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Re: [Xen-users] Re: Update the kernel?

To: xen-users@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [Xen-users] Re: Update the kernel?
From: "Andrew Lyon" <andrew.lyon@xxxxxxxxx>
Date: Thu, 20 Nov 2008 19:19:45 +0000
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On Wed, Nov 19, 2008 at 9:08 PM, Steven Maresca <lightyear4@xxxxxxxxx> wrote:
> Please forgive the format of this message (or lack thereof); it is a
> rough summary of the things I've collected about paravirt ops and xen.
>
> Largely the work of Jeremy Fitzhardinge of Xensource/Citrix (and
> lately Ian Cambell), the xen paravirt_ops implementation is functional
> for domUs and in rapid development for dom0.
>
> The vanilla kernel.org linux kernel can (today, and since .23-ish) be
> compiled as a xen domU kernel.  Partial compile considerations are
> present in the xen wiki at
> http://wiki.xensource.com/xenwiki/Kernel.org_Linux_on_Xen -- that
> said, if you fire up make menuconfig  and search for XEN, you'll see
> all of the required config flags to make an unprivileged guest.  Note:
> High Memory Support/PAE is required for 32bit; if not enabled, the xen
> stuff will be masked. The 'Processor type and features' menu contains
> 'Paravirtualized guest support' where Xen guest support will exist as
> an option if preconditions are met.
>
> Required reading on the "State of Xen in Upstream Linux" is here, from
> July. http://lists.xensource.com/archives/html/xen-devel/2008-07/msg01426.html
> As stated in that post to xen-devel, Jeremy was originally aiming for
> (in july) for a dom0 kernel with 2.6.28, which is now in RC.
> That said, and per this more recent post,
> http://lists.xensource.com/archives/html/xen-devel/2008-11/msg00205.html
> the current target is .29
>
> For general information, see http://wiki.xensource.com/xenwiki/XenParavirtOps.
> OId, still partly relevant information can be found here
> http://xenbits.xensource.com/ext/paravirt_ops/
>
> Jeremy Fitzhardinge's patch queue is here
> http://xenbits.xensource.com/paravirt_ops/patches.hg/
> As noted in the previous portion of the thread, the bulk of xen dom0
> patches were submitted to upstream linux for consideration just
> recently. See 
> http://lists.xensource.com/archives/html/xen-devel/2008-11/msg00268.html
>
> Upstream comments and progress on xen can be seen here
> http://marc.info/?l=linux-kernel&w=2&r=1&s=xen&q=b
>
> Xen Summit June 2008 Paravirt ops presentation here
> http://www.xen.org/xensummit/xensummit_summer_2008.html (definitely
> check this out)
> A note: early dom0 paravirt ops work was performed by Stephen Tweedie
> and Mark McLoughlin of redhat/fedora, probably Dan Berrange in some
> respects as well, though I cannot recall.  Some of their work remains
> to be merged with the current efforts.
>
>
> Very general guide to compiling:
> Pull from Ingo Molnar's git tip and jeremy's patches. Following the
> order of patches contained in the 'series' file, first apply the x86
> patches and then the xen patches.
>
> If the tree is in a consistent state - i.e. jeremy et al left it in at
> least a state capable of compilation (devs need sleep too) - then you
> can at minimum compile a dom0 kernel based upon the current upstream
> which runs your system for userspace, etc if not a guest. That said,
> ongoing blktap work has permitted guests to boot, though I do not know
> if new changes have introduced issues preventing that.
>
> Well, that was a very dense spew of information, some gross
> generalizations and repetition, but I hope that this helps someone.
>
> Steve Maresca
> steve [at] zentific.com
>
>
> On Wed, Nov 19, 2008 at 3:00 PM,  <xen-users-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> 
> wrote:
>> Send Xen-users mailing list submissions to
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>> When replying, please edit your Subject line so it is more specific
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>>
>>
>> Today's Topics:
>>
>>   1. Re: Backup (Paras pradhan)
>>   2. Setting CPU (core) frequency from dom0 (Alberto Munoz)
>>   3. RE: GPLPV 0.9.12-pre4 uploaded (Venefax)
>>   4. Re: Re: Update the kernel? (jonr@xxxxxxxxxx)
>>
>>
>> ----------------------------------------------------------------------
>>
>> Message: 1
>> Date: Wed, 19 Nov 2008 12:40:10 -0600
>> From: "Paras pradhan" <pradhanparas@xxxxxxxxx>
>> Subject: Re: [Xen-users] Backup
>> To: "James Harper" <james.harper@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> Cc: Xen Users <xen-users@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> Message-ID:
>>        <8b711df40811191040s127fe222pbbfb5513a0e1b6f1@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>>
>> On Tue, Nov 18, 2008 at 8:16 PM, James Harper <james.harper@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>>> wrote:
>>
>>> > hi all,
>>> >
>>> > What is the preferred method/tool to backup Xen guests?
>>> >
>>> > Xm save and DD seems to work but 'xm save' stops the virtual machine
>>> and
>>> > DD is slow.
>>> >
>>> > Any better option?
>>> >
>>> > I am under CentOS/DRBD
>>> >
>>>
>>> I use Bacula and treat the VM's like normal computers.
>>>
>>> Alternatively you could use LVM to create a snapshot and back that up,
>>> assuming you are using LVM in the first place.
>>>
>>> James
>>
>>
>>
>> Thank you all for the reply.
>>
>>
>> Here's what I did:
>>
>> To backup:
>>
>> 1) Saved the virtual machines' state using:
>>
>> xm save guest01 /guest01.save
>>
>> 2) lvcreate -s -L 2G -n guest01-snap /dev/vg/guest01-disk
>>
>> 3) Restored the VM
>>
>> xm restore /guest01.save
>>
>> 4) Used DD to create the image
>>
>> dd if=/dev/vg/guest01-snap of=/guest01.img
>>
>> 5) lvremove /dev/vg/guest01-snap
>>
>> To restore:
>>
>> 1) I turned off the VM (i don't like this)
>>
>> xm shutdown guest01
>>
>> 2) Then run:
>>
>> dd if=/guest01.img of=/dev/vg/guest01-disk
