Xen users - Jun 2008 - which OS + which Xen version to get Linux X64 dom0 + Windows dumU working? -I''m desperate

Hi all

I hope someone can please help me with this one.

My end goal:  To setup a dom0 Linux server, running 64bit Linux (for 
server with 16GB+ RAM) & have a Windows (2003 / 2008) domU running on 
top of it.

So far, I have tried:
CentOS 5.1 + default XEN, no luck
CentOS 5.1 + recompiled XEN 3.2, no luck

I don''t even get as far as Windows CD booting up, I don''t even
get the
console.

The I have tried Ubuntu Server 8.0.4, and had some weird, first time 
errors, that no one had seen, and I had to fill a bug report.

So, I have tried Fedora Core 7, and it kept hanging on bootup if I boot 
up with the default Xen kernel. When I bootup without Xen, it boots fine.

The server will be in a production hosting environment, so I need to 
know that the combination I use will be stable. Can someone please make 
a good recommendation for this?

-- 

Kind Regards
Rudi Ahlers
CEO, SoftDux

Web:   http://www.SoftDux.com
Check out my technical blog, http://blog.softdux.com for Linux or other
technical stuff, or visit http://www.WebHostingTalk.co.za for Web Hosting stuff


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Hi Rudi,

Rudi Ahlers schrieb:
> My end goal:  To setup a dom0 Linux server, running 64bit Linux (for 
> server with 16GB+ RAM) & have a Windows (2003 / 2008) domU running on 
> top of it.
that shouldn''t be that tricky.
>
> So far, I have tried:
> CentOS 5.1 + default XEN, no luck
> CentOS 5.1 + recompiled XEN 3.2, no luck
haven''t tried CentOS or Fedora yet
>
> I don''t even get as far as Windows CD booting up, I don''t
even get the
> console.
Console? You need to use VNC or if you''re running an X-server on your 
dom0 you could also use SDL. Did you try to start Windows with "xm 
create <config> -c"?
>
> The I have tried Ubuntu Server 8.0.4, and had some weird, first time 
> errors, that no one had seen, and I had to fill a bug report.
Ubuntu 8.04 Server is running smoothly here. 64bit dom0, serveral linux 
domUs and a 32bit Windows XP domU. Maybe you could send us the link to 
your bug-report, so maybe we could sort it out?
>
> So, I have tried Fedora Core 7, and it kept hanging on bootup if I 
> boot up with the default Xen kernel. When I bootup without Xen, it 
> boots fine.
>
> The server will be in a production hosting environment, so I need to 
> know that the combination I use will be stable. Can someone please 
> make a good recommendation for this?
>
There were 2 or more huge threads here, which covered this question. 
Just search the mailinglists archives. I found this link for example:
http://lists.xensource.com/archives/html/xen-users/2008-05/msg00484.html

Geetz Age_M

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Rudi Ahlers wrote:
> Hi all
>
> I hope someone can please help me with this one.
>
> My end goal:  To setup a dom0 Linux server, running 64bit Linux (for 
> server with 16GB+ RAM) & have a Windows (2003 / 2008) domU running on 
> top of it.
>
> So far, I have tried:
> CentOS 5.1 + default XEN, no luck
> CentOS 5.1 + recompiled XEN 3.2, no luck
>
> I don''t even get as far as Windows CD booting up, I don''t
even get the
> console.
>
> The I have tried Ubuntu Server 8.0.4, and had some weird, first time 
> errors, that no one had seen, and I had to fill a bug report.
>
> So, I have tried Fedora Core 7, and it kept hanging on bootup if I 
> boot up with the default Xen kernel. When I bootup without Xen, it 
> boots fine.
>
> The server will be in a production hosting environment, so I need to 
> know that the combination I use will be stable. Can someone please 
> make a good recommendation for this?
>
I have it running in CentOS 5.1 with Xen 3.2.  I believe the default Xen 
will work as well for windows 2003, but not for 2008. 

