[COLUG] Windows under XEN fails

[Travis Sidelinger]

Brian,

I figured it out.  The default virt-manager created config looks, which 
looks like this, is not good for Windows:

###########################################
# Automatically generated xen config file
name = "win2003_test1"
builder = "hvm"
memory = "512"
disk = [ 'file:/data/vms/win2003_test1.xen,hda,w', ]
vif = [ 'type=ioemu, mac=00:16:3e:7a:c7:26, bridge=xenbr0', ]
uuid = "c3099aa1-a223-88b8-fbc4-072dce65a10e"
device_model = "/usr/lib64/xen/bin/qemu-dm"
kernel = "/usr/lib/xen/boot/hvmloader"
vnc=1
vncunused=1
apic=1
acpi=1
pae=1
vcpus=1
serial = "pty" # enable serial console
on_reboot   = 'restart'
on_crash    = 'restart'
###########################################

After reading the article you sent, I've come up with this config:

###########################################
# Automatically generated xen config file
name         = "win2003_test1"
builder      = "hvm"
memory       = "512"
disk         = [ 
'file:/data/vms/win2003_test1.xen,hda,w','file:/data/iso/ms_windows_server_2003_std-sp1.iso,hdc:cdrom,r']
boot         = "dc"
vif          = [ 'type=ioemu, mac=00:16:3e:7a:c7:26, bridge=xenbr0', ]
uuid         = "c3099aa1-a223-88b8-fbc4-072dce65a10e"
device_model = "/usr/lib64/xen/bin/qemu-dm"
kernel       = "/usr/lib/xen/boot/hvmloader"
vnc          = 0
vncviewer    = 0
sdl          = 1
on_reboot    = 'restart'
on_crash     = 'restart'
ne2000       = 0
###########################################

I haven't tested all the configuration option combinations, but 
particularly the acpi=1 was causing trouble.

Plus, I found this article which has some newer information: 
http://en.opensuse.org/Xen_Full_Virtualization_Example

Specifically, the "cdrom" option has been deprecated.


Brian Miller wrote:
> On Wednesday 01 August 2007 8:14:37 am Travis Sidelinger wrote:
>> In trying to install Windows 2003 under it hands early during install.
>>
>> My steps:
>>    * Installed CentOS5 x86_64 version on a HP DL385-G2 machine (1 dual
>> core AMD64 processor, 2G RAM)
>>    * yum update (completed), rebooted
>>    * changed SELINUX to permissive, rebooted
>>    * Created a XEN guest via virt-manager, started installing Windows
>> 2003 sp1
>>
>> At this point Windows boots from the install cdrom and goes through
>> driver detection.  The last message says its starting Microsft Windows.
>>   This is after the F6 prompt and before the first options presented on
>> screen.  It seems to hang at this point with the CPU maxed out.
>>
>> Am I missing something?  Shouldn't this work?
>>
>>
> Most of the discussion I've seen with Windows on XEN has focused on Win XP.  
> I've seen one write-up of getting Server 2003 working, at 
> http://www.xensource.com/files/xen_install_windows.pdf
> 
> I haven't worked with it myself, so can't offer any personal experience.
> 
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