>>
>> 3) Turn back the VM on
>>
>> --
>>
>> My virtual machine is consuming 11GB of space. Now when i do DD while
>> restoring it took a lot of time.
>>
>>
>> ---
>> 10737418240 bytes (11 GB) copied, 1189.42 seconds, 9.0 MB/s
>>
>> ---
>>
>>
>> Is this normal?
>>
>>
>> I don't know if the process that I have used is fine or not. Need views on
>> this.
>>
>>
>>
>> Thanks
>>
>> Paras.
>> -------------- next part --------------
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>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> Message: 2
>> Date: Wed, 19 Nov 2008 10:50:12 -0800
>> From: Alberto Munoz <amunoz0221@xxxxxxxxxxx>
>> Subject: [Xen-users] Setting CPU (core) frequency from dom0
>> To: xen-users@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> Message-ID:
>>        <fe5f99e40811191050m3cf00eb4wd5a522471962376@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> Content-Type: text/plain; charset="iso-8859-1"
>>
>> Hello everyone,
>>
>> I am running some experiments that require changing the frequency of a CPU
>> in a SunFire machine (32-core quad socket AMD Barcelona).
>>
>> For what I have found (bits and pieces but not a comprehensive description),
>> there are two meachisms for controlling core (most probably socket)
>> frequency in Xen:
>>
>> A- The older (xen-3.2.1) mechnism through dom0 (option cpufreq=dom0-kernel),
>> which for what I gather uses a module in dom0 (cpufreqd?) that allows one to
>> set cpu frequency.
>>
>> B- The newer (xen-3.3), which has moved the governor to the hypervisor
>> (option cpufreq=xen), which other than a utility to read processor P and C
>> states (xenpm) does not (yet) allow user (dom0) control of CPU frequency.
>>
>> My first question is whetherot what I have written above is accurate. My
>> second question is where can I find detailed information on how to set up my
>> system to make use of A above and be able to set cpu frequency "manually"
>> from Dom0 (assuming that is still possible in Xen 3.3).
>>
>> I am running the latest testing version of Xen 3.3 (about a week old).
>>
>> Any information would be greatly appreciated.
>>
>> Thank you,
>>
>> Alberto
>> -------------- next part --------------
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>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> Message: 3
>> Date: Wed, 19 Nov 2008 14:22:17 -0500
>> From: "Venefax" <venefax@xxxxxxxxx>
>> Subject: RE: [Xen-users] GPLPV 0.9.12-pre4 uploaded
>> To: "'Innuendo'" <k.ader@xxxxxxxxxx>,   <xen-users@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> Message-ID: <027c01c94a7c$23e8cfb0$6bba6f10$@com>
>> Content-Type: text/plain;       charset="US-ASCII"
>>
>> I just upgraded my win2k3 virtual machine from the Suse Drivers to pre-4,
>> and while it works, my mouse now is several inches from the target, on the
>> graphics console. Is there any workaround that would make the internal and
>> external mouse work together?
>> Yours
>> Federico
>>
>> -----Original Message-----
>> From: xen-users-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> [mailto:xen-users-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Innuendo
>> Sent: Wednesday, November 19, 2008 1:10 PM
>> To: xen-users@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> Subject: Re: [Xen-users] GPLPV 0.9.12-pre4 uploaded
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> James Harper wrote:
>>>
>>> I've just uploaded 0.9.12-pre4 to http://www.meadowcourt.org/downloads
>>>
>>
>> Hi James,
>>
>> thx for your great work! I will give latest drivers a try next weekend.
>> Before start a test, what's up with xm hotplug commands like block-attach
>> and block-detach in latest build? Are they still bypassed or does latest
>> driver handle hotpluggin, e.g. for cd-rom  media change purpose. Is
>> Uninstall util now able to remove drivers and service completely?
>>
>> kindly regards
>>
>> --
>> View this message in context:
>> http://www.nabble.com/GPLPV-0.9.12-pre4-uploaded-tp20578814p20585803.html
>> Sent from the Xen - User mailing list archive at Nabble.com.
>>
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Xen-users mailing list
>> Xen-users@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> http://lists.xensource.com/xen-users
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> Message: 4
>> Date: Wed, 19 Nov 2008 10:58:47 -0900
>> From: jonr@xxxxxxxxxx
>> Subject: Re: [Xen-users] Re: Update the kernel?
>> To: xen-users@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> Message-ID: <20081119105847.4a7k4sx6fc40w440@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> Content-Type: text/plain;       charset=ISO-8859-1;     DelSp="Yes";
>>        format="flowed"
>>
>> Quoting Ferenc Wagner <wferi@xxxxxxx>:
>>
>>
>>> There are published patches for 2.6.28, which make it possible to boot
>>> it in dom0 and create (as yet unusable) domUs.  Devs hope something
>>> like that will be merged into 2.6.29.  So it doesn't sound that far...
>>> --
>>> Regards,
>>> Feri.
>>>
>>
>> Are there a set of patches for a kernel that will allow the domU to
>> work? I have been trying to find a Suse or Debian kernel with the
>> patches but cannot seem to find them. Does anybody know where these
>> are kept? I know I am probably missing the obvious so I will take the
>> beating to get the info. :)
>>
>>
>> Jon
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> ------------------------------
>>
>> _______________________________________________
>> Xen-users mailing list
>> Xen-users@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>> http://lists.xensource.com/xen-users
>>
>>
>> End of Xen-users Digest, Vol 45, Issue 102
>> ******************************************
>>
>
> _______________________________________________
> Xen-users mailing list
> Xen-users@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
> http://lists.xensource.com/xen-users
>

