Steps to try Xen 4.0.0 Release Candidate 8 on Ubuntu Lucid 10.04 64 Bits

Great post in xen-users today from Thiago Martins…
Running Xen 4.0.0-rc8 with Linux 2.6.32.10 paravirt_ops    dom0 on top of Ubuntu Lucid 10.04 64bits
This is a quick guide to help us to try the new Xen.
Also I have the composite window manager on top of the Xen! With full 3D support!
To achieve this I do:
1- Install your Ubuntu Desktop 10.4 beta1 and upgrade your system;
1.1 – Install some packages:
aptitude install build-essential libncurses5-dev dpkg-dev debhelper fakeroot
2- Download and install a new kernel with dom0 pv_ops enabled:
sudo -s
cd /usr/src
git clone git://git.kernel.org/pub/scm/linux/kernel/git/jeremy/xen.git linux-2.6-xen
cd linux-2.6-xen
git pull
git reset –hard
git checkout -b xen/stable origin/xen/stable
git pull
2.1 – Download the kernel config file attached to this mail (config-for-xen-2.6.32.10-pvops):
Copy the config file to the kernel source dir:
cp ~Downloads/config-for-xen-2.6.32.10-pvops /usr/src/linux-2.6-xen/.config
You can see the differences of my config file against the Lucid one:
diff /boot/config-2.6.32-17-generic ~Downloads/config-for-xen-2.6.32.10-pvops | vim –
…both are close to each other.
2.2 Configure, compile and install:
make menuconfig # Enable the dom0 support and the Xen backend/frontend/xenfs stuffs…
make
chmod g-s /usr/src -R     # To avoid the error: “dpkg-deb: control directory has bad permissions 2755 (must be >=0755 and <=0775)”
make dep-pkg
dpkg -i ../linux-image*2.6.32.10*.deb
depmod 2.6.32.10
update-initramfs -c -k 2.6.32.10
update-grub
echo “xen-evtchn” >> /etc/modules
Now you can try your new kernel without Xen, if you want, it should work smootly.
3- Download and install the latest Xen:
Preparing your environment:
apt-get build-dep xen-3.3
aptitude install uuid-dev iasl texinfo
Download and compile:
cd /usr/src
hg clone -r 4.0.0-rc8 http://xenbits.xensource.com/xen-unstable.hg
cd xen-unstable.hg
make xen
make tools
make stubdom
make install-xen
make install-tools PYTHON_PREFIX_ARG=
make install-stubdom
update-rc.d xend defaults 20 21
update-rc.d xendomains defaults 21 20
4- Configuring your Grub2 through the file /etc/grub.d/40_custom:
—- cut here —-
#!/bin/sh
exec tail -n +3 $0
# This file provides an easy way to add custom menu entries.  Simply type the
# menu entries you want to add after this comment.  Be careful not to change
# the ‘exec tail’ line above.
menuentry “Xen 4.0.0-rc8 / Ubuntu 10.4 kernel 2.6.32.10 pvops” {
insmod ext2
set root=(hd0,1)
multiboot (hd0,1)/xen-4.0.0-rc8.gz dummy=dummy
module (hd0,1)/vmlinuz-2.6.32.10 dummy=dummy root=/dev/mapper/HyperDeskVG01-tcmc–dell–lucid ro
module (hd0,1)/initrd.img-2.6.32.10
}
—- cut here —-
Don’t forget to change your “root=” option of your Linux!
Run update-grub again:
update-grub
5- Reboot into your new dom0!
reboot
6- Look if your Xen is up and running
xm list
xm info
.. if not:
/etc/init.d/xendomains stop
/etc/init.d/xend stop
/etc/init.d/xend start
/etc/init.d/xendomains start
xm list
xm info

Read more

Let’s Grow Xen Together!
03/18/2025

Xen is open, secure, and built for the future. As the new Community Manager, I’m focused on growing the Xen community, welcoming new contributors, and ensuring a thriving ecosystem. Let’s build the future of virtualization together!

Xen Project 4.20: A Step Forward in Open Source Virtualization
03/11/2025

The Xen Project has released Xen 4.20 🎉! This release introduces a range of enhancements that further solidify its position as the premier open-source hypervisor. It delivers important security updates, improved performance, and broader hardware support. Xen has doubled down as the best choice for cloud providers, enterprise users, and

Xen Project Winter Meetup
02/13/2025

We just wrapped up the Xen Winter Meetup 2025. It was an amazing opportunity to push Xen forward in a way that can only happen when people get together in person. Organized by Vates, we hosted it at the University of Grenoble IMAG building, a great spot for cutting-edge research

Welcome Honda to the Xen Project Board
12/09/2024

We're excited to announce our newest Advisory Board Member Honda, to Xen Project. Since its foundation, Honda has been committed to "creating a society that is useful to people" by utilizing its technologies and ideas. Honda also focuses on environmental responsiveness and traffic safety, and continue