Re: [gentoo-user] QEMU setup questions

[Kerin Millar <kerframil@fastmail.co.uk>]

On 25/07/2013 09:54, Walter Dnes wrote:
> On Thu, Jul 25, 2013 at 05:16:21AM +0100, Kerin Millar wrote
>>
>>> 2) What "vncviewer" or "vncconnect" parameters do I use to get to the
>>> qemu session?
>>
>> Assuming both server and client are run locally, connecting to either
>> "localhost:0" or "localhost:5900" should work.
>
>    Thanks.  That helped me to get it working.
>
>    I stumbled over the solution to my final problem by accident.  When
> booting off the install cd, you have 15 seconds to "hit any key", or
> else it'll try to boot off the "hard drive".  Given that I haven't
> installed yet, it'll try to boot off the blank pseudo "hard drive", and
> fail.  Pressing any key will stop the timer.  I prefer to type in...

Just as on a real PC you can issue Ctrl+Alt+Del to have it reboot again 
(without respawning qemu). Look for the three-finger-salute icon on the 
toolbar.

>
> gentoo net.ifnames=0
>
> ...to give myself "a predictable interface name", namely eth0.  The
> timer stops after I hit the "g", and I can take my time typing the rest
> of the command.  If you don't mind whatever ifname udev generates, you
> can simply hit enter.  The drill *FOR INSTALL ONLY* under vnc is like
> so...
>
> * open up 2 terminals side-by-each
> * in one type the command like the following *BUT DO NOT HIT <ENTER>*
> vncviewer localhost:2
>
> * in the other terminal, type a command like so, and hit <ENTER>
> qemu-system-i386 -vnc :2 -cpu qemu32 -m 3072 -hda sda.raw -cdrom installx86.iso -boot d
>
> * *IMMEDIATELY* go over to the other terminal and hit <ENTER> to
>    activate vncviewer
>
> * *AS SOON AS VNCVIEWER POPS UP* either hit <ENTER> for default install
>    parameters, or start typing your own install command.
>
> * *DO NOT PANIC* when the vncviewer screen goes dark for several seconds
>    as the install checks out its environment.
>
> * One more minor annoyance and workaround... the initial vncviewer
>    screen is a 720x400 xterm.  The install thinks it's in a 1024x768
>    framebuffer, so you get the bottom and right edges of the output
>    clipped.  As soon the penguin logo appears, you can close the xterm
>    containing the vncviewer output, and open another vncviewer with the
>    same command as the original.  This new copy senses the correct
>    "screensize" and you can go on with your install.

That's odd. The VNC client should dynamically change the size of its 
window as appropriate.

>
>
>    I still haven't figured out why only root can run qemu-kvm.  I
> "solved" that problem with an entry in /etc/sudoers.d and it is
> definitely faster.
>
>    If I specify a video card type for the guest, then the driver has to
> be emerged on the guest; is that correct?
>

That's correct if you want optimal performance in X.org. The best option 
is -vga vmware in conjunction with x11-drivers/xf86-video-vmware.

--Kerin