Typically, the guest operating system on a virtual machine can be updated using the same procedures as if it were running on a physical machine; however, SLE 10 virtual machines created on a SLE 10 host need to be updated to SLE 10 SP1 by re-creating the virtual machine from the settings stored in the virtual machine’s configuration file.
SLE 10 virtual machines created on a SLE 10 SP1 host do not need to follow these same procedures to be updated to SP1. Additonally, SLE 10 did not support SLE 10 fully virtual machines.
NOTE:In SLE 10, changing the configuration of a virtual machine by editing its configuration file ( etc/xen/vm/ vm_name ) was acceptable. In SLE 10 SP1 and later, editing the configuration file is no longer recommended. Instead, virtual machine configuration changes should be made in Virtual Machine Manager and by editing virtual machine settings stored in the xend database.
To update a SLE 10 virtual machine to SLE 10 SP1, complete the following procedure.
Make sure the host computer is running the most recent SLE updates. The host computer must be running software that is more recent than the software planned for the virtual machine update.
Prepare the virtual machine’s operating system environment for the update by completing any prerequisite tasks. Making a copy of the entire virtual disk is recommended.
Shut down the virtual machine you want to update.
View or print the virtual machine’s configuration file located at etc/xen/vm/vm_name.
On the host desktop, use Virtual Machine Manager to create a new virtual machine.
Choose the selection to install an operating system.
Specify the settings for the new virtual machine as the same settings specified in the VM’s configuration file.
Make sure that the following settings in Virtual Machine Manager match those in the VM’s configuration file.
Network MAC address
Memory size
Virtual disk size
Make sure to select or specify the virtual machine’s already-created disk or disk image, for example, hda. as the virtual disk.
For example, if the SLE 10 virtual machine was using /var/lib/xen/images/sles10/disk0 as its disk, the updated virtual machine should specify the same disk.
Specify the virtual machine operating system installation source as the SLE 10 SP1 installation media.
In the Operating System Installation section, add the following argument in Additional Arguments.
root=/dev/xvda2
where /dev/xvda2 is the path and drive designation for the root partition that contains the virtual machine’s boot files.
Click OK to create the virtual machine and start the SLE 10 SP1 installation program.
A new window displaying the installation program opens on the host desktop.
If the new windows does not display, select the virtual machine in Virtual Machine Manager, and click Open.
During the installation program, select Update from the Installation Mode screen.
If you receive a message stating that an error occurred while installing GRUB, click .
If you receive a message stating that an error occurred during boot loader installation, click .
Continue the installation (update) by following the on-screen instructions.
The installation program continues by booting the virtual machine and displaying the rest of the installation in text mode.
After completing the installation program, the virtual machine should now be running SLE 10 SP1 and registered with xend.
Log in to the SLE 10 SP1 virtual machine.
(Conditional) If you want the SLE 10 SP1 virtual machine to run in GUI mode, complete the following from its command line:
Enter init 3.
Enter sax2 to configure the GUI environment.
Enter init 5 to restart the GUI.
Open the virtual machine’s /etc/inittab file with a text editor.
Find the section titled
# getty-programs for the normal runlevels
After the line that begins with 1:2345:respan:sbin/mingetty, add the following lines:
2:2345:respawn:/sbin/mingetty tty2
3:2345:respawn:/sbin/mingetty tty3
4:2345:respawn:/sbin/mingetty tty4
5:2345:respawn:/sbin/mingetty tty5
6:2345:respawn:/sbin/mingetty tty6
Save the file and restart the virtual machine’s operating system.
If the mouse pointer stops working within the virtual machine, you might need to restart the GUI on the virtual machine host by entering init 3 then init 5 on the host’s command line.
After completeing these instructions, the updated SLE 10 SP1 virtual machine should perform correctly. Configuration changes should be made using Virtual Machine Manager or by modifying xend settings.