Re: [gentoo-user] Creating KVM image using existing gentoo partition

[Alan McKinnon]

On Tue, 25 Sep 2012 15:33:25 -0700
felix@×××××××.com wrote:

> Got a new laptop at work,, running Linux instead of Mac, yay!
> Unfortunately, it comes with Ubuntu installed, boo!  But I split the
> 500GB drive into two parts, began a gentoo install in the second
> half, and now I am stalled.
>
> The main purpose of the laptop is to run Centos 6.2 in a KVM image so
> it can simulate production as much as possible.  As much as I dislike
> Ubuntu, I really only use it for terminals, Emacs, and Firefox.  I
> ssh into the Centos image for all that stuff.  I'd love to switch
> Ubuntu to gentoo and set up my usual fvwm etc instead of that awful
> Unity.
>
> Unfortunately, because I have to leave that Centos image running as
> much as possible, I can't take the time to reboot into the gentoo
> partition to finish the install, not even on weekends or evenings.
> It was ok getting the initial gentoo install started, but that was
> only an hour or two.  I can't take the time for a real install,
> there's work to do.


If you ask me, there's your real problem right there. It reminds me of
the old adage;

"How come is there never enough time to do the job properly, but
always enough time to do it over when it breaks?"

Just bite the bullet, shut the machine down and do the install properly
- you know you need to do it.

I can't quite fathom why you think a laptop of all things must be on
24/7. if that were true, it would be a server in your data center
surely?

Are you real completely 100% certain that out of 168 hours a week you
can't spare 2 to get your tools in order?



>
> So it occurred to me it would be great to create a new KVM image
> using the gentoo partition as is for its file system, instead of
> creating one out of a file as it did for the Centos image.  But I
> don't see any obvious options to do that.  This is my first time with
> KVM, and someone else set up the Centos image using some GUI wizard.
>
>
> Here be my scurvy dog question(s):
>
> Is it possible to create a KVM image using an existing gentoo
> partition (/dev/sda3) for the filesystem, such that once I get the
> gentoo install finished, I can boot directly to the gentoo partition
> and not have to purify it or sanitize it after KVM has meddled with
> it?  (and how do I do this? :-)
>
> If not, seems like the simplest workaround would be to create a KVM
> image from scratch and do a complete install there, then use cp, tar,
> cpio, or something similar to copy everything over to the real
> partition.  But that sounds ugly for some reason.
>



-- 
Alan McKinnon
alan.mckinnon@×××××.com