xen discuss - Nov 2009 - How should I specify the device interface bridge target in my domU

When constructing an XML file to use for creating a new domU I''m
specifying the network interface
device like so:

     <devices>
         ...
         <interface type=''bridge''>
             <source bridge=''REPLACE_THIS''/>
             <target dev=''vif-1.0''/>
             <mac address=''REPLACE_THIS''/>
         </interface>
         ...
     </devices>

The attribute values which are marked ''REPLACE_THIS'' in the
template above get replaced by
host-specific values when I construct the XML.  My question is whether or not I
can safely use
''vif-1.0'' as the target device value for all domUs or if I
should also be replacing this value on a
host by host basis?  If I need to specify this attribute value per host then how
can I determine
what the correct value should be?

Thanks in advance for your comments, advice, etc.

--James

On Tue, Nov 10, 2009 at 04:13:39PM -0500, James Adams wrote:
>     <devices>
>         ...
>         <interface type=''bridge''>
>             <source bridge=''REPLACE_THIS''/>
>             <target dev=''vif-1.0''/>
>             <mac address=''REPLACE_THIS''/>
>         </interface>
>         ...
>     </devices>
> 
> The attribute values which are marked ''REPLACE_THIS'' in
the template above
> get replaced by host-specific values when I construct the XML.
You probably want to leave the bridge out and let it be auto-chosen.
> My question 
> is whether or not I can safely use ''vif-1.0'' as the
target device value for
> all domUs or if I should also be replacing this value on a host by host 
> basis?
It''s ignored so you can leave it out altogether.

regards
john

Thanks so much for the clarification, John.  This approach (omitting the source
and target
altogether from the XML) seems to be working like a champ.

--James

John Levon wrote:
> On Tue, Nov 10, 2009 at 04:13:39PM -0500, James Adams wrote:
> 
>>     <devices>
>>         ...
>>         <interface type=''bridge''>
>>             <source bridge=''REPLACE_THIS''/>
>>             <target dev=''vif-1.0''/>
>>             <mac address=''REPLACE_THIS''/>
>>         </interface>
>>         ...
>>     </devices>
>>
>> The attribute values which are marked ''REPLACE_THIS''
in the template above
>> get replaced by host-specific values when I construct the XML.
> 
> You probably want to leave the bridge out and let it be auto-chosen.
> 
>> My question 
>> is whether or not I can safely use ''vif-1.0'' as the
target device value for
>> all domUs or if I should also be replacing this value on a host by host
>> basis?
> 
> It''s ignored so you can leave it out altogether.
> 
> regards
> john