Distros: Difference between revisions

From Xen
Jump to navigationJump to search
No edit summary
 
(5 intermediate revisions by 4 users not shown)
Line 2: Line 2:


=== mkinitrd, mkinitramfs and dracut ===
=== mkinitrd, mkinitramfs and dracut ===
mkinitrd, mkinitramfs or dracut should be able to generate bootloader entries for Xen, see [[XenParavirtOps#GRUB1_and_GRUB2_.28Booting.29|this page]] for an example.
mkinitrd, mkinitramfs or dracut should be able to generate bootloader entries for Xen Project, see [[XenParavirtOps#GRUB1_and_GRUB2_.28Booting.29|this page]] for an example.


=== Dom0 support in Linux ===
=== Dom0 support in Linux ===
The Linux kernel packaged with the distribution should be compiled with Xen support, see [[Mainline_Linux_Kernel_Configs|this page]]. Booting the machine with Xen and the default kernel should complete successfully. If a user installs Xen dom0 packages, then the default boot entry should be changed to one that brings up the Xen kernel and dom0 successfully.
The Linux kernel packaged with the distribution should be compiled with Xen Project support, see [[Mainline_Linux_Kernel_Configs|this page]]. Booting the machine with Xen Project and the default kernel should complete successfully. If a user installs Xen Project dom0 packages, then the default boot entry should be changed to one that brings up the Xen Project kernel and dom0 successfully.


=== init scripts: xencommons ===
=== init scripts: xencommons ===
Xen relies on an init script called '''xencommons''' to initialize all the services.
Xen Project relies on an init script called '''xencommons''' to initialize all the services.
It should be executed by default at boot time.
It should be executed by default at boot time.


=== qemu-xen-traditional and qemu-xen ===
=== qemu-xen-traditional and qemu-xen ===
The two device model binaries Xen relies on should be installed in the location where Xl expect them to be, that by default is '''/usr/lib/xen/bin''', and can be changed modifying '''tools/libxl/_libxl_paths.h'''.
The two device model binaries Xen Project relies on should be installed in the location where Xl expect them to be, that by default is '''/usr/lib/xen/bin''', and can be changed modifying '''tools/libxl/_libxl_paths.h'''.


=== Xen udev scripts ===
=== Xen Project udev scripts ===
The Xen udev scripts should be installed correctly, see [http://xenbits.xen.org/hg/xen-4.1-testing.hg/raw-file/494aa5ecd2e1/tools/hotplug/Linux/xen-backend.rules /etc/udev/rules.d/xen-backend.rules]: after manually creating the default bridge named '''xenbr0''', starting a guest with a vif, the vif should be added to the bridge automatically.
The Xen Project udev scripts should be installed correctly, see [http://xenbits.xenproject.org/hg/xen-4.1-testing.hg/raw-file/494aa5ecd2e1/tools/hotplug/Linux/xen-backend.rules /etc/udev/rules.d/xen-backend.rules]: after manually creating the default bridge named '''xenbr0''', starting a guest with a vif, the vif should be added to the bridge automatically.


=== External Links ===
=== External Links ===
[https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=738085 patch to reduce spurious Xen entries in grub menu]
[https://bugzilla.redhat.com/show_bug.cgi?id=738085 patch to reduce spurious Xen Project entries in grub menu]


== LINUX DISTRIBUTIONS: SUGGESTED CONFIGURATIONS ==
== LINUX DISTRIBUTIONS: SUGGESTED CONFIGURATIONS ==
Line 33: Line 33:
=== Tuning ===
=== Tuning ===
You can find a list of tuning parameters [[Tuning | here]].
You can find a list of tuning parameters [[Tuning | here]].

