I finally have a xen server to play with stuff that''s causing me problems on my production servers. One of those problems is simply installing Windows 2003. Here''s what I do: Open virt-manager set up a new install: full virt 512 ram 20 gig sparse file boot off /dev/cdrom The install starts as you''d expect. When it gets to the formatting I tell it to format in NTFS. When the format finishes, instead of continuing with the install, it reboots the domu. I believe at this point windows normally copies files for installation. When it tries to boot it gives an error "NTLDR is missing". Has anyone seen this before? Now that I have this system in front of me I can try whatever I want. My production servers are remote so it''s harder to work with them. Help is appreciated. Thanks, James _______________________________________________ Xen-users mailing list Xen-users@lists.xensource.com http://lists.xensource.com/xen-users
Michael Kershaw
2008-Jul-15 02:30 UTC
Re: [Xen-users] Can''t install Windows 2003 on SLES10SP1
I haven''t tried the install yet, but the first thing I would probably do is upgrade to Sp2 and try it out. Do you have that availability? Mike On Mon, Jul 14, 2008 at 3:58 PM, James Pifer <jep@obrien-pifer.com> wrote:> I finally have a xen server to play with stuff that''s causing me > problems on my production servers. One of those problems is simply > installing Windows 2003. Here''s what I do: > > Open virt-manager > set up a new install: > full virt > 512 ram > 20 gig sparse file > boot off /dev/cdrom > > The install starts as you''d expect. When it gets to the formatting I > tell it to format in NTFS. When the format finishes, instead of > continuing with the install, it reboots the domu. I believe at this > point windows normally copies files for installation. When it tries to > boot it gives an error "NTLDR is missing". > > Has anyone seen this before? > > Now that I have this system in front of me I can try whatever I want. My > production servers are remote so it''s harder to work with them. Help is > appreciated. > > Thanks, > James > > > _______________________________________________ > Xen-users mailing list > Xen-users@lists.xensource.com > http://lists.xensource.com/xen-users >_______________________________________________ Xen-users mailing list Xen-users@lists.xensource.com http://lists.xensource.com/xen-users
On Mon July 14 2008 3:58:01 pm James Pifer wrote:> Open virt-manager > set up a new install: > full virt > 512 ram > 20 gig sparse file > boot off /dev/cdromJust a shot in the dark - depending on your distro, Windows might not like sparse files. Have you tried a pre-filled out file, like one made with ''dd''? _______________________________________________ Xen-users mailing list Xen-users@lists.xensource.com http://lists.xensource.com/xen-users
James Harper
2008-Jul-15 03:07 UTC
RE: [Xen-users] Can''t install Windows 2003 on SLES10SP1
> On Mon July 14 2008 3:58:01 pm James Pifer wrote: > > Open virt-manager > > set up a new install: > > full virt > > 512 ram > > 20 gig sparse file > > boot off /dev/cdrom > > Just a shot in the dark - depending on your distro, Windows might not like > sparse files. Have you tried a pre-filled out file, like one made with > ''dd''?Fwiw, under Debian Etch/Lenny, I use sparse files all the time without any problems, using ''file:''. I can''t speak for any of the ''tap:'' methods though. James _______________________________________________ Xen-users mailing list Xen-users@lists.xensource.com http://lists.xensource.com/xen-users
Nico Kadel-Garcia
2008-Jul-15 08:35 UTC
Re: [Xen-users] Can''t install Windows 2003 on SLES10SP1
James Pifer wrote:> I finally have a xen server to play with stuff that''s causing me > problems on my production servers. One of those problems is simply > installing Windows 2003. Here''s what I do: > > Open virt-manager > set up a new install: > full virt > 512 ram > 20 gig sparse file >You haven''t said what your Dom0 is, what OS and what version of Xen. Please state this. By the way, don''t use sparse files if you don''t have to.> boot off /dev/cdrom > > The install starts as you''d expect. When it gets to the formatting I > tell it to format in NTFS. When the format finishes, instead of > continuing with the install, it reboots the domu. I believe at this > point windows normally copies files for installation. When it tries to > boot it gives an error "NTLDR is missing". > > Has anyone seen this before? > > Now that I have this system in front of me I can try whatever I want. My > production servers are remote so it''s harder to work with them. Help is > appreciated. > > Thanks, > James > > > _______________________________________________ > Xen-users mailing list > Xen-users@lists.xensource.com > http://lists.xensource.com/xen-users >_______________________________________________ Xen-users mailing list Xen-users@lists.xensource.com http://lists.xensource.com/xen-users
James Pifer
2008-Jul-15 11:08 UTC
Re: [Xen-users] Can''t install Windows 2003 on SLES10SP1
> > > By the way, don''t use sparse files if you don''t have to.Why not use sparse files?> > > Looked like SLES 10 SP1 as the dom0 OS, and the version of Xen there > would be 3.1 I believe (or maybe a 3.0.x variant). SLES 10 SP2 has Xen > 3.2. >Yes, SLES 10 SP1. xen version is actually 3.0.4.> > The format should complete and then the initial file copy for Windows > begin (enough to set up the actual graphical part of the Windows > installation). Are you saying you consistently don''t get this initial > file copy to occur? Is it an unexpected reboot of domU, or are you > prompted to do it? >Correct, at the point it should start copying files the domU reboots, by itself.> > In addition to not using sparse files (again shouldn''t really affect > things too much) I''d also suggest setting dom0 memory to a low value. > What''s the overall RAM in the system? setting dom0 down to 512M should > be fine: xm mem-set domain0 512 for example... >I do have memory restricted for dom0 on my production servers, which have anywhere from 8 to 16 gig of RAM. I have not limited on this machine yet, which has 4 gig of ram. I have also tried using an ISO for the install instead of the CD and it does the exact same thing. I could install SP2 and see if that makes a difference. Anyone know the commands to create a sparse file pre-formatted to ntfs using dd? Time to google I guess. Thanks, James _______________________________________________ Xen-users mailing list Xen-users@lists.xensource.com http://lists.xensource.com/xen-users
Alexander Hoßdorf
2008-Jul-15 11:26 UTC
Re: [Xen-users] Can''t install Windows 2003 on SLES10SP1
James Pifer schrieb:>> >> >> By the way, don''t use sparse files if you don''t have to. >> > > Why not use sparse files? > > >> >> >> Looked like SLES 10 SP1 as the dom0 OS, and the version of Xen there >> would be 3.1 I believe (or maybe a 3.0.x variant). SLES 10 SP2 has Xen >> 3.2. >> >> > > Yes, SLES 10 SP1. xen version is actually 3.0.4. > > >> The format should complete and then the initial file copy for Windows >> begin (enough to set up the actual graphical part of the Windows >> installation). Are you saying you consistently don''t get this initial >> file copy to occur? Is it an unexpected reboot of domU, or are you >> prompted to do it? >> >> > > Correct, at the point it should start copying files the domU reboots, by > itself. > > > >> In addition to not using sparse files (again shouldn''t really affect >> things too much) I''d also suggest setting dom0 memory to a low value. >> What''s the overall RAM in the system? setting dom0 down to 512M should >> be fine: xm mem-set domain0 512 for example... >> >> > > I do have memory restricted for dom0 on my production servers, which > have anywhere from 8 to 16 gig of RAM. I have not limited on this > machine yet, which has 4 gig of ram. > > I have also tried using an ISO for the install instead of the CD and it > does the exact same thing. > > I could install SP2 and see if that makes a difference. Anyone know the > commands to create a sparse file pre-formatted to ntfs using dd? Time to > google I guess. > > Thanks, > James > > > _______________________________________________ > Xen-users mailing list > Xen-users@lists.xensource.com > http://lists.xensource.com/xen-users > > __________ Hinweis von ESET NOD32 Antivirus, Signaturdatenbank-Version 3268 (20080715) __________ > > E-Mail wurde geprüft mit ESET NOD32 Antivirus. > > http://www.eset.com > > > >#I could install SP2 and see if that makes a difference. Anyone know the #commands to create a sparse file pre-formatted to ntfs using dd? Time to #google I guess. Hi James, I don''t think it''s possible to format a sparse file natively with ntfs under linux. But maybe I''m wrong. But if you think this helps, I can send you a ntfs fomatted sparse file. Just let me know the size. Regards, Alex _______________________________________________ Xen-users mailing list Xen-users@lists.xensource.com http://lists.xensource.com/xen-users
James Pifer
2008-Jul-15 16:20 UTC
Re: [Xen-users] Can''t install Windows 2003 on SLES10SP1
> I don''t think it''s possible to format a sparse file natively with ntfs > under linux. > But maybe I''m wrong. > > But if you think this helps, > I can send you a ntfs fomatted sparse file. > Just let me know the size. >Thanks for the offer. I got one created using VMWare server and qemu to convert it to an image file. I tried re-running setup. As soon as it gets to the part to read the disk it reboots. I guess I''ll try loading SP2 and see if that changes anything. Thanks, James _______________________________________________ Xen-users mailing list Xen-users@lists.xensource.com http://lists.xensource.com/xen-users
Dustin Henning
2008-Jul-15 16:20 UTC
RE: [Xen-users] Can''t install Windows 2003 on SLES10SP1
Even if you couldn''t create a sparse file formatted with ntfs directly from dd (which doesn''t sound plausible), couldn''t you create the sparse file, partition it, and then format the appropriate partition with mkfs.ntfs (after making the file accessible in /dev with whatever tools are necessary on a given distro)? This still might not cut it, though, because Server2003 might be as picky about the formatting as XP SP1+ (prior to XP SP1 or SP2, I always used 8-64K clusters on my Windows partition, after that, I had to use the default ntfs format [512 byte clusters?] or Windows couldn''t boot). Dustin -----Original Message----- From: xen-users-bounces@lists.xensource.com [mailto:xen-users-bounces@lists.xensource.com] On Behalf Of Alexander Hoßdorf Sent: Tuesday, July 15, 2008 07:26 To: James Pifer; xen-users@lists.xensource.com Subject: Re: [Xen-users] Can''t install Windows 2003 on SLES10SP1 James Pifer schrieb:>> >> >> By the way, don''t use sparse files if you don''t have to. >> > > Why not use sparse files? > > >> >> >> Looked like SLES 10 SP1 as the dom0 OS, and the version of Xen there >> would be 3.1 I believe (or maybe a 3.0.x variant). SLES 10 SP2 has Xen >> 3.2. >> >> > > Yes, SLES 10 SP1. xen version is actually 3.0.4. > > >> The format should complete and then the initial file copy for Windows >> begin (enough to set up the actual graphical part of the Windows >> installation). Are you saying you consistently don''t get this initial >> file copy to occur? Is it an unexpected reboot of domU, or are you >> prompted to do it? >> >> > > Correct, at the point it should start copying files the domU reboots, by > itself. > > > >> In addition to not using sparse files (again shouldn''t really affect >> things too much) I''d also suggest setting dom0 memory to a low value. >> What''s the overall RAM in the system? setting dom0 down to 512M should >> be fine: xm mem-set domain0 512 for example... >> >> > > I do have memory restricted for dom0 on my production servers, which > have anywhere from 8 to 16 gig of RAM. I have not limited on this > machine yet, which has 4 gig of ram. > > I have also tried using an ISO for the install instead of the CD and it > does the exact same thing. > > I could install SP2 and see if that makes a difference. Anyone know the > commands to create a sparse file pre-formatted to ntfs using dd? Time to > google I guess. > > Thanks, > James > > > _______________________________________________ > Xen-users mailing list > Xen-users@lists.xensource.com > http://lists.xensource.com/xen-users > > __________ Hinweis von ESET NOD32 Antivirus, Signaturdatenbank-Version3268 (20080715) __________> > E-Mail wurde geprüft mit ESET NOD32 Antivirus. > > http://www.eset.com > > > >#I could install SP2 and see if that makes a difference. Anyone know the #commands to create a sparse file pre-formatted to ntfs using dd? Time to #google I guess. Hi James, I don''t think it''s possible to format a sparse file natively with ntfs under linux. But maybe I''m wrong. But if you think this helps, I can send you a ntfs fomatted sparse file. Just let me know the size. Regards, Alex _______________________________________________ Xen-users mailing list Xen-users@lists.xensource.com http://lists.xensource.com/xen-users _______________________________________________ Xen-users mailing list Xen-users@lists.xensource.com http://lists.xensource.com/xen-users
Alexander Hoßdorf
2008-Jul-15 20:04 UTC
Re: [Xen-users] Can''t install Windows 2003 on SLES10SP1
Hi Dustin, I don''t think this is possible. You can''t even read a hvm guests sparse disk file using tap:aio, with cfdisk when it''s ext3 formatted. Or am I wrong? Cheers, Alex Dustin Henning schrieb:> Even if you couldn''t create a sparse file formatted with ntfs > directly from dd (which doesn''t sound plausible), couldn''t you create the > sparse file, partition it, and then format the appropriate partition with > mkfs.ntfs (after making the file accessible in /dev with whatever tools are > necessary on a given distro)? This still might not cut it, though, because > Server2003 might be as picky about the formatting as XP SP1+ (prior to XP > SP1 or SP2, I always used 8-64K clusters on my Windows partition, after > that, I had to use the default ntfs format [512 byte clusters?] or Windows > couldn''t boot). > Dustin > > -----Original Message----- > From: xen-users-bounces@lists.xensource.com > [mailto:xen-users-bounces@lists.xensource.com] On Behalf Of Alexander > Hoßdorf > Sent: Tuesday, July 15, 2008 07:26 > To: James Pifer; xen-users@lists.xensource.com > Subject: Re: [Xen-users] Can''t install Windows 2003 on SLES10SP1 > > James Pifer schrieb: > >>> >>> >>> By the way, don''t use sparse files if you don''t have to. >>> >>> >> Why not use sparse files? >> >> >> >>> >>> >>> Looked like SLES 10 SP1 as the dom0 OS, and the version of Xen there >>> would be 3.1 I believe (or maybe a 3.0.x variant). SLES 10 SP2 has Xen >>> 3.2. >>> >>> >>> >> Yes, SLES 10 SP1. xen version is actually 3.0.4. >> >> >> >>> The format should complete and then the initial file copy for Windows >>> begin (enough to set up the actual graphical part of the Windows >>> installation). Are you saying you consistently don''t get this initial >>> file copy to occur? Is it an unexpected reboot of domU, or are you >>> prompted to do it? >>> >>> >>> >> Correct, at the point it should start copying files the domU reboots, by >> itself. >> >> >> >> >>> In addition to not using sparse files (again shouldn''t really affect >>> things too much) I''d also suggest setting dom0 memory to a low value. >>> What''s the overall RAM in the system? setting dom0 down to 512M should >>> be fine: xm mem-set domain0 512 for example... >>> >>> >>> >> I do have memory restricted for dom0 on my production servers, which >> have anywhere from 8 to 16 gig of