Re: [Xen-users] Most stable Linux for running xen hypervisor?

[Jan Bakuwel <jan.bakuwel@xxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Keith,

On 02/06/16 01:16, Keith Roberts wrote:
> Hi all.
>
> I’ve had issues with upgrading a xen VM host server from opensuse 12.3
> to 13.1.
>
> I seem to have hit this bug here now:
>
> https://bugzilla.opensuse.org/show_bug.cgi?id=864430 
>
> Can anyone on the list kindly recommend a distribution and version of
> Linux they think is the most stable for running the xen hypervisor,
> and VM’s in Paravirtualisation mode please?
>
> I’d also like to use the libvirt library and all the virt* tools that
> come with it.
>
> BTW: what Linux distribution do the xen hypervisor developers
> recommend as being their preferred choice to run the hypervisor?

I won't be able to say which is the most stable distro with xen. I can
say though that I've used Debian with Xen from the repositories for
quite some years now and am very happy with it. I have it running on
datacenter servers as well as on small low power machines like the APU
(http://www.pcengines.ch/apu2b2.htm). Absolutely rock solid.

Another thing I do to "guarantee" stability is set up the host disc for
multiple versions of operating systems, starting with a "boot OS", which
only task it is to chainload another OS. Then I have (usually) two sets
of partitions for an OS (ie. /boot, /, /var, /var/log for one copy and
another /boot, /, /var, /var/log for another copy).

Image Debian 8 is running as OS #1. Once Debian #9 is available, I
install that as OS #2. If I'd run into any issues with Debian #9, I
simply reboot the machine with Debian #8. So far I've never needed to
revert back though but I still keep this in place for peace of mind.

This allows me to keep the host OS (ie. Xen dom0) current, so it enjoys
security updates, while I keep my old shoes for as long as I need them.
Once I'm happy with Debian #9, I start using that. When Debian #10 then
comes along, I install that as OS #1. And so on.

hope this helps,

Jan


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