=== Linux Kernel Config Options ===
The following document contains [[Mainline_Linux_Kernel_Configs#Configuring_the_Kernel|a list of Xen Project Related Linux Kernel Config Options]]


== LINUX DISTRIBUTIONS: USER EXPERIENCE ==
== LINUX DISTRIBUTIONS: USER EXPERIENCE ==
=== Meta packages ===
=== Meta packages ===
For convenience, a Xen meta-package should be provided that contains the hypervisor, the xen tools and documentation.
For convenience, a Xen Project meta-package should be provided that contains the hypervisor, the xen tools and documentation.
=== Installation ===
=== Installation ===
The basic flow of Xen installation should be:
The basic flow of Xen Project installation should be:
* Install distro;
* Install distro;
* Install Xen packages or the Xen meta-package (as part of this the bootloader entries would be updated);
* Install Xen Project packages or the Xen Project meta-package (as part of this the bootloader entries would be updated);
* Update-grub (or equivalent);
* Update-grub (or equivalent);
* Reboot, and you are ready to go.
* Reboot, and you are ready to go.


=== Man pages ===
=== Man pages ===
Xen comes with man pages, see
Xen Project comes with man pages, see
* [[Xen_Man_Pages|Xen Man Pages (via Wiki)]]
* [[Xen_Man_Pages|Xen Project Man Pages (via Wiki)]]
* [http://xenbits.xen.org/docs/unstable/man/ Xen Man pages for unstable]
* [http://xenbits.xenproject.org/docs/unstable/man/ Xen Project Man pages for unstable]
They should be installed automatically with the xen-tools package and made available to users. The source and make files of the man pages (and documentation in general) are in [http://xenbits.xen.org/hg/xen-unstable.hg/ xen-unstable.hg]/docs
They should be installed automatically with the xen-tools package and made available to users. The source and make files of the man pages (and documentation in general) are in [http://xenbits.xenproject.org/hg/xen-unstable.hg/ xen-unstable.hg]/docs




== LINUX DISTRIBUTIONS: THINGS TO TEST IN VIRTUAL MACHINES ==
== LINUX DISTRIBUTIONS: THINGS TO TEST IN VIRTUAL MACHINES ==
=== boot ===
The distro should be able to update a kernel and build a valid boot config in a VM.
Old-style paravirtualized VM will not see a hw clock. This should not cause false alarms on boot.

=== console ===
There should be a working console entry for the console device the kernel uses (hvc0, xvc0)
Xen can also show a VNC console instead of the "serial" xen console. A nice setup gives the user a console in both places.

=== xenstore ===
The xenstore is a way for userland applications to exchange data between dom0 and domU. The utilties are called xenstore-* and they should be installed separately of the full xen toolset. Otherwise people need to build their own packages for it.


=== scheduling ===
Make sure the Xen version you package for dom0 has full power management support.
(Can be tested using xenpm)

=== CPU hotplug ===
Xen can hotplug and remove additional vcpus to a VM.
The domU kernel has to notice, and make use of these resources.
The mechanism to online and offline them is standard linux, but often they are not noticed by the domU kernel.

=== Memory hotplug ===
Xen can hotplug and hot-remove memory to a VM.
Make sure your guest kernel notices it when it's given another 16GB of ram :)

=== TMEM / Ramster ===
This item only applies to linux kernel 3.4 and above.
The advanced memory management allows free memory to be pooled between virtual machines, duplicate pages to be de-duplicated and even adds memory compression. If your distro packages a 3.4 kernel, then the drivers should be included.
(The patches can be applied even to 2.6.18+, but are not included as standard.)



=== Networking ===
=== Networking ===
The paravirtualized network drivers need to work and be enabled by default.
The paravirtualized network driver needs to work and be enabled by default.
⚫
Test that '''xen-netfront''' is included in the ramdisk of your installer. People may need it for PXE boot installs.
Test if a MTU > 1500 bytes is working in domU
Test if ethtool correctly shows CRC TX / RX offload as disabled. Otherwise no CRC verification is taking place in the Linux kernel which may cause data corruption.
Some distro used to have RARP issues with Xen, see if it is working. (can be tested using arping)
⚫
Test that the paravirtualized driver is always included in the ramdisks and your installer. People may need it i.e. for PXE installs.




