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

[Pandu Poluan <pandu@poluan.info>]

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]

>>>> 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).

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

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