Binaries and a mini-how to is on my blog.

http://www.ruslansivak.com/index.cfm/2008/6/9/Xen-32-on-CentOS-51--x8664--RHEL-51-x8664

Russ

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Ruslan Sivak wrote:
> Rudi Ahlers wrote:
>> Hi all
>>
>> I hope someone can please help me with this one.
>>
>> My end goal:  To setup a dom0 Linux server, running 64bit Linux (for 
>> server with 16GB+ RAM) & have a Windows (2003 / 2008) domU running
on
>> top of it.
>>
>> So far, I have tried:
>> CentOS 5.1 + default XEN, no luck
>> CentOS 5.1 + recompiled XEN 3.2, no luck
>>
>> I don''t even get as far as Windows CD booting up, I
don''t even get
>> the console.
>>
>> The I have tried Ubuntu Server 8.0.4, and had some weird, first time 
>> errors, that no one had seen, and I had to fill a bug report.
>>
>> So, I have tried Fedora Core 7, and it kept hanging on bootup if I 
>> boot up with the default Xen kernel. When I bootup without Xen, it 
>> boots fine.
>>
>> The server will be in a production hosting environment, so I need to 
>> know that the combination I use will be stable. Can someone please 
>> make a good recommendation for this?
>>
> I have it running in CentOS 5.1 with Xen 3.2.  I believe the default 
> Xen will work as well for windows 2003, but not for 2008.
> Binaries and a mini-how to is on my blog.
>
>
http://www.ruslansivak.com/index.cfm/2008/6/9/Xen-32-on-CentOS-51--x8664--RHEL-51-x8664
>
>
> Russ
>
> _______________________________________________
Thanx

What you have posted here is what I know already, so it didn''t help
much :)

But, this time I have decided to install Gnome onto CentOS, and try 
virtmanager. Although I''m unable to install Windows 2003 onto a LVM 
volume, I could install it as a file partition. Then I realized one of 
the reasons I could never get it to work, is cause I''m trying to
install
it remotely onto a server without X, using SSH. And since Linux boots up 
fine this way, and I see a graphical installed, Windows needs full 
graphics to start up.

So, how do I install Windows via SSH then?

-- 

Kind Regards
Rudi Ahlers
CEO, SoftDux

Web:   http://www.SoftDux.com
Check out my technical blog, http://blog.softdux.com for Linux or other
technical stuff, or visit http://www.WebHostingTalk.co.za for Web Hosting stuff


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Age_M wrote:
> Hi Rudi,
>
> Rudi Ahlers schrieb:
>> My end goal:  To setup a dom0 Linux server, running 64bit Linux (for 
>> server with 16GB+ RAM) & have a Windows (2003 / 2008) domU running
on
>> top of it.
> that shouldn''t be that tricky.
>>
>> So far, I have tried:
>> CentOS 5.1 + default XEN, no luck
>> CentOS 5.1 + recompiled XEN 3.2, no luck
> haven''t tried CentOS or Fedora yet
I''d prefer to stick with these, since I know it very well, and our 
control panel manufacturers recommend it.
>>
>> I don''t even get as far as Windows CD booting up, I
don''t even get
>> the console.
> Console? You need to use VNC or if you''re running an X-server on
your
> dom0 you could also use SDL. Did you try to start Windows with "xm 
> create <config> -c"?
Yes, I have started the domU via xm create -c /etc/xen/windows2003, and 
can see it running as well. The problem comes into connecting to you, 
and now that you mention it, I probably need VNC, but how do I tell VNC 
to assign an IP to that domU if Windows is not running yet (and I 
haven''t created an IP for it yet)?
I have been able to setup Windows 2003, using virt manager in Gnome, on 
CentOS 5.0 x64, but I need to set it up via SSH on a remote server. Any 
tips?
>>
>> The I have tried Ubuntu Server 8.0.4, and had some weird, first time 
>> errors, that no one had seen, and I had to fill a bug report.
> Ubuntu 8.04 Server is running smoothly here. 64bit dom0, serveral 
> linux domUs and a 32bit Windows XP domU. Maybe you could send us the 
> link to your bug-report, so maybe we could sort it out?
I did''t submit a bug report, since this will be used in a production 
hosting environment, I didn''t want to sit with problems. So I have 
removed Ubuntu, and installed CentOS again
>>
>> So, I have tried Fedora Core 7, and it kept hanging on bootup if I 
>> boot up with the default Xen kernel. When I bootup without Xen, it 
>> boots fine.
>>
>> The server will be in a production hosting environment, so I need to 
>> know that the combination I use will be stable. Can someone please 
>> make a good recommendation for this?
>>
> There were 2 or more huge threads here, which covered this question. 
> Just search the mailinglists archives. I found this link for example:
> http://lists.xensource.com/archives/html/xen-users/2008-05/msg00484.html
>
Which is why I didn''t even bother downloading Fedora Core 9 :)
I''d prefer to stick to CentOS, but I''m downloading FC 8 now,
to see how
it performs
> Geetz Age_M
>



