Xen and convirt: how do I use it?

[eternaluxe]

have you installed ubuntu-xen-desktop or ubuntu-xen-server?

[sci-fi guy]

have you installed ubuntu-xen-desktop or ubuntu-xen-server?

I had installed ubuntu-xen-server, then -desktop later hoping to get a GUI manager. Now -desktop isn't installed because upgrading convirt had removed -desktop (which had depended on it)

[eternaluxe]

Reinstall -desktop and give it a go.

[sci-fi guy]

Still on linux-server. ubuntu-xen-desktop lists it as a dependancy. And I still can't find any linux-xen kernels in the repos, just linux-virtual. Should I try that? ubuntu-xen-desktop's description says that it is safe to uninstall because none of the xen packages depend on it (I guess it is a meta-meta-package).

[eternaluxe]

Wierd. The kernel provided by the meta package for intrepid is the standard server kernel, not the xen. If you check the package for hardy, it has a xen kernel as the 4th depend.

I did find a xen kernel for intrepid here.

you can down load it and install it with dpkg.

[sci-fi guy]

Well, I use x86-64 so I went and got the right package. 2.6.24? I suppose that's why it isn't in the repos at this time?

Anyways, the xen kernel isn't working (unless it is supposed to show a completely blank screen).

[eternaluxe]

You _should_ be able to run a 32-bit kernel on a 64-bit machine, it just wouldn't be optimized for 64-bit architecure. That being said, I don;t have a 64-bit machine to test on, so I cannot confirm.
Did you download and install the intrepid xen kernel I pointed out?

[sci-fi guy]

Whew. I was afraid I had scared you off.

You _should_ be able to run a 32-bit kernel on a 64-bit machine, it just wouldn't be optimized for 64-bit architecture.

True, 32-bit OSs work on 64-bit CPUs (It is getting hard to find a 32-bit CPU nowadays, but Windows is still mostly 32-bit), but I don't think they can run 64-bit programs (which is all I have installed)

Did you download and install the intrepid xen kernel I pointed out?

I installed this one; and half a dozen dependencies. Not being able to use the repos makes me appreciate them much more.

[sci-fi guy]

OK, I think I found the problem: My processor, a Core 2 Duo T5300, does not support virtualization. (although VirtualBox works for some reason)

[eternaluxe]

VT is not necessary for Xen, though it helps alot.
I set up a machine (32-bit) in your configuration and have gotten the same results.
After some research, here is what I found.
We could be out of luck. Looks like a bug in either the kernel or the intel drivers and it doesn't look fixed.
Are you using on-board intel graphics? or do you have a grahpics card? If you are using on-board intel chipset, that could be the issue. I'm going to install a graphics card and see what happens.

[edit]
I lied. I'm still using hardy, not intrepid. Found this about intrepid and Xen.

Re: Xen in 8.10
The normal kernels support Xen domU functionality. We do not and will not have a dom0 kernel in 8.10.
__________________
William Grant
Ubuntu Developer

Looks like you'll have to try your hand at KVM? or downgrade to Hardy. Sorry about that.
-Patrick