[Xen-users] top ten excuses to not use OpenSuSE as Xen dom0

[Mark Pryor <tlviewer@xxxxxxxxx>]

rl-3 = runlevel 3, aka cmdline

1- Poor domU tools
  OpenSuSE has nothing similar to debootstrap. The debian world has debootstrap.

Breaking news: you can find or build yourself a debootstrap RPM to install via 
bootstrap any debian/ubuntu xen guest in any rpm based distro like suse.

2- Bloated installer that has too few options for partitioning

  zypper has options and switches which allow complete freedom during installs. 
zypper can initiate a bootstrap/chroot type install with --root and --plus-repo 
switches. When you need maximum freedom don't use the installer, use zypper in 
a chroot.

3- Too much influence from MS in business and in OS architecture (Mono)
   You can do a custom install that is completely free of Mono.

4- Weak or non-existent cmdline package tools for rl-3 use

   nothing weak about zypper/rpm combo

5- Too difficult to setup a minimal server

you can use patterns, but avoid xen_server pattern and explicitly install the 
5-6 xen related rpm

xen-libs-4.0.0_21091_05-78.3.x86_64
xen-4.0.0_21091_05-78.3.x86_64
kernel-xen-devel-2.6.34.3-1.1.x86_64
xen-tools-4.0.0_21091_05-78.3.x86_64
kernel-xen-base-2.6.34.3-1.1.x86_64
xen-devel-4.0.0_21091_05-78.3.x86_64
kernel-xen-2.6.34.3-1.1.x86_64

6- Late to catch the pv_ops wave - still using a xenlinux kernel (kernel-xen)

   this is a strength, not a weakness.

7- Yast2 applets are too visual and add bloat

  ncurses are supported in rl-3.You can launch all yast2 applets via cmdline. 
Do yast2 --list (to see all the choices)
  'yast2 runlevel' makes service configs easy

8- Forces use of Libvirt and its tools

   Avoid xen_server pattern which includes Libvirt.
   ouch: zypper in -t pattern xen_server  (requires 220 packages)

9- Still behind in Grub version(0.97)

   very flexible and supports symlinks
   no need to write explicit xen & kernel versions in boot lines

10- Straying too far from linux standard base (lsb).

   Yast2 is what makes OpenSuSE unique. That it can work in rl-3 via   
   ncurses and cmdline is in the tradition of lsb.

11- latest release (11.3) has a severe bug in kernel-xen.

    OBS build service has this covered.
    
http://download.opensuse.org/repositories/Kernel:/openSUSE-11.3/openSUSE_11.3/

-- 
Mark




      

_______________________________________________
Xen-users mailing list
Xen-users@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
http://lists.xensource.com/xen-users