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Install and Configure Xen Hypervisor

  1. First, install the required packages:

# apt-get install xen-hypervisor-i386 linux-image-2.6-xen-686 \

linux-headers-2.6-xen-686 xen-tools pciutils

  1. Now adjust the corresponding part of /etc/inittab to enable the serial console additionally to the VGA output:

1:2345:respawn:/sbin/getty 38400 hvc0

2:23:respawn:/sbin/getty 38400 tty1

  1. Also edit the file /etc/xen/xend-config.sxp as follows to adjust the network configuration for Xen:

[...]

(network-script network-bridge) [...]

#(network-script network-dummy)

[...]

(vif-script

  1. After the Xen installation, there should be a new entry in /boot/grub/menu.lst for Xen, which causes booting into the modified Xen kernel.

  2. For passing through the PCI(e) slot to the quest system, which we are about to create later, it must be hidden from the host system first. List the PCI(e) devices by invoking the command lspci:

# lspci

[...]

03:07.0 Network and computing encryption device:

Quicklogic corporation Device 0006 (rev 01)

[...]

  1. Note the number right before the description of the device, which is 03:07.0 in this case and modify the following Xen entry in /boot/grub/menu.lst:

Module /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.26-2-xen-686 root=/dev/hda1 ro console=tty0 xencons=off pciback.hide=(03:07.0) noirqdebug

  1. Reboot the system and check the current kernel by entering uname r thereafter:

# uname -r

2.6.26-2-xen-686

For more information on the Xen Hypervisor software please visit the official Xen Hypervisor web site on Hypervisor | Xen Project.