RAM. I have not limited on this >> machine yet, which has 4 gig of ram. >> >> I have also tried using an ISO for the install instead of the CD and it >> does the exact same thing. >> >> I could install SP2 and see if that makes a difference. Anyone know the >> commands to create a sparse file pre-formatted to ntfs using dd? Time to >> google I guess. >> >> Thanks, >> James >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Xen-users mailing list >> Xen-users@lists.xensource.com >> http://lists.xensource.com/xen-users >> >> __________ Hinweis von ESET NOD32 Antivirus, Signaturdatenbank-Version >> > 3268 (20080715) __________ > >> E-Mail wurde geprüft mit ESET NOD32 Antivirus. >> >> http://www.eset.com >> >> >> >> >> > > #I could install SP2 and see if that makes a difference. Anyone know the > #commands to create a sparse file pre-formatted to ntfs using dd? Time to > #google I guess. > > > Hi James, > > I don''t think it''s possible to format a sparse file natively with ntfs > under linux. > But maybe I''m wrong. > > But if you think this helps, > I can send you a ntfs fomatted sparse file. > Just let me know the size. > > > > Regards, > > Alex > > > _______________________________________________ > Xen-users mailing list > Xen-users@lists.xensource.com > http://lists.xensource.com/xen-users > > > > _______________________________________________ > Xen-users mailing list > Xen-users@lists.xensource.com > http://lists.xensource.com/xen-users > > __________ Hinweis von ESET NOD32 Antivirus, Signaturdatenbank-Version 3269 (20080715) __________ > > E-Mail wurde geprüft mit ESET NOD32 Antivirus. > > http://www.eset.com > > > >_______________________________________________ Xen-users mailing list Xen-users@lists.xensource.com http://lists.xensource.com/xen-users
Dustin Henning
2008-Jul-15 20:11 UTC
RE: [Xen-users] Can''t install Windows 2003 on SLES10SP1
I really don''t know. I don''t use file-based disks at all, so it was just a thought. Additionally, I am not familiar with cfdisk. However, I don''t understand how cfdisk or kpartx (another tool I am unfamiliar with) could differentiate between sparse and solid files, as I would expect the underlying file system to deal with that. Dustin -----Original Message----- From: xen-users-bounces@lists.xensource.com [mailto:xen-users-bounces@lists.xensource.com] On Behalf Of Alexander Hoßdorf Sent: Tuesday, July 15, 2008 16:05 To: Dustin.Henning@prd-inc.com Cc: xen-users@lists.xensource.com Subject: Re: [Xen-users] Can''t install Windows 2003 on SLES10SP1 Hi Dustin, I don''t think this is possible. You can''t even read a hvm guests sparse disk file using tap:aio, with cfdisk when it''s ext3 formatted. Or am I wrong? Cheers, Alex Dustin Henning schrieb:> Even if you couldn''t create a sparse file formatted with ntfs > directly from dd (which doesn''t sound plausible), couldn''t you create the > sparse file, partition it, and then format the appropriate partition with > mkfs.ntfs (after making the file accessible in /dev with whatever toolsare> necessary on a given distro)? This still might not cut it, though,because> Server2003 might be as picky about the formatting as XP SP1+ (prior to XP > SP1 or SP2, I always used 8-64K clusters on my Windows partition, after > that, I had to use the default ntfs format [512 byte clusters?] or Windows > couldn''t boot). > Dustin > > -----Original Message----- > From: xen-users-bounces@lists.xensource.com > [mailto:xen-users-bounces@lists.xensource.com] On Behalf Of Alexander > Hoßdorf > Sent: Tuesday, July 15, 2008 07:26 > To: James Pifer; xen-users@lists.xensource.com > Subject: Re: [Xen-users] Can''t install Windows 2003 on SLES10SP1 > > James Pifer schrieb: > >>> >>> >>> By the way, don''t use sparse files if you don''t have to. >>> >>> >> Why not use sparse files? >> >> >> >>> >>> >>> Looked like SLES 10 SP1 as the dom0 OS, and the version of Xen there >>> would be 3.1 I believe (or maybe a 3.0.x variant). SLES 10 SP2 has Xen >>> 3.2. >>> >>> >>> >> Yes, SLES 10 SP1. xen version is actually 3.0.4. >> >> >> >>> The format should complete and then the initial file copy for Windows >>> begin (enough to set up the actual graphical part of the Windows >>> installation). Are you saying you consistently don''t get this initial >>> file copy to occur? Is it an unexpected reboot of domU, or are you >>> prompted to do it? >>> >>> >>> >> Correct, at the point it should start copying files the domU reboots, by >> itself. >> >> >> >> >>> In addition to not using sparse files (again shouldn''t really affect >>> things too much) I''d also suggest setting dom0 memory to a low value. >>> What''s the overall RAM in the system? setting dom0 down to 512M should >>> be fine: xm mem-set domain0 512 for example... >>> >>> >>> >> I do have memory restricted for dom0 on my production servers, which >> have anywhere from 8 to 16 gig of RAM. I have not limited on this >> machine yet, which has 4 gig of ram. >> >> I have also tried using an ISO for the install instead of the CD and it >> does the exact same thing. >> >> I could install SP2 and see if that makes a difference. Anyone know the >> commands to create a sparse file pre-formatted to ntfs using dd? Time to >> google I