[CentOS] Xen3.2 rpm's?

Fri Mar 28 16:24:49 UTC 2008
Rudi Ahlers <Rudi at SoftDux.com>

Ross S. W. Walker wrote:
> Rudi Ahlers wrote:
>   
>> Ross S. W. Walker wrote:
>>     
>>> Rudi Ahlers wrote:
>>>       
>>>> Ross S. W. Walker wrote:
>>>>         
>>>>> Rudi Ahlers wrote:
>>>>>           
>>>>>> Ross S. W. Walker wrote:
>>>>>>             
>>>>>>> Rudi Ahlers wrote:
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>               
>>>>>>>> Hi
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>> Does anyone know when the Xen3.2 rpm's will be part of the 
>>>>>>>> CentOS repo's?
>>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>>                 
>>>>>>> CentOS 6 probably.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Upstream really can't change the Xen hypervisor too much within
>>>>>>> a release as that goes against the distribution's philosophy.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> If you really want Xen 3.2, why not download the CentOS 5 rpms
>>>>>>> from xen.org and use it. It works transparently with the CentOS
>>>>>>> kernel package and updates the CentOS Xen packages.
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>> Just remember to change the Xen kernel name in grub each time
>>>>>>> the CentOS kernel changes! I still forget to do this and it
>>>>>>> bites me all the time :-(
>>>>>>>
>>>>>>>               
>>>>>> Cause I want to use it on a kickstart file, but someone on the kickstart 
>>>>>> list just showed me how to install those rpm's from the kickstart file, 
>>>>>> so I'll try that and see what hapens.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Do I still use the xen-2.6.18-53 kernel? 
>>>>>> kernel-xen-2.6.18-53.1.6.el5.x86_64.rpm 
>>>>>>
>>>>>>             
>>>>> Yes, continue to use the CentOS supplied kernels.
>>>>>
>>>>>           
>>>>>> What do you mean I need to rename it in the grub menu? What 
>>>>>> happens if I don't?
>>>>>>
>>>>>>             
>>>>> Here's what I mean, when you install a CentOS Xen kernel the grub
>>>>> menu for that kernel will look like this:
>>>>>
>>>>> title CentOS (2.6.18-53.1.14.el5.centos.plusxen)
>>>>>         root (hd0,0)
>>>>>         kernel /xen.gz-2.6.18-53.1.14.el5.centos.plus
>>>>>         module /vmlinuz-2.6.18-53.1.14.el5.centos.plusxen ro root=/dev/CentOS/root
>>>>>         module /initrd-2.6.18-53.1.14.el5.centos.plusxen.img
>>>>>
>>>>> You need to change the 'kernel /xen.gz-2.6.18-53.1.14.el5.centos.plus'
>>>>> to read 'kernel /xen.gz-3.2'
>>>>>
>>>>> If you don't do this xend will fail to run and your domains will
>>>>> fail to start because the userland tools are expecting a Xen 3.2
>>>>> kernel and you will have a Xen 3.1 kernel running.
>>>>>
>>>>>           
>>>> Ok, I see what you say. Not too familiar with grub menu, what exactly 
>>>> does that do? Does it just rename it, or does it tell the system to load 
>>>> a different file?
>>>>         
>>> Grub is what CentOS uses to determine which kernel file to start.
>>>
>>> The change will force grub to load the Xen 3.2 kernel instead of
>>> the Xen 3.1 kernel that the CentOS Xen kernel packages come with.
>>>       
>> Ok, that I understand. So, do I still need to install the default Xen 
>> kernel from the CD than?
>>     
>
> Yes, install the regular CentOS Xen virtualization stuff then afterwards
> upgrade the xen packages with those off xen.org, update your grub.conf
> and your good to go.
>
> -Ross
Thanx.

Will this work from a kickstart file, or so I need to let the machine 
boot into Xen first ?

-- 

Kind Regards
Rudi Ahlers
CEO, SoftDux

Web:   http://www.SoftDux.com
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