Chapter1 - Installation and Virtualization

Installation:

• In the training rooms, they set up a DHCP server, that also hosts a kickstart file
• For practice, I've installed RHEL 5.4 on my desktop using the regular DVD boot
• The kickstart file for this install is stored in /root/anaconda-ks.cfg
• A kickstart file contains 3 sections:
  • Commands: The response for all questions asked in the installation
  • Packages: List of pkgs to be installed
  • Scripts: pre and post scripts to be run before and after the installation

Virtualization:
Install Xen hypervisor:
$ yum -y install kernel-xen xen virt-manager
Reboot, select the Xen kernel in Grub menu

Start services:
$ service xend start
$ service libvirtd start

Make sure the services start on boot:
$ chkconfig xend on
$ chkconfig libvirtd on

Create LV for VM:
$ lvcreate -L 10G -n vserver sys
$ virt-install --paravirt --ram 1024 --disk vol=/dev/sys/vserver --location /mnt/iso
OR
$ virt-install --paravirt --ram 1024 --disk vol=/dev/sys/vserver --location ftp://ftplocation/image -x ks=kickstart_file

Graphical tool - virt-manager
$ yum - y install virt-manager