I was able to install Ubuntu 6.06.1 on Xen by putting the Ubuntu install CD in the CD drive of the Xen server. I got lost for a while because I didn't create the storage when initially setting up the VM. Once I actually made a disk, the install went okay. I've found a post saying that Ubuntu will start having errors and switch the disk to read-only, so I'll watch for that.
I still need to install the Xen tools...
Monday, 17 March 2008
Sunday, 16 March 2008
Ubuntu on Xen
I wanted to continue to use Ubuntu Server in my VMs. I like their approach to long-term support, the server install, and the way they provide a pre-configured LAMP server.
As I read about how to build one, I stumbled across a post from someone else who was doing what I wanted to do, and had problems. That scared me off just blindly stumbling ahead, so now I have more research to do.
I'm pretty sure it should be relatively easy to have a kernel that works on top of Xen, and on which I can run an otherwise standard Ubuntu 6.06 install, but it's going to take some digging... This is harder than I wanted it to be.
As I read about how to build one, I stumbled across a post from someone else who was doing what I wanted to do, and had problems. That scared me off just blindly stumbling ahead, so now I have more research to do.
I'm pretty sure it should be relatively easy to have a kernel that works on top of Xen, and on which I can run an otherwise standard Ubuntu 6.06 install, but it's going to take some digging... This is harder than I wanted it to be.
First Guest on Xen
I created a Debian 3.1 VM from the templates using XenCenter. I just followed the XenCenter wizard. It was trivial, although before I created it I spent almost 1 1/2 hours reading documentation and the Internet.
The only thing I had to do was set the time zone. Being old fashioned, I used the command line console and tzconfig(1).
The only thing I had to do was set the time zone. Being old fashioned, I used the command line console and tzconfig(1).
Saturday, 15 March 2008
If IT Isn't Broken...
If NT provides what you need, who cares if the platform is a bit worn and some of the paint doesn't look so good?
XenServer Install
I bought a Dell SC440 for Jade Systems (that's me). I'm setting it up as a virtual host so I can create virtual computers at will. I've decided to try XenServer, I think mostly because the free version is just a license-key upgrade to the full version. Besides, I already have some experience with VMWare, albeit second hand.
I had to F2 into the BIOS on initial boot of the SC440 to turn on virtualization in the CPU. It was relatively easy to find on the menus, but not right at the top level (My apologies for the vagueness here. The servers are in another room, so I wasn't blogging while I was installing).
The install of XenServer 4.0.1 went exactly according to the instructions. I read through the four pages of documentation first, and so I had all the answers I needed -- the usual network set-up, which time servers to use, etc.
I just finished installing the security patch. First challenge: actually getting the file to the XenServer host. I put a DVD in the DVD drive, but there's no entry for CD or DVD in /etc/fstab. The installation instructions recommend using a USB key. I flailed on that for a while, Googling for Linux-for-dummies level help on USB, before I said to myself, "Right. I guess I still have to be a Linux sysadmin," and found the appropriate dev to mount the dvd. From there it was maybe a minute to install the patch.
Total time: About half an hour to install XenServer the other night, mostly unattended after the usual initial Linux questions, plus 45 minutes now, mostly Googling.
I had to F2 into the BIOS on initial boot of the SC440 to turn on virtualization in the CPU. It was relatively easy to find on the menus, but not right at the top level (My apologies for the vagueness here. The servers are in another room, so I wasn't blogging while I was installing).
The install of XenServer 4.0.1 went exactly according to the instructions. I read through the four pages of documentation first, and so I had all the answers I needed -- the usual network set-up, which time servers to use, etc.
I just finished installing the security patch. First challenge: actually getting the file to the XenServer host. I put a DVD in the DVD drive, but there's no entry for CD or DVD in /etc/fstab. The installation instructions recommend using a USB key. I flailed on that for a while, Googling for Linux-for-dummies level help on USB, before I said to myself, "Right. I guess I still have to be a Linux sysadmin," and found the appropriate dev to mount the dvd. From there it was maybe a minute to install the patch.
Total time: About half an hour to install XenServer the other night, mostly unattended after the usual initial Linux questions, plus 45 minutes now, mostly Googling.
Thursday, 13 March 2008
Why Open Source is Better for Us All
I just read a very interesting way of looking at how open source creates a fundamental shift in the factors that drive software acquisition. Given that much of what's wrong in IT is about the relationship that customers and software developers are driven into by the economics of developing software, I really like the ideas in the post.
Friday, 1 February 2008
AJAX Security
It seems like every time I get to the point where I think I might get excited about writing a web application, I listen to a podcast about the abysmal state of security on the Wild West Web. The technology has to be made secure. We can't rely on programmers to do the right thing because we're human and we'll mess it up from time to time.
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