-- 

Kind Regards
Rudi Ahlers
CEO, SoftDux

Web:   http://www.SoftDux.com
Check out my technical blog, http://blog.softdux.com for Linux or other
technical stuff, or visit http://www.WebHostingTalk.co.za for Web Hosting stuff


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Hi Rudi,

Rudi Ahlers wrote:
> Age_M wrote:
>> Hi Rudi,
>>
>> Rudi Ahlers schrieb:
>>> My end goal:  To setup a dom0 Linux server, running 64bit Linux
(for
>>> server with 16GB+ RAM) & have a Windows (2003 / 2008) domU
running
>>> on top of it.
>> that shouldn''t be that tricky.
>>>
>>> So far, I have tried:
>>> CentOS 5.1 + default XEN, no luck
>>> CentOS 5.1 + recompiled XEN 3.2, no luck
>> haven''t tried CentOS or Fedora yet
> I''d prefer to stick with these, since I know it very well, and our
> control panel manufacturers recommend it.
>>>
>>> I don''t even get as far as Windows CD booting up, I
don''t even get
>>> the console.
>> Console? You need to use VNC or if you''re running an X-server
on your
>> dom0 you could also use SDL. Did you try to start Windows with "xm
>> create <config> -c"?
>
> Yes, I have started the domU via xm create -c /etc/xen/windows2003, 
> and can see it running as well. The problem comes into connecting to 
> you, and now that you mention it, I probably need VNC, but how do I 
> tell VNC to assign an IP to that domU if Windows is not running yet 
> (and I haven''t created an IP for it yet)?
> I have been able to setup Windows 2003, using virt manager in Gnome, 
> on CentOS 5.0 x64, but I need to set it up via SSH on a remote server. 
> Any tips?
That is quite simple:
1. Edit your /etc/xen/xend-config.sxp and search for
#(vnc-listen ''127.0.0.1'')
change it to
(vnc-listen ''0.0.0.0'')

You could also set a password with
(vncpasswd ''<yourpasswordhere>'')

save the file and restart xend or reboot

2. Edit your HVM-DomU config file:
add a new line with

vnc=1

save the file and start your domU

Use the realvnc-viewer to connect to your dom0 (not domU)

That should be it :-D

Greetz Age_M
>>>
>>> The I have tried Ubuntu Server 8.0.4, and had some weird, first
time
>>> errors, that no one had seen, and I had to fill a bug report.
>> Ubuntu 8.04 Server is running smoothly here. 64bit dom0, serveral 
>> linux domUs and a 32bit Windows XP domU. Maybe you could send us the 
>> link to your bug-report, so maybe we could sort it out?
> I did''t submit a bug report, since this will be used in a
production
> hosting environment, I didn''t want to sit with problems. So I have
> removed Ubuntu, and installed CentOS again
>>>
>>> So, I have tried Fedora Core 7, and it kept hanging on bootup if I 
>>> boot up with the default Xen kernel. When I bootup without Xen, it 
>>> boots fine.
>>>
>>> The server will be in a production hosting environment, so I need
to
>>> know that the combination I use will be stable. Can someone please 
>>> make a good recommendation for this?
>>>
>> There were 2 or more huge threads here, which covered this question. 
>> Just search the mailinglists archives. I found this link for example:
>>
http://lists.xensource.com/archives/html/xen-users/2008-05/msg00484.html
>>
> Which is why I didn''t even bother downloading Fedora Core 9 :)
> I''d prefer to stick to CentOS, but I''m downloading FC 8
now, to see
> how it performs
>> Geetz Age_M
>>
>
>
>
>