guess. >> >> Thanks, >> James >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Xen-users mailing list >> Xen-users@lists.xensource.com >> http://lists.xensource.com/xen-users >> >> __________ Hinweis von ESET NOD32 Antivirus, Signaturdatenbank-Version >> > 3268 (20080715) __________ > >> E-Mail wurde geprüft mit ESET NOD32 Antivirus. >> >> http://www.eset.com >> >> >> >> >> > > #I could install SP2 and see if that makes a difference. Anyone know the > #commands to create a sparse file pre-formatted to ntfs using dd? Time to > #google I guess. > > > Hi James, > > I don''t think it''s possible to format a sparse file natively with ntfs > under linux. > But maybe I''m wrong. > > But if you think this helps, > I can send you a ntfs fomatted sparse file. > Just let me know the size. > > > > Regards, > > Alex > > > _______________________________________________ > Xen-users mailing list > Xen-users@lists.xensource.com > http://lists.xensource.com/xen-users > > > > _______________________________________________ > Xen-users mailing list > Xen-users@lists.xensource.com > http://lists.xensource.com/xen-users > > __________ Hinweis von ESET NOD32 Antivirus, Signaturdatenbank-Version3269 (20080715) __________> > E-Mail wurde geprüft mit ESET NOD32 Antivirus. > > http://www.eset.com > > > >_______________________________________________ Xen-users mailing list Xen-users@lists.xensource.com http://lists.xensource.com/xen-users _______________________________________________ Xen-users mailing list Xen-users@lists.xensource.com http://lists.xensource.com/xen-users
Alexander Hoßdorf
2008-Jul-15 20:49 UTC
Re: [Xen-users] Can''t install Windows 2003 on SLES10SP1
I''m not an expert in this, too. There are a few different methods how to use your hvm disks. You could specify tap:vmdk for vmware format for example. And this isn''t readable for normal partitioning programms, too. You have to cut this down first. cfdisk or other tools can''t difference. This is why you have to mount a file made with dd by losetup. So that it seems to be a physical device to this tools. Cheers, Alex Dustin Henning schrieb:> I really don''t know. I don''t use file-based disks at all, so it was > just a thought. Additionally, I am not familiar with cfdisk. However, I > don''t understand how cfdisk or kpartx (another tool I am unfamiliar with) > could differentiate between sparse and solid files, as I would expect the > underlying file system to deal with that. > Dustin > > -----Original Message----- > From: xen-users-bounces@lists.xensource.com > [mailto:xen-users-bounces@lists.xensource.com] On Behalf Of Alexander > Hoßdorf > Sent: Tuesday, July 15, 2008 16:05 > To: Dustin.Henning@prd-inc.com > Cc: xen-users@lists.xensource.com > Subject: Re: [Xen-users] Can''t install Windows 2003 on SLES10SP1 > > Hi Dustin, > > I don''t think this is possible. > You can''t even read a hvm guests sparse disk file using tap:aio, with > cfdisk when it''s ext3 formatted. > Or am I wrong? > > Cheers, > > Alex > > > Dustin Henning schrieb: > >> Even if you couldn''t create a sparse file formatted with ntfs >> directly from dd (which doesn''t sound plausible), couldn''t you create the >> sparse file, partition it, and then format the appropriate partition with >> mkfs.ntfs (after making the file accessible in /dev with whatever tools >> > are > >> necessary on a given distro)? This still might not cut it, though, >> > because > >> Server2003 might be as picky about the formatting as XP SP1+ (prior to XP >> SP1 or SP2, I always used 8-64K clusters on my Windows partition, after >> that, I had to use the default ntfs format [512 byte clusters?] or Windows >> couldn''t boot). >> Dustin >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: xen-users-bounces@lists.xensource.com >> [mailto:xen-users-bounces@lists.xensource.com] On Behalf Of Alexander >> Hoßdorf >> Sent: Tuesday, July 15, 2008 07:26 >> To: James Pifer; xen-users@lists.xensource.com >> Subject: Re: [Xen-users] Can''t install Windows 2003 on SLES10SP1 >> >> James Pifer schrieb: >> >> >>>> >>>> >>>> By the way, don''t use sparse files if you don''t have to. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>> Why not use sparse files? >>> >>> >>> >>> >>>> >>>> >>>> Looked like SLES 10 SP1 as the dom0 OS, and the version of Xen there >>>> would be 3.1 I believe (or maybe a 3.0.x variant). SLES 10 SP2 has Xen >>>> 3.2. >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>> Yes, SLES 10 SP1. xen version is actually 3.0.4. >>> >>> >>> >>> >>>> The format should complete and then the initial file copy for Windows >>>> begin (enough to set up the actual graphical part of the Windows >>>> installation). Are you saying you consistently don''t get this initial >>>> file copy to occur? Is it an unexpected reboot of domU, or are you >>>> prompted to do it? >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>> Correct, at the point it should start copying files the domU reboots, by >>> itself. >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>>> In addition to not using sparse files (again shouldn''t really affect >>>> things too much) I''d also suggest setting dom0 memory to a low value. >>>> What''s the overall RAM in the system? setting dom0 down to 