Is it possible to tar an existing installation running on it''s own box so that I can create a DomU from the tarball? I see that one of the options in xen-tools is to create from a tarball, but I''m having difficulty finding out what options should be used, directories to be excluded (/dev, /proc, /sys, any others?), and other gotchas. -- Matt _______________________________________________ Xen-users mailing list Xen-users@lists.xensource.com http://lists.xensource.com/xen-users
On Thu, Dec 21, 2006 at 10:15:57AM -0800, Matt Richardson wrote:> Is it possible to tar an existing installation running on it''s own box > so that I can create a DomU from the tarball?Mostly yes.> I see that one of the > options in xen-tools is to create from a tarball, but I''m having > difficulty finding out what options should be used, directories to be > excluded (/dev, /proc, /sys, any others?), and other gotchas.Take any working Xen guest (domU) and tar it exluding only /proc, /sys, and /dev. The latter directory is created when you install from the tarball - the former two are transient.) Steve -- _______________________________________________ Xen-users mailing list Xen-users@lists.xensource.com http://lists.xensource.com/xen-users
Yes, it''s a good way to build a basic image. Use the --one-file-system flag or "-l" with GNU tar to avoid descending other filesystems such as /proc, /sys, /dev/usb, etc., etc. Also it''s safest to do on a static filesystem: Building a Xen image copy, then mounting *THAT* to build the tarball is safest. On 12/21/06, Matt Richardson <shortpath@gmail.com> wrote:> > Is it possible to tar an existing installation running on it''s own box > so that I can create a DomU from the tarball? I see that one of the > options in xen-tools is to create from a tarball, but I''m having > difficulty finding out what options should be used, directories to be > excluded (/dev, /proc, /sys, any others?), and other gotchas. > > -- > Matt > > _______________________________________________ > Xen-users mailing list > Xen-users@lists.xensource.com > http://lists.xensource.com/xen-users >_______________________________________________ Xen-users mailing list Xen-users@lists.xensource.com http://lists.xensource.com/xen-users
On 12/21/06, Steve Kemp <steve@steve.org.uk> wrote:> On Thu, Dec 21, 2006 at 10:15:57AM -0800, Matt Richardson wrote: > > > Is it possible to tar an existing installation running on it''s own box > > so that I can create a DomU from the tarball? > > Mostly yes. > > > I see that one of the > > options in xen-tools is to create from a tarball, but I''m having > > difficulty finding out what options should be used, directories to be > > excluded (/dev, /proc, /sys, any others?), and other gotchas. > > Take any working Xen guest (domU) and tar it exluding only /proc, > /sys, and /dev. The latter directory is created when you install > from the tarball - the former two are transient.) > > Steve > -- >You guys are fast. OK, I''m thinking about tarring up my apache server (which is running on it''s own box) and then using that as the tarball to install a guest domain from. That''ll save some time and tedious transfers. -- Matt _______________________________________________ Xen-users mailing list Xen-users@lists.xensource.com http://lists.xensource.com/xen-users
Steve Kemp wrote:> On Thu, Dec 21, 2006 at 10:15:57AM -0800, Matt Richardson wrote: >> I see that one of the >> options in xen-tools is to create from a tarball, but I''m having >> difficulty finding out what options should be used, directories to be >> excluded (/dev, /proc, /sys, any others?), and other gotchas. >> > > Take any working Xen guest (domU) and tar it exluding only /proc, > /sys, and /dev. The latter directory is created when you install > from the tarball - the former two are transient.) >This is exactly what the -l option of GNU tar was invented for, to specifically prevent descending mount points but still get the mountpoint itself. _______________________________________________ Xen-users mailing list Xen-users@lists.xensource.com http://lists.xensource.com/xen-users