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Xen How do you Install an OS from scratch?

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Hi

How hard would it be to install Ubuntu Server from scratch in Xen.

 

I can do this in Virtual box without issues just wondered how you go about doing this with unRAID 6 and Xen.

 

With Virtualbox you have all the option to create the virtual disk your installing to before you fire up the VM and then mount the CD.iso your installing from so when you power up the VM it boots straight from the iso and the install process gets under way, how do you do this in Xen?

 

Ive seen ironicbadger arch image and config and watched some of his videos, great btw,  but would love to be able to start from scratch with something I'm a little more familiar with.

Two options for disk creation:

 

1. Create a raw .img and store it anywhere you like (below is for a 10gb one).

dd if=/dev/zero of=ubuntu.img bs=1000 count=0 seek=$[1000*1000*10]

 

2. Use LVM. See my post here (you don't need the snapshot bit unless you want it).

http://blog.ktz.me/?p=285

 

Once you've created your disks you need the relevant xl compatible .cfg file, there are a bunch of these on my blog. I'll also do a video on installing Arch using Xen too, just not yet.

  • Author

I'm familiar with the dd command so will probably use that for now, now at all familiar with LVM but guess  htt will come in time the more i play with this stuff :)

 

Any chance you could pint me towards the xl compatible .cfg on your blog, at work and looking at this stuff in between boss visits :)

 

Will the xl compatible .cfg allow me to boot an installation.iso then and actuall install to the bland dd images i create?

  • Author

pv guest cfg here. search blog for windows for a hvm guest example.

 

http://unraidrepo.ktz.me/archVM/arch.cfg

 

Ah OK, think i saw that bit in one of your videos, is it just a simple matter of adding the path to the ubuntu-server.iso and the path to the blank image created with dd then to the file and xen will boot the iso?

 

Whats the 'phy:/mnt/user/data,xvdb,w' path for do i need to create another share?

 

Sorry for the noob questions just want to get my head around it before i play for real.

 

Edit: Blonde moment, now realise data is meant to be substituted for path to addition virtual drive images doh  :o, first question still stands though.

Two options for disk creation:

 

1. Create a raw .img and store it anywhere you like (below is for a 10gb one).

dd if=/dev/zero of=ubuntu.img bs=1000 count=0 seek=$[1000*1000*10]

 

2. Use LVM. See my post here (you don't need the snapshot bit unless you want it).

http://blog.ktz.me/?p=285

 

Once you've created your disks you need the relevant xl compatible .cfg file, there are a bunch of these on my blog. I'll also do a video on installing Arch using Xen too, just not yet.

 

I have one (maybe 2) drives laying around, can I format these using LVM in UnRAID ? If not, any suggestion to do it in the best way ?

 

//Peter

 

I havn't got LVM working in unRAID yet. Not sure what the issue is, I'm working on other stuff right now.

I have one (maybe 2) drives laying around, can I format these using LVM in UnRAID ? If not, any suggestion to do it in the best way ?

 

I will save you the trouble. LVMs will not work in unRAID. Its not compiled in the kernel and I suspect that it won't ever be. Tom talked about adding BTRFS which will give the option of snapshots, sub volumes, etc

I have one (maybe 2) drives laying around, can I format these using LVM in UnRAID ? If not, any suggestion to do it in the best way ?

 

I will save you the trouble. LVMs will not work in unRAID. Its not compiled in the kernel and suspect that it won't ever be. Tom talked about adding BTRFS which will give the option of snapshots, sub folders, etc

 

Some kid ate my crayon and I forgot my spare.

  • Author

 

It just a simple matter of adding the path to the ubuntu-server.iso and the path to the blank image created with dd then to the file and xen will boot the iso?

 

Was I correct in this comment or its there a lot more to it?

 

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk

 

 

 

It just a simple matter of adding the path to the ubuntu-server.iso and the path to the blank image created with dd then to the file and xen will boot the iso?

 

Was I correct in this comment or its there a lot more to it?

 

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk

 

It depends on whether you want a PV guest or HVM guest.

truncate -s 30G XXXXXX.img  # <--- That creates a 30GB Virtual Drive

 

Is a lot easier and faster than using the dd command.

  • Author

Guess more to learn PV or HVM. was after the easiest option to boot off a Ubuntu server iso and install it to the created 30gb blank disk

 

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk

 

  • Author

What would be  simplest then. If I add the the Ubuntu server or any distro .iso to the config would xen boot the iso and allow me to install it to the blank 30gb .IMG file?

 

May be I could back up my 5.0.5 config and put 6 on my sever but don't want to go to all the hassle if I'm unable to do what I would like yet.

 

Also have to make sure server was back up for the kids and wife.

 

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk

 

 

I would like to be able to make my own vm image from scratch.

 

I'm currently running Esxi and even though I hate using windows for the management utility vsphere is pretty easy to manage. Just point and click to make a vm then attach the install iso.

 

Is the CLI the only way for xen?

 

I would like to be able to make my own vm image from scratch.

 

I'm currently running Esxi and even though I hate using windows for the management utility vsphere is pretty easy to manage. Just point and click to make a vm then attach the install iso.

 

Is the CLI the only way for xen?

 

Yes but its really not hard.

 

Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

 

 

  • Author

How about a mini guide? Hint hint ;)

 

 

 

edit: oops, I clicked the wrong button! Sorry

  • Author

How about a mini guide? Hint hint ;)

 

I'm working on it!

 

Many many thanks, I learn a lot quicker from actually doing then from hacking and bodging to try get it done, usually get annoyed and end up going another route.

 

It doesn't have to be nothing to complex, Ive got the blank virtual drive using truncate -s 30G XXXXXX.img just need to know how to mount / boot from a cd.iso then installing of an OS is the easy bit i should imagine.

 

Would be nice to have something like xencenter, oh well.

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