512M should >>>> be fine: xm mem-set domain0 512 for example... >>>> >>>> >>>> >>>> >>> I do have memory restricted for dom0 on my production servers, which >>> have anywhere from 8 to 16 gig of RAM. I have not limited on this >>> machine yet, which has 4 gig of ram. >>> >>> I have also tried using an ISO for the install instead of the CD and it >>> does the exact same thing. >>> >>> I could install SP2 and see if that makes a difference. Anyone know the >>> commands to create a sparse file pre-formatted to ntfs using dd? Time to >>> google I guess. >>> >>> Thanks, >>> James >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Xen-users mailing list >>> Xen-users@lists.xensource.com >>> http://lists.xensource.com/xen-users >>> >>> __________ Hinweis von ESET NOD32 Antivirus, Signaturdatenbank-Version >>> >>> >> 3268 (20080715) __________ >> >> >>> E-Mail wurde geprüft mit ESET NOD32 Antivirus. >>> >>> http://www.eset.com >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >>> >> #I could install SP2 and see if that makes a difference. Anyone know the >> #commands to create a sparse file pre-formatted to ntfs using dd? Time to >> #google I guess. >> >> >> Hi James, >> >> I don''t think it''s possible to format a sparse file natively with ntfs >> under linux. >> But maybe I''m wrong. >> >> But if you think this helps, >> I can send you a ntfs fomatted sparse file. >> Just let me know the size. >> >> >> >> Regards, >> >> Alex >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Xen-users mailing list >> Xen-users@lists.xensource.com >> http://lists.xensource.com/xen-users >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Xen-users mailing list >> Xen-users@lists.xensource.com >> http://lists.xensource.com/xen-users >> >> __________ Hinweis von ESET NOD32 Antivirus, Signaturdatenbank-Version >> > 3269 (20080715) __________ > >> E-Mail wurde geprüft mit ESET NOD32 Antivirus. >> >> http://www.eset.com >> >> >> >> >> > > > _______________________________________________ > Xen-users mailing list > Xen-users@lists.xensource.com > http://lists.xensource.com/xen-users > > > > _______________________________________________ > Xen-users mailing list > Xen-users@lists.xensource.com > http://lists.xensource.com/xen-users > > __________ Hinweis von ESET NOD32 Antivirus, Signaturdatenbank-Version 3269 (20080715) __________ > > E-Mail wurde geprüft mit ESET NOD32 Antivirus. > > http://www.eset.com > > > >_______________________________________________ Xen-users mailing list Xen-users@lists.xensource.com http://lists.xensource.com/xen-users
James Pifer
2008-Jul-16 13:26 UTC
Re: [Xen-users] Can''t install Windows 2003 on SLES10SP1
> I could install SP2 and see if that makes a difference. Anyone know the > commands to create a sparse file pre-formatted to ntfs using dd? Time to > google I guess.Just an update on this. I installed SP2 and now the win2k3 install goes fine. Those that updated SLES 10 SP1 to SLES 10 SP2? Had any problems? Thanks, James _______________________________________________ Xen-users mailing list Xen-users@lists.xensource.com http://lists.xensource.com/xen-users
Mark Williamson
2008-Jul-16 21:38 UTC
Re: [Xen-users] Can''t install Windows 2003 on SLES10SP1
I believe the tools shouldn''t be able to tell the difference between a sparse and non-sparse file on disk, if we''re talking about OS-level sparse files. The virtual machine certainly shouldn''t be able to tell whether it''s running out of a sparse file or not since that''s handle by dom0, not by the guest filesystem. I''ve not heard of an instance where creating a sparse file in dom0 doesn''t work (although it has some disadvantages), so maybe I''m missing something here? Cheers, Mark On Tuesday 15 July 2008, Dustin Henning wrote:> I really don''t know. I don''t use file-based disks at all, so it was > just a thought. Additionally, I am not familiar with cfdisk. However, I > don''t understand how cfdisk or kpartx (another tool I am unfamiliar with) > could differentiate between sparse and solid files, as I would expect the > underlying file system to deal with that. > Dustin > > -----Original Message----- > From: xen-users-bounces@lists.xensource.com > [mailto:xen-users-bounces@lists.xensource.com] On Behalf Of Alexander > Hoßdorf > Sent: Tuesday, July 15, 2008 16:05 > To: Dustin.Henning@prd-inc.com > Cc: xen-users@lists.xensource.com > Subject: Re: [Xen-users] Can''t install Windows 2003 on SLES10SP1 > > Hi Dustin, > > I don''t think this is possible. > You can''t even read a hvm guests sparse disk file using tap:aio, with > cfdisk when it''s ext3 formatted. > Or am I wrong? > > Cheers, > > Alex > > Dustin Henning schrieb: > > Even if you couldn''t create a sparse file formatted with ntfs > > directly from dd (which doesn''t sound plausible), couldn''t you create the > > sparse file, partition it, and then format the appropriate partition with > > mkfs.ntfs (after making the file accessible in /dev with whatever tools > > are > > > necessary on a given distro)? This still might not cut it, though, > > because > > > Server2003 might be as picky about the formatting as XP SP1+ (prior to XP > > SP1 or SP2, I always used 8-64K clusters on my Windows partition, after > > that, I had