I posted this issue over in virtualization category but realized that this is really a Slackware issue.

I've installed Slackware64 as a guest on a Debian KVM host. I had to use ide device for config since I couldn't get Slackware to recognize that I had /dev/vda partitions.

I've searched but have not found any how to or doc that tells me how to enable virtio-eth or virtio-blk in Slackware. I would really like to make this work for performance reasons.

Anyone out there who has done this and can tell me how to configure Slackware for virtio support?

I've 'modprobe virtio' but it still doesn't recognize it so there must be more to do :-)


thanks

The Slackware kernels (both huge and generic types) have all the virtio drivers built as modules.
That means, you have to create an initrd which loads these modules. Once you have done so, your drive will magically appear as /dev/vda

Run the following command inside the virtualized Slackware - it should show you exactly what parameters mkinitrd needs for virtio support:
Of course, transitioning from sda to vda will pose some problems for you in /etc/lilo.conf and /etc/fstab ...
The file "/etc/lilo.conf" can be updated after you have rebooted with active virtio drivers (don't forget to run "lilo" afterwards), and what you should do right away is change the device entry for your root partition in "/etc/fstab" from /dev/sdX to UUID="xxxxxxxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxx-xxxxxxxxxxxx" (the UUID value for your root partition - all those x-es - is what you find in the output of the command "blkid").

Eric

1 members found this post helpful.

You're the man Eric! I knew you would come through. Thanks so much for the help.

thanks