Paravirtualization with XEN and Debian Lenny
(or: how to get XENTools running with Debian Lenny)

1.) Install Debian Lenny with "Other install media" default Template and update it with aptitude.
Add the GPG-KEY of Citrix to aptitude:
wget -q http://updates.vmd.citrix.com/XenServer/5.5.0/GPG-KEY -O- | apt-key add -

2.) Add XenTools ISO, mount and install it:
mount -t iso9660 /dev/cdrom /cdrom
cd /cdrom
dpkg –i Linux/xe-guest-utilities_5.6.0-xxx_i386.deb
dpkg –i Linux/debian-lenny/linux-image2.6*

If you have x64:
dpkg –i Linux/xe-guest-utilities_5.6.0-xxx_amd64.deb
dpkg –i Linux/debian-lenny/linux-image2.6*

3.) Change the name of your HDD from "hda" to "xvda".
(if your HDD is "hdb", change to"xvdb", also for "hdd")
Change it in "/etc/fstab/" and "/boot/grub/menu.lst".
"fstab" is easy, and on "menu.lst" you have to change:
"kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.x root=/dev/hda1 ro quiet"
to:
"kernel /boot/vmlinuz-2.6.x root=/dev/xvda1 ro quiet"
(or "hdb1" to "xvdb1")

4.) Next change "tty1" to "hvc0" in: "/etc/inittab".
"1:2345:respawn:/sbin/getty 38400 tty1"
to:
"1:2345:respawn:/sbin/getty 38400 hvc0"

5.) Now Shutdown VM.

6.) Go to any XenConsole.
Get the UUID of the VM with "xe vm-list".

7.) xe vm-param-set uuid=<uuid> HVM-boot-policy=""
xe vm-param-set uuid=<uuid> PV-bootloader=pygrub
xe vm-param-set uuid=<uuid> PV-args="- - quiet console=hvc0"

8.) Now make the HDD of the VM bootable.
You need the VBD-UUID. Get it with:
"xe vm-disk-list uuid=<uuid>" .

9.) Activate the Blockdevice of the HDD and make it bootable:
"xe vbd-param-set uuid=<vbd-uuid> bootable=true"

10.) After boot, use: "aptitude update; aptitude dist-upgrade" .
After every kernel update, do again Step 3.) change "hda" to"xvda" in "/boot/grub/menu.lst"

Updated for XenServer 5.6 by: Drachenfels GmbH on 01.06.2010

Notes