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Age_M wrote:
> Hi Rudi,
>
> Rudi Ahlers wrote:
>> Age_M wrote:
>>> Hi Rudi,
>>>
>>> Rudi Ahlers schrieb:
>>>> My end goal:  To setup a dom0 Linux server, running 64bit Linux
>>>> (for server with 16GB+ RAM) & have a Windows (2003 / 2008)
domU
>>>> running on top of it.
>>> that shouldn''t be that tricky.
>>>>
>>>> So far, I have tried:
>>>> CentOS 5.1 + default XEN, no luck
>>>> CentOS 5.1 + recompiled XEN 3.2, no luck
>>> haven''t tried CentOS or Fedora yet
>> I''d prefer to stick with these, since I know it very well, and
our
>> control panel manufacturers recommend it.
>>>>
>>>> I don''t even get as far as Windows CD booting up, I
don''t even get
>>>> the console.
>>> Console? You need to use VNC or if you''re running an
X-server on
>>> your dom0 you could also use SDL. Did you try to start Windows with
>>> "xm create <config> -c"?
>>
>> Yes, I have started the domU via xm create -c /etc/xen/windows2003, 
>> and can see it running as well. The problem comes into connecting to 
>> you, and now that you mention it, I probably need VNC, but how do I 
>> tell VNC to assign an IP to that domU if Windows is not running yet 
>> (and I haven''t created an IP for it yet)?
>> I have been able to setup Windows 2003, using virt manager in Gnome, 
>> on CentOS 5.0 x64, but I need to set it up via SSH on a remote 
>> server. Any tips?
> That is quite simple:
> 1. Edit your /etc/xen/xend-config.sxp and search for
> #(vnc-listen ''127.0.0.1'')
> change it to
> (vnc-listen ''0.0.0.0'')
>
> You could also set a password with
> (vncpasswd ''<yourpasswordhere>'')
>
> save the file and restart xend or reboot
>
> 2. Edit your HVM-DomU config file:
> add a new line with
>
> vnc=1
>
> save the file and start your domU
>
> Use the realvnc-viewer to connect to your dom0 (not domU)
>
> That should be it :-D
>
> Greetz Age_M
This is probably why I haven''t tried it yet. From what I understand, 
this will allow me to VNC directly to the dom0, but what if the server 
doesn''t have X installed (and I can''t / don''t want to
install X?)

So, how do I set it up so that the VNC listener will work directly with 
the windows2003 domU ?

-- 

Kind Regards
Rudi Ahlers
CEO, SoftDux

Web:   http://www.SoftDux.com
Check out my technical blog, http://blog.softdux.com for Linux or other
technical stuff, or visit http://www.WebHostingTalk.co.za for Web Hosting stuff


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Rudi,
	The solution offered by Age_M connects directly to the virtual
graphics card of the HVM domU, I don''t think X11 is necessary.  Also,
your
firewall would have to allow you to connect to the Dom0 at the correct 59xx
port.  The port can be set in the hvm config file as well.  See a sample
config file for that (I am not on a Linux box right now).  Also, I have at
some point in the past installed Windows Server 2003 using solely a serial
port (on a terminal server).  I don''t remember how, but you can
certainly
find out with a web search, and then figure out how to do that through xen
and ssh with the xm create -c option.  You''ll probably still need to
use vnc
at some point, as I don''t think terminal services / remote desktop will
be
enabled by default.  When using vnc, you don''t want the -c option, as
that
is a console option not typically used for Windows (unless you also use the
serial port for disaster recovery, in which case you still don''t really
need
to connect to it at creation).  Hopefully this info helps you figure it out.
	Dustin

-----Original Message-----
From: xen-users-bounces@lists.xensource.com
[mailto:xen-users-bounces@lists.xensource.com] On Behalf Of Rudi Ahlers
Sent: Friday, June 13, 2008 06:32
To: Age_M
Cc: xen-users
Subject: Re: [Xen-users] which OS + which Xen version to get Linux X64 dom0
+ Windows dumU working? -I''m desperate

Age_M wrote:
> Hi Rudi,
>
> Rudi Ahlers wrote:
>> Age_M wrote:
>>> Hi Rudi,
>>>
>>> Rudi Ahlers schrieb:
>>>> My end goal:  To setup a dom0 Linux server, running 64bit Linux
>>>> (for server with 16GB+ RAM) & have a Windows (2003 / 2008)
domU
>>>> running on top of it.
>>> that shouldn''t be that tricky.
>>>>
>>>> So far, I have tried:
>>>> CentOS 5.1 + default XEN, no luck
>>>> CentOS 5.1 + recompiled XEN 3.2, no luck
>>> haven''t tried CentOS or Fedora yet
>> I''d prefer to stick with these, since I know it very well, and
our
>> control panel manufacturers recommend it.
>>>>
>>>> I don''t even get as far as Windows CD booting up, I
don''t even get
>>>> the console.
>>> Console? You need to use VNC or if you''re running an
X-server on
>>> your dom0 you could also use SDL. Did you try to start Windows with
>>> "xm create <config> -c"?
>>
>> Yes, I have started the domU via xm create -c /etc/xen/windows2003, 
>> and can see it running as well. The problem comes into connecting to 
>> you, and now that you mention it, I probably need VNC, but how do I 
>> tell VNC to assign an IP to that domU if Windows is not running yet 
>> (and I haven''t created an IP for it yet)?
>> I have been able to setup Windows 2003, using virt manager in Gnome, 
>> on CentOS 5.0 x64, but I need to set it up via SSH on a remote 
>> server. Any tips?
> That is quite simple:
> 1. Edit your /etc/xen/xend-config.sxp and search for
> #(vnc-listen ''127.0.0.1'')
> change it to
> (vnc-listen ''0.0.0.0'')
>
> You could also set a password with
> (vncpasswd ''<yourpasswordhere>'')
>
> save the file and restart xend or reboot
>
> 2. Edit your HVM-DomU config file:
> add a new line with
>
> vnc=1
>
> save the file and start your domU
>
> Use the realvnc-viewer to connect to your dom0 (not domU)
>
> That should be it :-D
>
> Greetz Age_M
This is probably why I haven''t tried it yet. From what I understand, 
this will allow me to VNC directly to the dom0, but what if the server 
doesn''t have X installed (and I can''t / don''t want to
install X?)