openSUSE 11.1 Beta 5.1 has a 2.6.27 dom0 kernel, I have been taking
the patches from the kernel source rpm, modifying them to apply to
vanilla 2.6.27, and making gentoo ebuilds available at
http://code.google.com/p/gentoo-xen-kernel/downloads/list for several
weeks.

I exclude some patches that are for backwards compatibility with
previous openSUSE versions, or that require modified Xen userspace
tools, and any that require other kernel patches, the kernels have
proved to be stable on my system (Supermicro X7DWA-N Dual Quad Xeon
16gb x86_64 Gentoo) and some users have also reported success, others
have had errors when compiling, unfortunately I don't have enough free
time to investigate every problem but as I start to use Xen on
production systems I will be able to spend more time on it.

My most recent release (xen-sources-2.6.27-r2) is based on vanilla
2.6.27.4 + Xen patches from kernel-source-2.6.27.4-10.2.src.rpm, today
I started work on r3 which will be 2.6.27.6 + Xen patches from
kernel-source-2.6.27.5-3.3.src.rpm, its about 80% done and should be
finished very soon.

I mention this on the list because gentoo uses a kernel that is very
close to vanilla and the xen-patches-2.6.27-4.tar.bz2 I release
contains numerically numbers patches so it would be very easy to apply
them on a non-gentoo system.

It seems a shame that several distros are duplicating effort on
forward-porting the Xen dom0 and with pvops dom0 still several months
away a newer official Xensource dom0 kernel would be a huge
improvement, the current version lacks support for so much of the
hardware in our (fairly standard) servers that its of no use at all.

Andy

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