Windows 2003 server on RHEL 5 Xen as FVM

bobbera · 05-19-2008, 06:03 AM

I've been triying to install Windows 2003 Server as Full Virtualized VM using ISO method and installation process failed to continue after Windows starts to launch its second installation stage . There is a workaround for the CD-ROM method installation either for 2000 or 2003 systems and it works .
I assume that Xen guest config file is to be edited . But what is the correct syntax ?
Does anybody know how to fix it ? Thanks
Vlad .

Pearlseattle · 05-20-2008, 01:19 PM

Sorry, I might not have understood what you mean.
What happens when

Quote:

after Windows starts to launch its second installation stage

? The domU hangs? It doesn't reboot? Anything else? And do you mean that this fails when you try to install it from an iso-image-file, but not when ou give the domU direct access to the CD in the CD-drive?
This is the config file of Xen I am using to boot WinXP - I am currently using Xen 3.2.0, and used to work as well with 3.1.0

Code:

# Kernel is the HVM-Loader as the guest system is not adapted to Xen.
kernel  = '/usr/lib64/xen/boot/hvmloader'
builder = 'hvm'
memory  = '512'
#acpi=1 
device_model='/usr/lib64/xen/bin/qemu-dm'

# Drives
# First the "fake" filesystem where to install Windows simulating a drive in write mode, 
# afterwards the image of the Windows CD rom.
disk    = [ 'file:/mnt/raid5/virtual_os/windows_xp/fs_image/windowsxp.img,ioemu:hda,w','file:/mnt/raid5/virtual_os/windows_xp/fs_image/winxp_install_cd.iso,ioemu:hdc:cdrom,r' ]

# Hostname
name    = 'WinXPpro'

#  Networking
#dhcp = dhcp
#vif = ['type=ioemu, bridge=xenbr0'] #This one used to work
#vif = ['type=ioemu, bridge=peth0'] #Did not work
vif = [ "type=ioemu, bridge=eth0" ]

# Behaviour
boot='c'
# Don't restart the domain once it reboots.
on_reboot = 'destroy'
#on_reboot = 'preserve'
#on_crash = 'preserve'
#on_poweroff = 'preserve'
#vncviewer=0
vcpus=1
#ne2000=1

# Settings to have the mouse have the correct 
# coordinates and make it follow the pointer faster
usb=1
usbdevice='tablet'

# Settings for vnc disabled
#sdl=1

# Settings for vnc enabled
vnclisten="0.0.0.0"
vnc=1
vncpasswd = "xxxxxxxxx"

# Others
#pae=0
keymap='de-ch'
audio=1
soundhw='all'
#pci = [ '00:1b.0' ]
#pci = [ '01:0e.0' ]

bobbera · 05-21-2008, 01:41 AM

Thanks Pearlseattle ,
Sorry for possible misunderstanding . I meant for the second stage of the Windows installation when the system makes reboot during
the process and by default guest configuration file does not take into consideration cd-rom spec. RedHat has released an explanation on how to fix the problem when CD-ROM media is still needed for the installation ;

They suggested to put next line in the guest config file :

disk = [ 'file:/opt/win2003,hda,w', 'phy:/dev/dvd,hdc:cdrom,r']

But they did not mentioned ISO image installation method case .
You are right - your WinXP config file will solve the problem . In my case I fixed the issue editing Windows2003 guest
as follow :
disk = [ 'file:/opt/win2003,hda,w', 'file:/pathto/image.iso,hda:cdrom,r']

The trick is that although Windows uses hda device we need anyway to specify cd-rom also as hda device - this is the
way how the system recognized it in /proc :

cat /proc/sys/dev/cdrom/info
CD-ROM information, Id: cdrom.c 3.20 2003/12/17

drive name: hda

Thanks .

Pearlseattle · 05-21-2008, 04:10 AM

Cool! You're welcome!