[kernel-xen] Installing Debian using Xen 4.2.0

[Steven Haigh]

Ok, so I'm still getting used to how Debian works... however, I've 
installed Debian successfully by using the following DomU config:

name            = "debtest.vm"
memory          = 1024
vcpus           = 2
cpus            = "1-7"
on_poweroff     = 'destroy'
on_reboot       = 'restart'
on_crash        = 'restart'

kernel          = "/root/debian/vmlinuz"
ramdisk         = "/root/debian/initrd.gz"
extra           = "debian-installer/exit/always_halt=true -- console=hvc0"

localtime       = 0
disk            = [ 'phy:/dev/vg_hosting/debtest.vm,xvda,w' ]

vif             = [ 'mac=20:34:01:36:00:99,bridge=br0' ]

I obtained the vmlinuz and initrd.gz files from:
	http://cdn.debian.net/debian/dists/squeeze/main/installer-amd64/current/images/netboot/xen/

While this will probably have to be modified for whoever else wants to 
use this, the install seems to be working correctly so far. I think my 
previous errors were simply me not having a clue about the Debian installer.

I ran through the installer by creating the DomU:
	xm create debtest.vm -c

Then followed the prompts. I installed as a whole disk install and just 
let the installer take care of the rest for me... It took ~5 minutes to 
download 1132 packages and then about the same to install them all.

After this was done, I edited the xen config file to as follows:

name            = "debtest.vm"
memory          = 1024
vcpus           = 2
cpus            = "1-7"
on_poweroff     = 'destroy'
on_reboot       = 'restart'
on_crash        = 'restart'

bootloader      = "pygrub"

localtime       = 0
disk            = [ 'phy:/dev/vg_hosting/debtest.vm,xvda,w' ]

vif             = [ 'mac=20:34:01:36:00:99,bridge=br0' ]

I then fired up the DomU using:
	xm create debtest.vm

Up it booted. Seems everything boots and works as it should. All 
packages seem to be at their latest:

root at debian:~# apt-get upgrade
Reading package lists... Done
Building dependency tree
Reading state information... Done
0 upgraded, 0 newly installed, 0 to remove and 0 not upgraded.
root at debian:~# cat /etc/debian_version
6.0.5
root at debian:~#

So, this leaves me to wonder what issues people are having?

-- 
Steven Haigh

Email: netwiz at crc.id.au
Web: http://www.crc.id.au
Phone: (03) 9001 6090 - 0412 935 897
Fax: (03) 8338 0299