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Virtualization

In this section, we cover discussion on the @et-mgmnt-tools-list, @fedora-xen-list, @libvirt-list and @ovirt-devel-list of Fedora virtualization technologies.

Contributing Writer: Dale Bewley

Enterprise Management Tools List

This section contains the discussion happening on the et-mgmt-tools list

New Options for Guest Cloning

Cole Robinson posted[1] a patch to enable virt-install to "build a guest around an existing disk image, skipping the OS install step." Cole also posted[2] a patch for virt-clone which allows for cloning from an XML file "rather than require the use of a guest defined on the current connection."

Obtaining Guest IP Address from the Host

Thomas Mackell inquired[1] about a way to obtain the IP address of a guest that was easier than logging into it and running ifconfig. Cole Robinson pointed out Package-x-generic-16.pngvirt-mem[2] which is a collection of utilities for interrogating KVM guests. Tools included are virt-uname, virt-dmesg, virt-ps, and virt-ifconfig.

Fedora Virtualization List

This section contains the discussion happening on the fedora-virt list.

Fedora Virt Status Update

Mark McLoughlin posted two[1] [2] very detailed weekly status reports since the last FWN Virtualization beat. Each one is full of details on the latest bugs and developments in the field.

Qemu Packaging and noarch BIOS Firmware

The process [1] of building BIOS firmwares to support architecturally diverse guests on architecturally diverse hosts is very involved and repetitive. Glauber Costa learned[2] of changes coming to Koji which could simplify the process by allowing for bundled BIOS images to be built as "noarch" RPMs. These would be readily available to hosts on any architecture in the repository. Save for some "second class citizens"[3] in the repo.

Fedora Xen List

This section contains the discussion happening on the fedora-xen list.

dom0 Kernel Experimentation Continues

Michael Young continued[1] to help others experiment with the nacent dom0 support in the Package-x-generic-16.pngkernel and posted another RPM. There are still significant problems precluding its use for anything beyond testing.

Libvirt List

This section contains the discussion happening on the libvir-list.

Snapshot Volumes

Nick Moffitt asked[1] "Is there any interface to libvirtd that allows it to create volumes that are snapshots of existing volumes?"

Daniel P. Berrange pointed[2] out this feature was recently added to Package-x-generic-16.pnglibvirt 0.6.0. "Basically when creating a storage volume, you just need to pass information about the backing storage volume. It'll thus create a volume which is a snapshot of this backing store."

netcf Network Interface Configuration Library

David Lutterkort has been working on the disconnect between Package-x-generic-16.pnglibvirt and host network interface configuration for some time. (See FWN#159 "Configuring Host Interfaces RFC") [1] "After talking with Dan Williams, who is working in Package-x-generic-16.pngNetworkManager", it became[2] clear to David that solving this problem "is also useful for NM and would help them with handling system-wide interface configuration." David then began work on netcf[3]

Mark McLoughlin complimented[4] the work and updated the shared network interface feature page[5]. The goal of this feature in development is to "Enable guest virtual machines to share a physical network interface (NIC) with other guests and the host operating system. This allows guests to independently appear on the same network as the host machine."