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Re: [Xen-users] In the process of deciding to virtualize, manyuncertaint

To: xen-users@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [Xen-users] In the process of deciding to virtualize, manyuncertainties
From: "harry@xxxxxxxxxxxx" <harry@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Date: Fri, 29 Oct 2010 06:36:57 -0400
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Hi all,

did some more research after the tip on the USB server. Seems that none of
the hardware solutions support linux VMs.

However, I found one link to a free software solution, tested by a linux
user, and he claims it works just fine. His story you can find here:

http://www.virtualinsanity.com/index.php/2008/11/20/a-slick-usb-over-ip-solu
tion-that-i-use-every-day/

The software you can find here: http://www.incentivespro.com

Of course, I stumbled on my first problem:

The installer tells me this:

---------------------------------------------

Kernels versions 2.6.25 through 2.6.28.8 have a bug with EHCI USB
controllers that leads to large memory leaks with isochronous devices like
Webcams or Sound cards.

If you have patched your kernel against this bug - please manually
recompile the driver executing 'make USE_EHCI_FIX=n' command. Otherwise USB
Server will try to automatically walk around this bug (without guaranties)

See http://patchwork.kernel.org/patch/13428/ for more information.

Please do not worry about this warning if you are not going to use USB 2.0
isochronous devices on your system.

----------------------------------------------

Xenserver 5.6.0 is running on 2.6.27.42. I basically don't know if this
will be an issue for me (I am only using USB HDDs, USB printer and USB card
readers), so I decided for now just to skip this recompiling message. Would
be nice though if anybody can tell me if XenServer still has this bug?

Second problem is when I continue with the installer I get the error "make
command not found". On the Xenserver site I found information on this
topic, where it is said that make is not included.

http://forums.citrix.com/thread.jspa?threadID=245559

Developer kid needs to be installed. Can somebody tell me if there is
another way? Like downloading cmake from the internet and compile it? If
not, is there a more detailed description in how to fix this?

Would be great if this software would work. The software vendor claims that
it supports VMware.

Regards,

Harry

Original Message:
-----------------
From:  kcobler@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Date: Thu, 28 Oct 2010 07:28:21 -0500
To: xen-users@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Re: [Xen-users] In the process of deciding to virtualize,
manyuncertainties


Quoting "harry@xxxxxxxxxxxx" <harry@xxxxxxxxxxxx>:

> Hi all,
>
> I have 2 web servers running with Raid 5 (software raid). They run centos
> 5.4. No other devices attached.
>
> Then I have a windows 2003 server running backups on the network,
including
> the web servers via samba. Backup is stored on a external hard disk,
> connected to the win server over USB.
>
> There is a fourth server running linux, that is used for general purpose
> and special scripting testing. It has a USB hub connected, with 2 or more
> smart card readers (type Smargo). No raid, just basic setup.
>
> I started testing of virtual servers with Oracle Virtualbox. The hosing OS
> was windows XP pro 32 bit. The entire OS and data was encrypted with
> truecrypt. Easy going, but found out the hard way that the virtual
platform
> is only as safe as the host OS it is running on. Got a nasty virus, and
> after 2 weeks trying to get rid of the virus, I found that this is not
safe
> enough as a production server solution.
>
> So I reformatted the new server and installed XenServer. One of the first
> things I found out was that the USB printer that I had connected did not
> show on the installed Win XP VM. After doing some reading, Is this a known
> problem? Also the DVD burner could read discs, and be used for installing
> software on the Win XP VM, but not for burning. The external HDD connected
> with USB cable was not recognized either, just as the USB pen was not
> recognized.
>
> So I am seeking assistance... . Is PCI and USB passthrough is supported in
> one of the XenServer products? By the way, my server hardware is 64 bit
> compatible, how tell I XenServer to run in 64 bit, and can I run 32 bit
> VM's?
>
> In the mean time I am trying to anticipate any future issues. Next on my
> list is to do a basic test by installing Win XP VM. Can anyone advice me
in
> if the know issues are going to be solved:
>
> - USB printer in XP VM
> - HDD via USB cable visible in XP VM
> - Burning DVDs on XP VM
>
> If this is working, next is the Linux server with the USB hub and USB
> Smargo card readers. Is this supported by XenServer?
>
> Next will be importing the 2 Centos web servers. Is software raid
> supported? Can anybody confirm this? If not, I wonder how to convert the
> server to VM? I can not make an image of the entire setup including all
> mirror partitions. Any suggestions?
>
> If raid5 is not supported, then what is the best solution to have my
> servers secured against HDD failures? What is the best strategy? Normally
I
> consider one server at a time, like choosing the raid type, firewall,
> antivirus, etc? .
>
> Backups are another concern. Right now I use Acronis Enterprise, but feel
> that this solution is not good enough, due to the fact that I am in big
> troubles when shit will hit the fan, and it will. I?ve been there ;-).
> Acronis is just not fool proof when it comes to securing linux servers. I
> am looking for a bare metal recovery solution like R1Soft, where snapshots
> are being used, and hotcopying the partitions. What is the closed I get
> when using XenServer? I could consider running 2 VMware servers, and where
> server 2 is a mirrored copy of server one, to ensure load balancing /
> redundancy. Or is there an easier solution? Please your 2 cents.
>
> Last, but not least, is encryption. When using software like Truecrypt,
> does XenServer allow to encrypt the entire OS and underlying data, or it
it
> advisable to encrypt only the VMs?
>

PCI passthru was difficult for me (hardware had to support it). USB  
passthru was limited to one device.

My solution for USB in a VM environment is USB over IP device.

http://www.silexamerica.com/products/usb_device_connectivity/sx-3000gb.html

This device allowed me to add a USB hub to support multiple USB  
devices. Also the device is supported by Windows 2003/XP, etc. I also  
could have different devices attached to different VMs at the same time.

Ken Cobler


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