I have to first say I am not a Linux guy so I really could use some serious help here. My first server I built 5 to 6 year ago which for the most part been good to me. Some blood was shed on it but we survived. Now I have a new build (more bleeding) which is my Server/HTPC dream machine. I have several VM's up and running on it without issue. Currently I am trying to get my Blu-ray and USB to pass thru. Here where my troubles start.

 

I have read several threads where guys have had success by editing the XML file some other did not. I gave this a try myself by using the edit feature of the GUI. I found that the edit did not stick others have experience the same. I then tried using the XML expert by pasting the new version in and updating. A new VM was created but again a template & not the modified version. Now do I need to remove any reference to the ISO files in the XML? Or is there something else in the XML that need to be Blown away? 

 

If others are able to edit the XML and make it stick please advise. If there is another way for me to directly gain access to the XML without the GUI editor I am willing to give that a try, I just have not able to find it or them.

 

Thanks in advance

Do you realise that once you make a change via the Edit XML option you can never use the ordinary GUI Edit option again for that VM?  Doing so will losses any changes made via Edit XML.

Do you realize that once you make a change via the Edit XML option you can never use the ordinary GUI Edit option again for that VM?  Doing so will losses any changes made via Edit XML.

 

Thanks for bringing this to my attention but the XML edit function in the GUI doesn’t work. The GUI is broken on my server or it’s a caret placed by Lime Tech.. With that in mind I can make VM's all day thanks to the GUI. The GUI edit feature (not XML edit) is great for setting up a stable framework for the VM and I wouldn't be as far along as I am without it.

 

It’s currently doesn’t have the functionality that I was looking for as it is still a deadhead server. My intent was for this to be a HTPC but currently I can't even get access to the 3 drives that are in it other than the internet browser.

 

The only way to move on is to edit the XML and I have no way to do it. My issue is the VM is useless to me in that its current state. Currently I only have three drives in this server with no real data to loose. I intend on moving my 12 main drives with data into it once I get this figured out.

 

Others have moved on with this and for me to get the bang for my buck I need to do the same. Thanks again for the heads up!

 

Any Ideas on how to edit the XML file like others are doing?

 

Regards

 

Do you realize that once you make a change via the Edit XML option you can never use the ordinary GUI Edit option again for that VM?  Doing so will losses any changes made via Edit XML.

 

Thanks for bringing this to my attention but the XML edit function in the GUI doesn’t work. The GUI is broken on my server or it’s a caret placed by Lime Tech.. With that in mind I can make VM's all day thanks to the GUI. The GUI edit feature (not XML edit) is great for setting up a stable framework for the VM and I wouldn't be as far along as I am without it.

 

It’s currently doesn’t have the functionality that I was looking for as it is still a deadhead server. My intent was for this to be a HTPC but currently I can't even get access to the 3 drives that are in it other than the internet browser.

 

The only way to move on is to edit the XML and I have no way to do it. My issue is the VM is useless to me in that its current state. Currently I only have three drives in this server with no real data to loose. I intend on moving my 12 main drives with data into it once I get this figured out.

 

Others have moved on with this and for me to get the bang for my buck I need to do the same. Thanks again for the heads up!

 

Any Ideas on how to edit the XML file like others are doing?

Perhaps you need to look into why the XML Edit function in the GUI is not working for you.  I use it all the time and I know that a lot of others do.  My approach is to use the standard Edit function to do the initial creation of the VM and then do all further editing of the settings via the XML Edit option.  One thing that is not obvious with the XML Edit is that if you make mistakes the underlying libvirt code can throw away lines it does not like.  For instance it automatically strips out any XML comments which is great shame as they would be useful.

 

It should also be possible (if you really wanted to) to do editing from a ssh session as all the configuration files for VM's are under /etc/libvirt (which is a symbolic link into where they are stored on the flash drive).  However I find it much easier to do it via the XML Edit function in the GUI.

 

Just a thought - do you have an ad blocker installed in your browser?  If so you might want to consider white-listing the unRAID server.  There have been a number of reports of ad blockers interfering with the unRAID GUI (although I must admit not in this particular area).

Swampy,

 

Let me just get this straight in my head..

 

• You're creating a VM with the webui
  
• You're then editing the XML with the webui
  
• The changes you're making aren't being saved?
  

 

One thing I have noticed is that if you make a change that isn't quite right in it's expression is that it doesn't get saved.

 

Might be easier if you post the basic XML and then show us what your trying to do.  I've got a feeling this might be where the problem is.  The VM management works perfectly well, hardware problems are what stops people from achieving things.  Useful if you post the specs of you Mobo and CPU too. 

Thanks itimpi & CHBM for you advise.

 

CHBM, You are correct on all points. Based on your comments I ran another test using the GUI XML expert. I copied a complete XML from a different VM and pasted it in. I changed name and description. Updated it and it worked!! SO now I need to understand what I am doing wrong that will not stick. I would think if I entered things wrong it would give me an error and not save or just would not work instead of reverting back.

 

I'll play with it some more and report back.

 

 

UPDATE : I must of had gremlins in the system yesterday. It saving XML's perfectly fine today. I shut it down last night so maybe it needed a reboot or a nights rest.