Re: [Xen-users] Importing Windows XP installation

Fajar A. Nugraha
Thu, 26 Jun 2008 03:56:13 -0000

flinco@libero.it wrote:
> Few days ago I followed a two step procedure:
> - first (on Windows) I created a VMWare image of WinXp partition using
"VMWare converter"
> - then (on Linux) I converted the VMWare image into a qemu image with the
following commands:
> vmware-vdiskmanager -r win_xp.vmdk -t 0 win-xp-flattened.vmdk
> qemu-img convert win_xp-flattened.vmdk win_xp.img
>
> Then I transferred the image on /dev/sda4:
> dd if=win_xp.img of=/dev/sda4
>
> It works and I can boot properly.
>

WOW! I never thought you''d actually follow the two-step procedure.
Congratulations for getting it to boot!

> But now I must face other problems:
> - I know I must reactivate WinXP; to reactivate I need it recognize a NIC
but it doesn''t.
> In win_xp.vhm I set:
> vif = [ ''type=ioemu, mac=00:XX:XX:XX:XX:XX, bridge=xenbr0,
model=rtl8139'' ]
> This because (in Safe Mode I discovered that a RTL8139 NIC driver is
already installed even if the actual installed NIC is a RTL8111/8168B.
>

Not sure if you need it. Here''s the relevant line on my config :

vif = [ ''type=ioemu, mac=00:xx:xx:xx:xx:xx, bridge=brxxx'' ]
disk = [ ''phy:/dev/rootvg/gplpvlv,hda,w'',
''file:/data/src/iso/my_cd_image.iso,hdc:cdrom,r'' ]

No model needed, WinXP automatically detectes my NIC.

> For the record I''m using all original Fedora 8 stuff (xen-3.1.2
with kernel 2.6.21.7) with no change to any config script.
>
> Other problem:
> I get last stable WindowsXenPV driver from http://www.meadowcourt.org
> I booted HVM win_xp and I installed them in Safe Mode.

Before you go there should should first make sure that you can boot to
normal mode (not safe mode) successfully. I''d generally say
don''t bother
with gplpv if you''re still having problem.

GPLPV should increase disk/network performance, but it''s stil in
testing
(alpha/beta) stage. See
http://wiki.xensource.com/xenwiki/XenWindowsGplPv/Installing for
installation, section "Installing (0.9.5 and above)". I tested it on
XP-SP2/RHEL5.2/Xen-3.2.1, it works great. Not sure about xen-3.1 though.

Installing gplpv will change the drivers for disk and NIC, so if want to
reactivate your installation you should do that AFTER getting gplpv to work.

Regards,

Fajar