Subject: Re: Bootstrapping a Linux domU from scratch in a NetBSD dom0
To: Harold Gutch <logix@foobar.franken.de>
From: Steven M. Bellovin <smb@cs.columbia.edu>
List: port-xen
Date: 04/06/2007 15:45:16
On Thu, 5 Apr 2007 00:38:33 +0200
Harold Gutch <logix@foobar.franken.de> wrote:

> Hi,
> 
> this actually isn't really NetBSD-related, but I could imagine that
> some people on this list might find this interesting - also, I believe
> that the goal is easier to achieve in a Linux dom0, so the main
> audience probably actually are people running a NetBSD dom0.
> 
> Anyway, I wrote up a guide dealing with the problem of getting a Linux
> domU up and running given a NetBSD dom0, without having to clone an
> existing Linux-installation.  You rather create a Debian-installation
> completely from scratch, without needing an existing Linux
> installation or even (any) access to a Linux box at all.
> 
> Well, here's the URL.  Have fun with it, and I'm always open to
> comments etc. on it:
> 
>   http://www.gutch.de/NetBSD/docs/xen.html
> 

Minor comments: with xen3, the 'nics=' line should be deleted, and
'cpu=-1' doesn't work.

Major comment: it won't boot:

	VFS: Cannot open root device "hda1" or unknown-block(0,0)
	Please append a correct "root=" boot option
	Kernel panic - not syncing: VFS: Unable to mount root fs on
	unknown-block(0,0)

I suspect the problem is that I need a /dev entry for hda1, but I have
no idea what the major/minor devices should be.  (Based on things I
found via google, I tried 

	# mknod hda b 3 0
	# mknod hda1 b 3 1

but that didn't do the trick.)



		--Steve Bellovin, http://www.cs.columbia.edu/~smb