Create a zvol based hvm xvm

I have just created a Trixbox VM on my Opensolaris server (xVM/Xen).  It is currently a HVM and I will be looking into how I can paravirtualise it.

This really is disgustingly simple:

Create a 6GB zvol:

zfs create -V 6g array/xvm/trixbox

Create the VM:

virt-install --name Trixbox --ram 512 --file /dev/zvol/dsk/array/xvm/trixbox --vnc --hvm --os-type=linux os-variant=rhel5 --location /iso/trixbox.iso

Most of the options are self-explanatory:

--name Trixbox (the name of the VM)

--ram 512 (how much ram to allocate)

--file /dev/zvol/dsk/array/xvm/trixbox (uses the zvol device as hard disk)

--vnc (enables vnc access to the VM)

--hvm (specifies that the VM is a HVM, and not paravirtualised)

--os-type=linux os-variant=rhel5 (specifies that the VM is a rhel5 based linux VM)

--location /iso/trixbox.iso (uses this iso image as the installation media)

Easy peasy!

VNCSERVER: Couldn't find "xauth" on your PATH

Attempting to run vncserver as non-root user gives me this error:

couldn't find "xauth" on your PATH

So I do a search for xauth:

find / -name xauth

which finds it in /usr/X11/bin

Also, knowing that when logged on as root I don't get this problem, I assume that root must have this in its path so I log on as root and run:

echo $PATH

This confirms that /usr/X11/bin is in the root users path.

I Log out of root session and add xauth to path:

PATH=$PATH:/usr/X11/bin && export PATH

vncserver now runs successfully but with some errors referring to permissions on the ~./vnc & ~./Xauthority folders.

For some reason root:root is owner of the .vnc in my root folder, presumably because I had run vncserver initially while su'ed from my non-root users session...

So:

pfexec -R marc:staff ~/.vnc

pfexec -R marc:staff ~/.Xauthority

Sorts that out!

vncserver -kill :1

vncserver

and all is working great!

How to enable xVM on Opensolaris 2008.11

Create a new boot environment called "xvm":

beadm create -a -d xvm xvm

Reboot into new "xvm" environment:

reboot

Download & install xVM packages:

pkg install xvm-gui SUNWvirt-manager SUNWxvm SUNWvdisk SUNWvncviewer

Modify xvm entry in /rpool/boot/grub/menu.lst to the following:

#============ End of LIBBE entry =============

title xvm

bootfs rpool/ROOT/xvm

kernel$ /boot/$ISADIR/xen.gz

module$ /platform/i86xpv/kernel/$ISADIR/unix /platform/i86xpv/kernel/$ISADIR/unix -B $ZFS-BOOTFS,console=text

module$ /platform/i86pc/$ISADIR/boot_archive

#============ End of LIBBE entry =============

Reboot into new "xvm" with xvm kernel:

reboot

Check xvm is enabled in kernel:

uname -a

Look for "i86xpv"

Enable xVM services:

svcadm enable -r xvm/virtd ; svcadm enable -r xvm/domains

References:

http://opensolaris.org/os/community/xen/docs/2008_11_dom0/

Using VNC Server on Opensolaris

To set the VNC server password:

vncpasswd

To start VNC server:

vncserver

note the display number, i.e.: myserver:1 = display 1

Connect to the VNC server:

From the VNC client, use the following syntax: servername:display number.  I.E.: for a server called "myserver" with VNC server running on display 1:

myserver:1

To stop VNC server:

vncserver -kill :[display number]

i.e.: to stop display 1:

vncserver -kill :1

Enable gnome desktop:

Using your favourite text editor edit the/.vnc/xstartup file in your home folder:

vi ~/.vnc/xstartup

disable TWM (Timeless Window Manager) by commenting out:

#twm &

Add the following lines at the end:

unset SESSION_MANAGER

gnome-session & 

"unset SESSION_MANAGER" disables gnomes check for other session managers.  "gnome-session &" starts the gnome desktop.

My xstartup file:

#!/bin/sh

[ -r $HOME/.Xresources ] && xrdb $HOME/.Xresources

xsetroot -solid grey

vncconfig -iconic &

xterm -geometry 80x24+10+10 -ls -title "$VNCDESKTOP Desktop" &

# twm &

unset SESSION_MANAGER

gnome-session &