This page documents the procedure for creating a new KVM guest on a mayfirst server.

This document is not complete! Do not use it to actually create a new KVM guest yet.

Creating a new KVM guest

1. Install the ​kvm-manager scripts
2. Run kvm-creator to create the new LV for the guest and the needed directory and files in /etc/sv/kvm/:

   USAGE: kvm-creator create|destroy|demo guestname [volumegroup [disksize [ram [tap [mac] ] ] ] 
   

3. Initially it's a good idea to run the demo. This will give you a breakdown of how the server will be created.

   kvm-creator demo GUESTNAME
   

4. After determining the settings you want the machine to have, run the demo command and then the 'create' command.

   EXAMPLE WITH OUTPUT:
   0 negri:~/preseed-repo/squeeze# kvm-creator demo hay vg_negri0 15G 512
   NAME : hay
   VG : vg_negri0
   SIZE : 15G
   RAM : 512
   TAP : tap5
   MAC : 02:01:00:00:00:06
   DISK : /dev/mapper/vg_negri0-hay
   0 negri:~/preseed-repo/squeeze# kvm-creator create hay vg_negri0 15G 512
   Adding user `hay' ...
   Adding new group `hay' (1005) ...
   Adding new user `hay' (1005) with group `hay' ...
   Creating home directory `/home/hay' ...
   Copying files from `/etc/skel' ...
     Logical volume "hay" created
   0 negri:~/preseed-repo/squeeze#
   

5. Add at least one user to the access list for the new KVM guest's serial console
   1. Monkeysphere way:
      1. Add a uid to the /home/<guestname>/.monkeysphere/authorized_user_ids file
      2. Rebuild the monkeysphere-controlled SSH authorized_keys files:

         monkeysphere-authentication update-users 
         

   2. SSH key way
      1. Add an SSH key to the /home/<guestname>/.ssh/authorized_keys file
6. If you are installing an operating system to the new KVM guest:
   1. Put the iso in the /usr/local/share/ISOs directory. Be sure to verify the checksums on downloaded ISOs!
   2. Customize the iso with details for the server you are installing
      1. First edit /root/server-specifics.cfg - change values to match the server you are building
      2. Change into /usr/local/share/ISOs: cd /usr/local/share/ISOs
      3. Run:

         di-maker install.iso /root/preseed.cfg /root/server-specifics.cfg /root/late_command
         

   3. Create a symlink called cd.iso in the /home/<guestname>/vms/<guestname>/ directory with a target of the desired ISO:

      ln -s  /usr/local/share/ISOs/<some-installer>.iso /home/<guestname/vms/<guestname>/cd.iso
      

1. Tell runit to start the guest automatically

   update-service --add /etc/sv/kvm/SERVER-NAME
   

2. Log into the new guest via ssh: ssh SERVER-NAME@HOST-NAME
3. Install an OS: everything should be handled by preseed file