Re: [gentoo-server] Re: Xen Dom0 using kernel 3.0

[J. Roeleveld]

On Mon, August 15, 2011 2:22 pm, Pandu Poluan wrote:
> On Mon, Aug 15, 2011 at 16:08, J. Roeleveld <joost@××××××××.org> wrote:
>> On Mon, August 15, 2011 8:18 am, Pandu Poluan wrote:
>>> On Mon, Aug 15, 2011 at 02:29, Joost Roeleveld <joost@××××××××.org>
>>> wrote:
>>>> On Sunday, August 14, 2011 07:20:18 PM Pandu Poluan wrote:
>>>>> On 2011-08-14, Joost Roeleveld <joost@××××××××.org> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> (Sorry for top-posting. Gmail Java mobile client sucks.)
>>>>
>>>> (Fixed this for you)
>>>>
>>>>> I was thinking of something similar to XCP ... but with Gentoo as the
>>>>> Dom0. I'll call it GeDZux (Gentoo Domain Zero Linux) :P
>>>>
>>>> A different name would be prefered by myself, not got an idea yet
>>>> though.
>>>>
>>>
>>> No worry. I know it sounds too... wishy-washy/unserious.
>>>
>>> Had originally wanted to call it "Xentoo", but some might mistake it
>>> for Xen2, or worse Xen 2.0.
>>>
>>> Ah well... We'll think of something later :-)
>>
>> Xentoo doesn't sound too bad, actually.
>>
>>>>> The problem would be how to 'streamline' the installation of a
>>>>> GeDZux-based Xen Platform. The SysAdmin already has lots of things to
>>>>> think about; he/she doesn't need to think (too much) about which USE
>>>>> flags to use, what CFLAGS to put in, which packages to emerge
>>>>> *initially*, etc.
>>>>
>>>> I agree, tools to quickly generate/close new domUs based on templates
>>>> would
>>>> help as well. With different options for where the disks are stored:
>>>> - File
>>>> - LVM
>>>> - physical partitions
>>>
>>> By domU here, do you mean Gentoo domU's or general domU's?
>>
>> Any domU. As far as I am aware, any domU can be configured to use any
>> block-backend for the partitions/drives.
>>
>>> Citrix XenServer's 'template' feature comes to mind...
>>
>> Along with cloning/copying/export/....?
>> VMWare ESX has similar options.
>>
>
> Cloning/copying, check (both "fast storage-based clone" and "full copy")
>
> Export, check.
>
> Move/migrate, check.
>
> If we want similar features, we really should learn about XCP & XAPI
> [http://wiki.xensource.com/xenwiki/XAPI_Developer_Guide]
>
> XCP is Citrix XenServer's "engine", released free a couple of months ago.
>
> XAPI is the 'smartness' of XenServer, and thus a part of XCP
> [http://xen.org/products/cloudxen.html]

Check...

>>>>> That is, how to provide sensible defaults yet not irreversibly
>>>>> removing Gentoo's freedom. So, GeDZux will be a Gentoo variant, a
>>>>> 'submetadistro', if you will :P
>>>>
>>>> A profile putting all the necessary tools (xen, kernel, bridge,....)
>>>> as
>>>> required.
>>>
>>> Aha! Good idea. Let me learn how to make a profile then.
>>
>> That way we can also set default USE-flags suitable for when using Xen.
>>
>
> Gotcha :-)
>
> I'm going to try out on my company's VMware boxes (the guys at
> xen-users said that Xen runs okay on VMware, albeit without HVM domU
> support).

I think starting with a list of packages and use-flags needed to get PV
and HVM domains running would be a good starting point.
Then, we can put that into a profile and create a stage4 tar-file with
current versions.

I think it would be a good idea to try to continue on this with the
maintainers for Xen on Gentoo?

--
Joost