CentOS - Aug 2009 - virt-manager crashes Host during installation of guest

Hi!

I have the following problem: I have a server (CentOS 5.3 x86_64) on
which I want to install a virtual Xen-machine (CentOS 5.3 x86_64), I
ssh from my workstation (Centos 5.3 x86_64 .... do you see the pattern ;) )
to that server and start the virt-manager. I create a new Guest
(Paravirtualiuzed) and point it to the server with the installation
files (CentOS 5.3, but I already said that). The manager creates the
disk image an then opens the Graphical console for
installation. Sometime around the point where the installation program
wants me to select the keyboard the graphical console it freezes. The
server is completely dead (no console, no disk activity, no ping, only
a reset will "repair" it)

My question: am I doing something stupid? But I figured "They're all
the same system, this must work"

I don't want to play around with it too much as the server is also our
file-server and people start complaining.

So any hint will be greatly appreciated (otherwise I'll have to setup
another machine for the guests)

Bernhard

-- 
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DI Bernhard F.W. Gschaider
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EMail: 	Bernhard.Gschaider at ice-sf.at
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----- Original Message ----
> From: Bernhard Gschaider <bgschaid_lists at ice-sf.at>
> To: centos at centos.org
> Sent: Tuesday, 18 August, 2009 18:56:36
> Subject: [CentOS] virt-manager crashes Host during installation of guest
> 
> 
> Hi!
> 
> I have the following problem: I have a server (CentOS 5.3 x86_64) on
> which I want to install a virtual Xen-machine (CentOS 5.3 x86_64), I
> ssh from my workstation (Centos 5.3 x86_64 .... do you see the pattern ;) )
> to that server and start the virt-manager. I create a new Guest
> (Paravirtualiuzed) and point it to the server with the installation
> files (CentOS 5.3, but I already said that). The manager creates the
> disk image an then opens the Graphical console for
> installation. Sometime around the point where the installation program
> wants me to select the keyboard the graphical console it freezes. The
> server is completely dead (no console, no disk activity, no ping, only
> a reset will "repair" it)
> 
> My question: am I doing something stupid? But I figured "They're
all
> the same system, this must work"
> 
> I don't want to play around with it too much as the server is also our
> file-server and people start complaining.
> 
> So any hint will be greatly appreciated (otherwise I'll have to setup
> another machine for the guests)
Personally, I use the technique described in the Wiki  -
http://wiki.centos.org/HowTos/Xen/InstallingCentOSDomU

It has worked flawlessly for me every time. Once you have one install config
file and one for running, you can easily make copies to accommodate extra
guests. You don't have to do the kickstart bit if you're happy to select
your options at install time, like a normal install.

When I did first use virt-manager, it seemed okay. I didn't want to become
dependent on a GUI tool, though.

xen-user list is a good place for further Xen specific advice.

I would also recommend using the Xen hypervisor and tools at the gitco
repository. http://www.gitco.de/repo/

Bernhard Gschaider wrote on Tue, 18 Aug 2009 19:56:36 +0200:
> My question: am I doing something stupid? But I figured "They're
all
> the same system, this must work"
> 
> I don't want to play around with it too much as the server is also our
> file-server and people start complaining.
> 
> So any hint will be greatly appreciated (otherwise I'll have to setup
> another machine for the guests)
Can't help with figuring out the virt-manager problem. My first steps with 
Xen where with virt-manager, but that's been a long time ago (and it 
worked fine back then). I haven't looked at it since then. You simply 
don't need it, usually you don't want to run any X on a server. 

virt-install works fine, is command-line and you can either have it ask 
for all the parameters or you can provide all of them, so it's a "one 
command" installation.

Kai

-- 
Kai Sch?tzl, Berlin, Germany
Get your web at Conactive Internet Services: http://www.conactive.com

Bernhard Gschaider wrote:
> Hi!
> 
> I have the following problem: I have a server (CentOS 5.3 x86_64) on
> which I want to install a virtual Xen-machine (CentOS 5.3 x86_64), I
> ssh from my workstation (Centos 5.3 x86_64 .... do you see the pattern ;) )
> to that server and start the virt-manager. I create a new Guest
> (Paravirtualiuzed) and point it to the server with the installation
> files (CentOS 5.3, but I already said that). The manager creates the
> disk image an then opens the Graphical console for
> installation. Sometime around the point where the installation program
> wants me to select the keyboard the graphical console it freezes. The
> server is completely dead (no console, no disk activity, no ping, only
> a reset will "repair" it)
> 
> My question: am I doing something stupid? But I figured "They're
all
> the same system, this must work"
> 
> I don't want to play around with it too much as the server is also our
> file-server and people start complaining.
> 
> So any hint will be greatly appreciated (otherwise I'll have to setup
> another machine for the guests)
> 
> Bernhard
> 
> 
> 
> ------------------------------------------------------------------------
> 
> _______________________________________________
> CentOS mailing list
> CentOS at centos.org
> http://lists.centos.org/mailman/listinfo/centos
Hi

I use the virt-manager, but I always use a kickstart to do the 
installation and I never had problems.

Regards

mg.