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Xen on Slackware

Installing Xen as dom0 on Slackware Linux

There is an interesting page I found, that can be useful. Although it describes the installation of Xen in Debian, there is interesting information there.

hackinglinux blog entry

Before starting, be sure you have all the dependencies installed. They are described in the README file of the xen source release (saw in 3.2). Next programs are needed too, although they are not listed in the README file:

So, first, clone and build Xen:: 

    $ hg clone http://xenbits.xensource.com/linux-2.6.18-xen.hg
    $ # su and cd the path
    $ make all # (not make world)
    $ make install - it install files on the system filetree

Remember that it is make all and not make world.

Why you should make all instead of make world

Then, install grub, mkdir /boot/grub, touch /boot/grub/menu.lst. The content of it is described in the NetBSD Xen howto (detailed for a NetBSD box).

NetBSD Xen howto

Grub installation:: 

    # cp /opt/grub-0.87/lib/grub/i386-pc/stage[12] /boot/grub
    # /opt/grub-0.97/sbin/grub --no-floppy /dev/sda
    grub> root (hd0,0)
    grub> setup (hd0)

Oracle forum entry about grub and xen

TODO: tell why initrd is necessary (xen kernel is built with thousands of modules. some need to be load from initrd)

Make a new initrd for the new kernel command line):: 

    # mkinitrd -k 2.6.18.8-xen -m scsi_mod:mptbase:mptsas:mptscsih:sd_mod

Reference about mkinitrd

Troubleshooting

TODO: troubleshooting should be better described and external references must helpful, but not strictly necessary, that is, main steps and explanation should be in this document.

xm create complaining about memory

"Seeing" BSD partitions with Linux fdisk

Other references: