running would be a good starting point.
> Then, we can put that into a profile and create a stage4 tar-file with
> current versions.
>

I assume those are packages and use-flags on the dom0? I agree.

Anyways, good news: I may soon land my grubby hands on an unused IBM
Server. It's a new-ish one, AFAICT, so it should support VT-x.

We can thus test HVM domU's, yay!

> I think it would be a good idea to try to continue on this with the
> maintainers for Xen on Gentoo?
>

Aren't they on this list, too?

Rgds,
-- 
FdS Pandu E Poluan
~ IT Optimizer ~

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