to use the default ntfs format [512 byte clusters?] or > > Windows couldn''t boot). > > Dustin > > > > -----Original Message----- > > From: xen-users-bounces@lists.xensource.com > > [mailto:xen-users-bounces@lists.xensource.com] On Behalf Of Alexander > > Hoßdorf > > Sent: Tuesday, July 15, 2008 07:26 > > To: James Pifer; xen-users@lists.xensource.com > > Subject: Re: [Xen-users] Can''t install Windows 2003 on SLES10SP1 > > > > James Pifer schrieb: > >>> By the way, don''t use sparse files if you don''t have to. > >> > >> Why not use sparse files? > >> > >>> Looked like SLES 10 SP1 as the dom0 OS, and the version of Xen there > >>> would be 3.1 I believe (or maybe a 3.0.x variant). SLES 10 SP2 has Xen > >>> 3.2. > >> > >> Yes, SLES 10 SP1. xen version is actually 3.0.4. > >> > >>> The format should complete and then the initial file copy for Windows > >>> begin (enough to set up the actual graphical part of the Windows > >>> installation). Are you saying you consistently don''t get this initial > >>> file copy to occur? Is it an unexpected reboot of domU, or are you > >>> prompted to do it? > >> > >> Correct, at the point it should start copying files the domU reboots, by > >> itself. > >> > >>> In addition to not using sparse files (again shouldn''t really affect > >>> things too much) I''d also suggest setting dom0 memory to a low value. > >>> What''s the overall RAM in the system? setting dom0 down to 512M should > >>> be fine: xm mem-set domain0 512 for example... > >> > >> I do have memory restricted for dom0 on my production servers, which > >> have anywhere from 8 to 16 gig of RAM. I have not limited on this > >> machine yet, which has 4 gig of ram. > >> > >> I have also tried using an ISO for the install instead of the CD and it > >> does the exact same thing. > >> > >> I could install SP2 and see if that makes a difference. Anyone know the > >> commands to create a sparse file pre-formatted to ntfs using dd? Time to > >> google I guess. > >> > >> Thanks, > >> James > >> > >> > >> _______________________________________________ > >> Xen-users mailing list > >> Xen-users@lists.xensource.com > >> http://lists.xensource.com/xen-users > >> > >> __________ Hinweis von ESET NOD32 Antivirus, Signaturdatenbank-Version > > > > 3268 (20080715) __________ > > > >> E-Mail wurde geprüft mit ESET NOD32 Antivirus. > >> > >> http://www.eset.com > > > > #I could install SP2 and see if that makes a difference. Anyone know the > > #commands to create a sparse file pre-formatted to ntfs using dd? Time to > > #google I guess. > > > > > > Hi James, > > > > I don''t think it''s possible to format a sparse file natively with ntfs > > under linux. > > But maybe I''m wrong. > > > > But if you think this helps, > > I can send you a ntfs fomatted sparse file. > > Just let me know the size. > > > > > > > > Regards, > > > > Alex > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Xen-users mailing list > > Xen-users@lists.xensource.com > > http://lists.xensource.com/xen-users > > > > > > > > _______________________________________________ > > Xen-users mailing list > > Xen-users@lists.xensource.com > > http://lists.xensource.com/xen-users > > > > __________ Hinweis von ESET NOD32 Antivirus, Signaturdatenbank-Version > > 3269 (20080715) __________ > > > E-Mail wurde geprüft mit ESET NOD32 Antivirus. > > > > http://www.eset.com > > _______________________________________________ > Xen-users mailing list > Xen-users@lists.xensource.com > http://lists.xensource.com/xen-users > > > > _______________________________________________ > Xen-users mailing list > Xen-users@lists.xensource.com > http://lists.xensource.com/xen-users-- Push Me Pull You - Distributed SCM tool (http://www.cl.cam.ac.uk/~maw48/pmpu/) _______________________________________________ Xen-users mailing list Xen-users@lists.xensource.com http://lists.xensource.com/xen-users
Alexander Hoßdorf
2008-Jul-16 22:51 UTC
Re: [Xen-users] Can''t install Windows 2003 on SLES10SP1
Hi Mark, yes you''re right. I meant sparse files formatted with ntfs. Thats no problem of course. And no problem when used in a para domU or in dom0 directly. But I''m not able to create a sparse file(no matter if sparse or not), partitioned and formatted with ntfs for hvm domU. Of course this ntfs formatted sparse file is mountable and readable for dom0. But when used as qemu device for hvm domU, the partiotion table and ntfs isn''t usable for the domU. I think this is normal, isn''t it? Cheers, Alex Mark Williamson schrieb:> I believe the tools shouldn''t be able to tell the difference between a sparse > and non-sparse file on disk, if we''re talking about OS-level sparse files. > > The virtual machine certainly shouldn''t be able to tell whether it''s running > out of a sparse file or not since that''s handle by dom0, not by the guest > filesystem. > > I''ve not heard of an instance where creating a sparse file in dom0 doesn''t > work (although it has some disadvantages), so maybe I''m missing something > here? > > Cheers, > Mark > > On Tuesday 15 July 2008, Dustin Henning wrote: > >> I really don''t know. I don''t use file-based disks at all, so it was >> just a thought. Additionally, I am not familiar with cfdisk. However, I >> don''t understand how cfdisk or kpartx (another tool I am unfamiliar with) >> could differentiate between sparse and solid files, as I would expect the >> underlying file system to deal with that. >> Dustin >> >> -----Original Message----- >> From: xen-users-bounces@lists.xensource.com >> [mailto:xen-users-bounces@lists.xensource.com] On Behalf Of Alexander >> Hoßdorf >> Sent: Tuesday, July 15, 2008 16:05 >> To: Dustin.Henning@prd-inc.com >> Cc: xen-users@lists.xensource.com >> Subject: Re: [Xen-users] Can''t install Windows 2003 on SLES10SP1 >> >> Hi Dustin, >> >> I don''t think this is possible. >> You can''t even read a hvm guests sparse disk file using tap:aio, with >> cfdisk when it''s ext3 formatted. >> Or am I wrong? >> >> Cheers, >> >> Alex >> >> Dustin Henning schrieb: >> >>> Even if you couldn''t create a sparse file formatted with ntfs >>> directly from dd (which doesn''t sound plausible), couldn''t you create the >>> sparse file, partition it, and then format the appropriate partition with >>> mkfs.ntfs (after making the file accessible in /dev with whatever tools >>> >> are >> >> >>> necessary on a given distro)? This still might not cut it, though, >>> >> because >> >> >>> Server2003 might be as picky about the formatting as XP SP1+ (prior to XP >>> SP1 or SP2, I always used 8-64K clusters on my Windows partition, after >>> that, I had to use the default ntfs format [512 byte clusters?] or >>> Windows couldn''t boot). >>> Dustin >>> >>> -----Original Message----- >>> From: xen-users-bounces@lists.xensource.com >>> [mailto:xen-users-bounces@lists.xensource.com] On Behalf Of Alexander >>> Hoßdorf >>> Sent: Tuesday, July 15, 2008 07:26 >>> To: James Pifer; xen-users@lists.xensource.com >>> Subject: Re: [Xen-users] Can''t install Windows 2003 on SLES10SP1 >>> >>> James Pifer schrieb: >>> >>>>> By the way, don''t use sparse files if you don''t have to. >>>>> >>>> Why not use sparse files? >>>> >>>> >>>>> Looked like SLES 10 SP1 as the dom0 OS, and the version of Xen there >>>>> would be 3.1 I believe (or maybe a 3.0.x variant). SLES 10 SP2 has Xen >>>>> 3.2. >>>>> >>>> Yes, SLES 10 SP1. xen version is actually 3.0.4. >>>> >>>> >>>>> The format should complete and then the initial file copy for Windows >>>>> begin (enough to set up the actual graphical part of the Windows >>>>> installation). Are you saying you consistently don''t get this initial >>>>> file copy to occur? Is it an unexpected reboot of domU, or are you >>>>> prompted to do it? >>>>> >>>> Correct, at the point it should start copying files the domU reboots, by >>>> itself. >>>> >>>> >>>>> In addition to not using sparse files (again shouldn''t really affect >>>>> things too much) I''d also suggest setting dom0 memory to a low value. >>>>> What''s the overall RAM in the system? setting dom0 down to 512M should >>>>> be fine: xm mem-set domain0 512 for example... >>>>> >>>> I do have memory restricted for dom0 on my production servers, which >>>> have anywhere from 8 to 16 gig of RAM. I have not limited on this >>>> machine yet, which has 4 gig of ram. >>>> >>>> I have also tried using an ISO for the install instead of the CD and it >>>> does the exact same thing. >>>> >>>> I could install SP2 and see if that makes a difference. Anyone know the >>>> commands to create a sparse file pre-formatted to ntfs using dd? Time to >>>> google I guess. >>>> >>>> Thanks, >>>> James >>>> >>>> >>>> _______________________________________________ >>>> Xen-users mailing list >>>> Xen-users@lists.xensource.com >>>> http://lists.xensource.com/xen-users >>>> >>>> __________ Hinweis von ESET NOD32 Antivirus, Signaturdatenbank-Version >>>> >>> 3268 (20080715) __________ >>> >>> >>>> E-Mail wurde geprüft mit ESET NOD32 Antivirus. >>>> >>>> http://www.eset.com >>>> >>> #I could install SP2 and see if that makes a difference. Anyone know the >>> #commands to create a sparse file pre-formatted to ntfs using dd? Time to >>> #google I guess. >>> >>> >>> Hi James, >>> >>> I don''t think it''s possible to format a sparse file natively with ntfs >>> under linux. >>> But maybe I''m wrong. >>> >>> But if you think this helps, >>> I can send you a ntfs fomatted sparse file. >>> Just let me know the size. >>> >>> >>> >>> Regards, >>> >>> Alex >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Xen-users mailing list >>> Xen-users@lists.xensource.com >>> http://lists.xensource.com/xen-users >>> >>> >>> >>> _______________________________________________ >>> Xen-users mailing list >>> Xen-users@lists.xensource.com >>> http://lists.xensource.com/xen-users >>> >>> __________ Hinweis von ESET NOD32 Antivirus, Signaturdatenbank-Version >>> >> 3269 (20080715) __________ >> >> >>> E-Mail wurde geprüft mit ESET NOD32 Antivirus. >>> >>> http://www.eset.com >>> >> _______________________________________________ >> Xen-users mailing list >> Xen-users@lists.xensource.com >> http://lists.xensource.com/xen-users >> >> >> >> _______________________________________________ >> Xen-users mailing list >> Xen-users@lists.xensource.com >> http://lists.xensource.com/xen-users >> > > > >_______________________________________________ Xen-users mailing list Xen-users@lists.xensource.com http://lists.xensource.com/xen-users