Re: [Xen-users] Importing Windows XP installation

Fajar A. Nugraha
Thu, 19 Jun 2008 07:46:40 -0000

flinco@libero.it wrote:
> I would like to know if it is possible to take the pre-installed WinXP
installation (sda1) and to run "as it is" on a xen paravirtual domain.

Possible, but not easy. Your best bet would PROBABLY be to start here
http://www.vmware.com/products/converter/
to convert your machine to vmware disk format and then go here
http://ian.blenke.com/vmware/vmdk/xen/hvm/qemu/vmware_to_xen_hvm.html
to convert it to Xen HVM disk image.

> It''s my first time with xen and (para)virtualization.
>
Which makes it even harder :)
Note that even if your conversion process is succesful, XP will prompt
you to activate your license key again due to hardware change. So in
general, I''d say don''t bother. Install a new XP HVM instead.

> I followed Xen User Manual and "How to Install Windows on Xen
3.0".
> To be able to experiment without damaging the original XP installation I
made a primary unformatted /dev/sda4 (same size of sda1) where I created a
Volume Group called VG_Guests. Then I filled VG_Guests with a Logical Volume I
called win_xp_sp3.
> I tried to copy the physical partition sda1 into the logical volume
win_xp_sp3 (dd if=/dev/sda1 of=/dev/VG_Guests/win_xp_sp3).
>

This is wrong. If you''re using LVM from HVM domU storage, then the LVM
will be the disk, not the partition. In short, if you go the dd-way, it
should be "if=/dev/sda" instead of "if=/dev/sda1". In your
case this
still won''t work though, because your VG is located on sda. Again, your
best bet is probably using the two-step approach above.


Regards,

Fajar