So, how do I set it up so that the VNC listener will work directly with 
the windows2003 domU ?

-- 

Kind Regards
Rudi Ahlers
CEO, SoftDux

Web:   http://www.SoftDux.com
Check out my technical blog, http://blog.softdux.com for Linux or other
technical stuff, or visit http://www.WebHostingTalk.co.za for Web Hosting
stuff


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Rudi Ahlers schrieb:
> Age_M wrote:
>> Hi Rudi,
>>
>> Rudi Ahlers wrote:
>>> Age_M wrote:
>>>> Hi Rudi,
>>>>
>>>> Rudi Ahlers schrieb:
>>>>> My end goal:  To setup a dom0 Linux server, running 64bit
Linux
>>>>> (for server with 16GB+ RAM) & have a Windows (2003 /
2008) domU
>>>>> running on top of it.
>>>> that shouldn''t be that tricky.
>>>>>
>>>>> So far, I have tried:
>>>>> CentOS 5.1 + default XEN, no luck
>>>>> CentOS 5.1 + recompiled XEN 3.2, no luck
>>>> haven''t tried CentOS or Fedora yet
>>> I''d prefer to stick with these, since I know it very well,
and our
>>> control panel manufacturers recommend it.
>>>>>
>>>>> I don''t even get as far as Windows CD booting up,
I don''t even get
>>>>> the console.
>>>> Console? You need to use VNC or if you''re running an
X-server on
>>>> your dom0 you could also use SDL. Did you try to start Windows
with
>>>> "xm create <config> -c"?
>>>
>>> Yes, I have started the domU via xm create -c /etc/xen/windows2003,
>>> and can see it running as well. The problem comes into connecting
to
>>> you, and now that you mention it, I probably need VNC, but how do I
>>> tell VNC to assign an IP to that domU if Windows is not running yet
>>> (and I haven''t created an IP for it yet)?
>>> I have been able to setup Windows 2003, using virt manager in
Gnome,
>>> on CentOS 5.0 x64, but I need to set it up via SSH on a remote 
>>> server. Any tips?
>> That is quite simple:
>> 1. Edit your /etc/xen/xend-config.sxp and search for
>> #(vnc-listen ''127.0.0.1'')
>> change it to
>> (vnc-listen ''0.0.0.0'')
>>
>> You could also set a password with
>> (vncpasswd ''<yourpasswordhere>'')
>>
>> save the file and restart xend or reboot
>>
>> 2. Edit your HVM-DomU config file:
>> add a new line with
>>
>> vnc=1
>>
>> save the file and start your domU
>>
>> Use the realvnc-viewer to connect to your dom0 (not domU)
>>
>> That should be it :-D
>>
>> Greetz Age_M
> This is probably why I haven''t tried it yet. From what I
understand,
> this will allow me to VNC directly to the dom0, but what if the server 
> doesn''t have X installed (and I can''t / don''t
want to install X?)
>
> So, how do I set it up so that the VNC listener will work directly 
> with the windows2003 domU ?
>
You set it up exacly as I said. You don''t need X in dom0. The dom0 only
provides the service of a direct connection to the virtual graphics 
device on the domU. As a domU neither has an IP address nor a vnc 
service running while it''s in the install process, the dom0 does this 
for you. And with Windows in a domU I''d guess you will prefer RDP 
anyway. So, use vnc to install a hvm domU and afterwards use another 
remote connection like RDP.

Greetz Age_M

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