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Xen Basics. A Primer for the CPS 110 Programming Assignments Angela Dalton. Objective. To prepare you for the course programming assignments. What is Xen?. A virtual machine monitor (VMM) for x86-compatible computers Run multiple instances of OSes simultaneously
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Xen Basics A Primer for the CPS 110 Programming Assignments Angela Dalton
Objective • To prepare you for the course programming assignments
What is Xen? • A virtual machine monitor (VMM) for x86-compatible computers • Run multiple instances of OSes simultaneously • These are called Guest OSes • Provides isolation between Guest OSes • Uses Paravirtualization • Does not hide virtualization from the Guest OSes • OS must be ported to work with Xen
Using Xen in CPS 110 • Xen machine: cps210.cod.cs.duke.edu • Each team will have an account on cps210 • Watch your email for info • Part of Assignment 1: Get your team’s Linux Guest OS up and running on cps210
The xm Utility • Command line utility to control guests • Commands to know: • xm create • xm console • xm list • xm help • xm help <command>
Xen system structure • Xen is lowest, most privileged system level • Xen hosts multiple Guest OSes (called domains in Xen) running in secure VMs • Domain 0 – special privileged management domain • Builds other domains and manages their virtual devices • The domain you are logging in to when you ssh to cps210.cod.cs.duke.edu
Launching your VM • xm create -c configfilename • -c flag causes console to attach once VM is created • Useful because you’ll see bootup messages • Each team has its own config file • Edit config file to specify location of linux kernel to boot in your VM
The Xen Commandments • Thou shalt not kill another team’s VM • If there is a rogue VM causing some problem get in touch with that team and/or Angela and/or a UTA to deal with it • Thou shalt not hog memory • Config file specifies memory allotted for VM • You don’t need much for these projects