libvirt users - Dec 2010 - KVM Virtualisation, Console output no longer working

Hi,

I used to use KVM for virtualisation and have now moved back to it, but I
have a problem.

When i used to install the guest machine with virt-install i used to use
the -x "extra args" part to set the console for the install and guest,
but
it no longer works.

Here is the command i use:

virt-install -n server01 -r 512 --os-variant=virtio26 -c /isos/c5u5.iso
--nographics --noautoconsole -f /storage/vm/server01 -s 5 bus=virtio -w
bridge:br0 -x "console=ttyS0 ks=http://www.domain.com/c5u5.cfg"
As you can see im setting the console to ttyS0, but then when i go to
connect to the console with:

virsh console server01
it either wont connect or comes up with: error: Failed to get local hostname

Here is a dump of the xml, but no mention of ttyS0 either.

<domain type='qemu' id='5'>
  <name>server01</name>
  <uuid>5991cf85-db6c-2b87-b76d-07a0caae77b9</uuid>
  <memory>524288</memory>
  <currentMemory>524288</currentMemory>
  <vcpu>1</vcpu>
  <os>
    <type arch='x86_64'
machine='rhel5.4.0'>hvm</type>
    <boot dev='cdrom'/>
  </os>
  <features>
    <acpi/>
    <apic/>
    <pae/>
  </features>
  <clock offset='utc'/>
  <on_poweroff>destroy</on_poweroff>
  <on_reboot>destroy</on_reboot>
  <on_crash>destroy</on_crash>
  <devices>
    <emulator>/usr/libexec/qemu-kvm</emulator>
    <disk type='file' device='disk'>
      <driver name='qemu' cache='none'/>
      <source file='/storage/vm/server01'/>
      <target dev='hda' bus='ide'/>
    </disk>
    <disk type='file' device='cdrom'>
      <source file='/isos/c5u5.iso'/>
      <target dev='hdc' bus='ide'/>
      <readonly/>
    </disk>
    <interface type='bridge'>
      <mac address='54:52:00:61:ea:78'/>
      <source bridge='br0'/>
      <target dev='vnet0'/>
    </interface>
    <serial type='pty'>
      <source path='/dev/pts/2'/>
      <target port='0'/>
    </serial>
    <console type='pty' tty='/dev/pts/2'>
      <source path='/dev/pts/2'/>
      <target port='0'/>
    </console>
  </devices>
</domain>
Can anyone shed any light on this as im totally stuck.

On Wed, Dec 15, 2010 at 12:06:27PM -0000, tony at specialistdevelopment.com
wrote:
> Hi,
> 
> I used to use KVM for virtualisation and have now moved back to it, but I
> have a problem.
> 
> When i used to install the guest machine with virt-install i used to use
> the -x "extra args" part to set the console for the install and
guest, but
> it no longer works.
> 
> Here is the command i use:
> 
> virt-install -n server01 -r 512 --os-variant=virtio26 -c /isos/c5u5.iso
> --nographics --noautoconsole -f /storage/vm/server01 -s 5 bus=virtio -w
> bridge:br0 -x "console=ttyS0 ks=http://www.domain.com/c5u5.cfg"
> As you can see im setting the console to ttyS0, but then when i go to
> connect to the console with:
You are doing a CDROM based install. The kernel args for that are set
in the syslinux config file inside the ISO image and can't be overriden
using -x. The -x arg only works when doing a kernel+initrd install
(ie --location instead of --cdrom/-c)

Daniel