Re: [Xen-users] Converting the full-virtualization to para-virtualize

[Mark Williamson <mark.williamson@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

> I got a question here. Can I install a full-virtualized fedora 7 as dom0
> then convert it into para-virtualized?
>
> It's because I had tried faced so many errors when installing the
> para-virtualized  fedora7 with the nfs server.

I assume you meant installing a paravirtualised F7 as domU, not dom0?  (if it 
were dom0 you could just use the F7 installer and specify that you wanted 
virtualisation).

Converting it in this way should be fairly straightforward.  Use yum in your 
domU and get it to install the F7 Xen-enabled guest kernel (don't install the 
Xen package itself, you don't want the hypervisor or tools).  This may 
configure a guest entry in grub automatically, or you may have to add one for 
your guest kernel and initrd manually - I've not used F7 much, so I'm not 
sure.  Then you need to change the configuration for the domain to be 
paravirtualised...

I assume you're using virt-manager?  I don't know if the version in F7 stores 
config files in /etc/xen/?  In which case you could just copy / alter those 
config files to conform to a PV guest.  If not, I understand you can 
use "virsh" to dump the config file into XML form, then modify it, then 
reload that file to change the config used for the domain.

To convert it to PV you'll basically want to remove all the HVM-isms (e.g. 
stuff like the ioemu devices, the hvmloader, the builder, etc may need to be 
changed) and add in the relevant PV-isms (e.g. different syntax for 
describing virtual framebuffer, "linux" builder, pygrub bootloader, device 
names changed to xvd*).

Then if you boot the domain with xm create -c you ought to see the pygrub 
screen appear; select the Xen-enabled grub entry that you installed.  It 
should boot (fingers crossed).

If you keep a copy of the original HVM config you should be able to switch 
between the two fairly easily for debugging purposes.  If you installed the 
guest to use partitions, not LVM, then it's trivial to mount the guest's 
filesystem from dom0 to make tweaks.

Cheers,
Mark

-- 
Dave: Just a question. What use is a unicyle with no seat?  And no pedals!
Mark: To answer a question with a question: What use is a skateboard?
Dave: Skateboards have wheels.
Mark: My wheel has a wheel!

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