=== Disk ===
=== Disk ===
Make sure the PV drivers working and are activated in the default OS install and also in the install Ramdisk.
Make sure the disk paravirtualized driver is working and enabled by default.
Test that '''xen-blkfront''' is included in the ramdisk of your installer otherwise the installer won't see any available disks.
Otherwise the user will have a very slow and unhappy experience.
Disks are of course also hot-pluggable and hot-removable. This should be working to avoid unneeded downtime (i.e. with NPIV on Linux this is very much required)


=== Xen Eventchannels ===
The Xen evenchannel allows dom0 to communitcate with the domU kernel. It can for example trigger a sysrq to the DomU to make it sync it's disks or panic. It can also ask the domU to run a shutdown much like the power button trigger does in ACPI.
These features have to be enabled and also need to work during OS install, otherwise it's not possible to shutdown a VM that hung during install.
(Test is easy - xl shutdown domUname)

=== Snapshotting ===
Running a snapshot should be possible

=== Cold migration ===
A cold migration of a VM between dom0's should be possible

=== Live migration ===
A live migration of a VM between dom0's should be possible.
The clock should stay OK...

=== PCI ===
It should be possible to delegate a PCI device.
Especially, don't strip down the domU kernel too much, it should still support PCI :)




Latest revision as of 14:58, 21 April 2014

LINUX DISTRIBUTIONS: WHAT TO TEST AFTER PACKAGING

mkinitrd, mkinitramfs and dracut

mkinitrd, mkinitramfs or dracut should be able to generate bootloader entries for Xen Project, see this page for an example.

Dom0 support in Linux

The Linux kernel packaged with the distribution should be compiled with Xen Project support, see this page. Booting the machine with Xen Project and the default kernel should complete successfully. If a user installs Xen Project dom0 packages, then the default boot entry should be changed to one that brings up the Xen Project kernel and dom0 successfully.

init scripts: xencommons

Xen Project relies on an init script called xencommons to initialize all the services. It should be executed by default at boot time.

qemu-xen-traditional and qemu-xen

The two device model binaries Xen Project relies on should be installed in the location where Xl expect them to be, that by default is /usr/lib/xen/bin, and can be changed modifying tools/libxl/_libxl_paths.h.

Xen Project udev scripts

The Xen Project udev scripts should be installed correctly, see /etc/udev/rules.d/xen-backend.rules: after manually creating the default bridge named xenbr0, starting a guest with a vif, the vif should be added to the bridge automatically.

External Links

patch to reduce spurious Xen Project entries in grub menu

LINUX DISTRIBUTIONS: SUGGESTED CONFIGURATIONS

LVM

Setting up lvm is strongly suggested: storing raw disk images in lvm volumes is the fastest possible configuration as you can exploit the in-kernel disk backend (CONFIG_XEN_BLKDEV_BACKEND in the Linux kernel config).

Then you can use: 

  disk = [ 'phy:/dev/vol0/lvm_volume0,xvda,w' ]

in your VM config file. See this page for more informations about the storage options available.

Tuning

You can find a list of tuning parameters here.

Linux Kernel Config Options

The following document contains a list of Xen Project Related Linux Kernel Config Options

LINUX DISTRIBUTIONS: USER EXPERIENCE

Meta packages

For convenience, a Xen Project meta-package should be provided that contains the hypervisor, the xen tools and documentation.

Installation

The basic flow of Xen Project installation should be:

  • Install distro;
  • Install Xen Project packages or the Xen Project meta-package (as part of this the bootloader entries would be updated);
  • Update-grub (or equivalent);
  • Reboot, and you are ready to go.

Man pages

Xen Project comes with man pages, see

They should be installed automatically with the xen-tools package and made available to users. The source and make files of the man pages (and documentation in general) are in xen-unstable.hg/docs


LINUX DISTRIBUTIONS: THINGS TO TEST IN VIRTUAL MACHINES

Networking

The paravirtualized network driver needs to work and be enabled by default. Test that xen-netfront is included in the ramdisk of your installer. People may need it for PXE boot installs.


Disk

Make sure the disk paravirtualized driver is working and enabled by default. Test that xen-blkfront is included in the ramdisk of your installer otherwise the installer won't see any available disks.

Retrieved from "https://wiki.xenproject.org/index.php?title=Distros&oldid=11273"