furiousBlog

Recently, I've been very interested in server virtualization. Specifically, I've been interested in virtualizing Linux using Xen. I've been reading a ton about it, and have compiled the following trail. It starts with the more general (what is virtualization, theory, examples, etc.) and gradually becomes more specific (Xen info and howtos).

An Introduction to Virtualization
This is a rather long and in-depth look at what exactly virtualization means and why you'd want to use it. The author includes short descriptions of many different ways of achieving virtualization. Sadly, he doesn't delve into Xen, but I think that's because at the time of writing Xen was relatively new.

Virtualization -- Short introduction to virtualization techniques
Basically, this is just a bare-bones intro--not as in-depth as the previous article. It presents short explanations of the three main virtualization techniques and gives examples of each.

Exclusive: Xen Grows Up
This is a really good article that discusses Xen, describes how it works, how you can use it, and how it compares to other virtualization techniques. Sadly, it requires a username and password, but the one I got from BugMeNot works just fine.

Ok, enough with the theory and intros. On to the howtos and tutorials!

The Perfect Xen Setup For Debian And Ubuntu
A very in-depth, step-by-step tutorial on installing Xen on Debian or Ubuntu. It has this helpful note at the beginning:

This is a "copy & paste" HowTo! The easiest way to follow this tutorial is to use a command line client/SSH client (like PuTTY for Windows) and simply copy and paste the commands (except where you have to provide own information like IP addresses, hostnames, passwords,...). This helps to avoid typos.

Debian Administration :: Installing Xen 3.0 upon Debian Sarge
Debian Administration :: Installing Xen 3.0 upon Debian Unstable, with a custom Kernel
These are two tutorials on installing Xen in Debian from the great Debian site, Debian Administration. Both are by the site's maintainer (and Debian developer), Steve. The first one describes installing Xen using one of the stock Debian kernels. The second one describes the process for installing a custom-compiled kernel in the Xen instances. It also touches on using the xen-tools script (written by Steve) to automate the installation of a basic Xen instance.

Note: I've got a few more articles (two about clustering Xen, and one about using multiple Xen instances to create a virtual network for testing), but they're outside the scope of this trail. So, I'm posting them to my del.icio.us/xen page in case anyone is interested.

Here's a status report on my MythTV box.

As you may remember, I switched my main desktop from a PC running Debian GNU/Linux to a Mac G4--also running Debian, of course. As I posted earlier, I did this so that I could use the PC as my MythTV backend machine, thereby saving me some money because I didn't have to buy a whole new machine for the backend. It's been a few weeks since the switch, and now I feel comfortable moving ahead with the MythTV project, pretty sure that I've gotten everything I need off of the old machine.

Also, I finally received the new gigabit network switch and gigabit network cards that I ordered from Buy.com.

So, the other day, I installed one of the gigabit network cards and my Hauppauge TV capture card, that I've had for almost 3 months, into the PC.

On reboot, the network card was instantly recognized and working, but the kernel doesn't appear to have drivers for the Hauppauge card already. I think I may have known that at some point, but I've since forgotten. So, I'm hoping that this weekend I'll have time to get the card up and running and maybe even try installing MythTV. If I do get around to installing the MythTV software, it'll be in my already existing Debian installation on the PC. I haven't ordered the big hard drives yet, so at this point I'm just learning how it all works.

So, my current to-do list for the MythTV box is:

• Get Hauppauge drivers installed.
• Run an extra cable coax line
• Order the hard drives

I'll post again if I get anything working.

It looks like we may do a show tonight over on the pAved earth. I just posted an announcement on the home page about it, so click the link for more info. It should be pretty good since we haven't done one in a while and we've got a lot of stuff to talk about. So, go, read, and then tune in tonight.

You've probably already seen this, but I couldn't resist posting it:

Story: Gonzales defends wiretaps amid protest

Some photos (via)

Basically, the story is that during a speech by Attorney General Alberto Gonzales, where Gonzales was defending the illegal wiretapping scandal, several of the students stood with their backs turned to him throughout. And then, in the middle of it, four more students wearing black cowels entered holding the following sign:


I had heard about it, but seeing the photos really brightened my day.

On a side note, I've got an entry working that discusses what I see as the shortcomings of the Benjamin Franklin quote from the photo.

First was Serenity in Lego, now paper:



Alternate link (via)

Up next, Serenity rendered in popsicle sticks!