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# virt-manager support
# virt-manager support
#* Basic setup support (DONE, see docs)
#* Basic setup support (DONE, see docs)
#* TODO: Improve the 'Create VM' wizard to handle the ARM case better
#* Improve the 'Create VM' wizard to handle the ARM case better (DONE)
#** Move 'arch' selection to the first screen
# TODO: Figure out how to actually install a new ARM VM and not depend on pre-installed images.
#** Allow choosing machine type up front in first screen
# TODO: Figure out why graphical setup is busted
#** UI for setting kernel/initrd in create wizard
# Figure out how to actually install a new ARM VM and not depend on pre-installed images.
# Figure out why graphical setup is busted




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== How To Test ==
== How To Test ==
<!-- N/A (not a System Wide Change) -->
<!-- N/A (not a System Wide Change) -->
TBD when work is testable.
https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/QA:Testcase_Virt_ARM_on_x86


== User Experience ==
== User Experience ==
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== Documentation ==
== Documentation ==
Follow the instructions here to get a pre-installed F19 ARM image, and extract the kernel/initrd/dtb: [[Architectures/ARM/F19/Installation#For_Versatile_Express_Emulation_with_QEMU]]
Example of how to kick off a guest: https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/QA:Testcase_Virt_x86_on_ARM
 
virt-install example:
<pre>
sudo virt-install \
--name armvirtio --ram 1024 \
--arch armv7l --machine vexpress-a9 \
--boot kernel=/var/lib/libvirt/images/vmlinuz-3.9.5-301.fc19.armv7hl,initrd=/var/lib/libvirt/images/initramfs-3.9.5-301.fc19.armv7hl.img,dtb=/var/lib/libvirt/images/dtb-3.9.5-301.fc19.armv7hl,kernel_args="console=ttyAMA0 rw root=/dev/vda3" \
--disk /var/lib/libvirt/images/Fedora-XFCE-armhfp-19-1-sda.raw \
--nographics --os-variant fedora19
</pre>
 
Using virtio requires a dtb to be passed in, but a dtb isn't strictly required otherwise.
 
Creating the VM with virt-manager is a bit more convoluted at the moment, the 'Scope' section details some improvements we can make before F20 GA. Steps:
* 'New VM' wizard
* 'Import existing disk image'
* Point at the above referenced ARM image. Choose Fedora 19 as the OS
* Fill in whatever for RAM and CPU
* On the final page, click customize before install
* Under advanced options, choose virt type 'qemu', arch 'armv7l'
* Click 'finish'
* In the 'customize' wizard, go to 'Overview', change machine type to 'vexpress-a9'
* Go to 'Boot settings', under 'direct kernel boot', specify kernel, initrd, dtb, and kernel args as specified above
* Remove the 'graphics' and 'video' device
* Click 'begin installation'


== Release Notes ==
== Release Notes ==

Latest revision as of 15:50, 10 February 2014

ARM on x86 with libvirt/virt-manager

Summary

Fix running ARM VMs on x86 hosts using standard libvirt tools libvirt virsh, virt-manager and virt-install.

Owner

Current status

Detailed Description

qemu has an ARM emulator that works well and is actively used in the Fedora ARM effort. However libvirt and virt-manager currently have issues launching qemu-system-arm VMs, mostly by encoding x86 assumptions in the generated command line that cause qemu-system-arm to fail to start. Let's fix it!

Benefit to Fedora

  • ARM developers can now use virt-manager/libvirt to manage ARM VMs without having to hack around it
  • Fedora QA can use standard tools to test ARM in its bid for Primary Architecture
  • Packagers who want to do ARM work can use standard virt tools to run ARM VMs.
  • Enthusiasts who want to try out the Fedora ARM spin can use standard tools to try it in a VM.

Scope

  • Proposal owners:
  1. Fix issues in libvirt with generating qemu-system-arm command lines:
    • Fix launching vexpress-a9 (DONE)
    • Support virtio-mmio to enable virtio for vexpress (DONE)
    • TODO: vexpress-a15 support? need to figure out the correct qemu+fedora incantation
  2. virt-install support (DONE, see docs)
  3. virt-manager support
    • Basic setup support (DONE, see docs)
    • Improve the 'Create VM' wizard to handle the ARM case better (DONE)
  4. TODO: Figure out how to actually install a new ARM VM and not depend on pre-installed images.
  5. TODO: Figure out why graphical setup is busted


Upgrade/compatibility impact

N/A (not a System Wide Change)

How To Test

https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/QA:Testcase_Virt_ARM_on_x86

User Experience

N/A (not a System Wide Change)

Dependencies

N/A (not a System Wide Change)

Contingency Plan

  • Contingency mechanism: N/A (not a System Wide Change)
  • Contingency deadline: N/A (not a System Wide Change)
  • Blocks release? N/A (not a System Wide Change)

Documentation

Example of how to kick off a guest: https://fedoraproject.org/wiki/QA:Testcase_Virt_x86_on_ARM

Release Notes

ARM VMs can now be run on x86 hosts using standard libvirt tools like virsh, virt-manager, and virt-install.