Hello.
Is there a way to boot into Xen on debian11 installing Xen the way documented, please?
Multiboot2 is not doing the trick with initrd. Is there a workaround or a way to?
Do we need a patch to grub to make Xen usable on this scenario? Does anyone boot into Xen? On debian? Debian11, please?
Linux xd 5.10.0-16-amd64 #1 SMP Debian 5.10.127-1 (2022-06-30) x86_64 GNU/Linux
On my debian11, I have installed xen-hypervisor-4.14-amd64, xen-hypervisor-common, xen-system-amd64, and xen-utils-4.14
But I cannot boot into Xen, please help.
Theoretically, after installing Xen, according to https://wiki.debian.org/Xen , I should only run:
dpkg-divert --divert /etc/grub.d/08_linux_xen --rename /etc/grub.d/20_linux_xen
update-grub
Unfortunately, boot breaks and grub mailing list had a very deep debate on it last March-April - apparently multiboot2 will NOT do the trick:
https://www.mail-archive.com/grub-devel@xxxxxxx/msg32020.html
I need some help, please. Is this inconclusive? Is there a work-around I could use (some partial boot on Xen and manually loading on the prompt the rest of what is needed for Xen to work)? How should I proceed? I will try to register this on grub, debian xen packages and Xen as requests/bugs - any further ideas on actions, please?
The discussion on grub mailing list points to this:
https://wiki.debian.org/DebianInstaller/NetbootFirmware#The_Solution:_Add_Firmware_to_Initramfs
This seems very complicated and risky… is this the way forward?
Did anyone patch grub2 to be able to support what’s needed for Xen, please?
Note: I’m using pure Xen, NOT Eve.
/etc/default/grub file contents:
# If you change this file, run 'update-grub' afterwards to update
# /boot/grub/grub.cfg.
# For full documentation of the options in this file, see:
# info -f grub -n 'Simple configuration'
GRUB_DEFAULT=0
GRUB_TIMEOUT=5
GRUB_DISTRIBUTOR=`lsb_release -i -s 2> /dev/null || echo Debian`
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX_DEFAULT="quiet"
GRUB_CMDLINE_LINUX=""
# Uncomment to enable BadRAM filtering, modify to suit your needs
# This works with Linux (no patch required) and with any kernel that obtains
# the memory map information from GRUB (GNU Mach, kernel of FreeBSD ...)
#GRUB_BADRAM="0x01234567,0xfefefefe,0x89abcdef,0xefefefef"
# Uncomment to disable graphical terminal (grub-pc only)
#GRUB_TERMINAL=console
# The resolution used on graphical terminal
# note that you can use only modes which your graphic card supports via VBE
# you can see them in real GRUB with the command `vbeinfo'
#GRUB_GFXMODE=640x480
# Uncomment if you don't want GRUB to pass "root=UUID=xxx" parameter to Linux
#GRUB_DISABLE_LINUX_UUID=true
# Uncomment to disable generation of recovery mode menu entries
#GRUB_DISABLE_RECOVERY="true"
# Uncomment to get a beep at grub start
#GRUB_INIT_TUNE="480 440 1"
/boot/grub/grub.cfg file contents:
#
# DO NOT EDIT THIS FILE
#
# It is automatically generated by grub-mkconfig using templates
# from /etc/grub.d and settings from /etc/default/grub
#
### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/00_header ###
if [ -s $prefix/grubenv ]; then
set have_grubenv=true
load_env
fi
if [ "${next_entry}" ] ; then
set default="${next_entry}"
set next_entry=
save_env next_entry
set boot_once=true
else
set default="Debian GNU/Linux, with Xen hypervisor"
fi
if [ x"${feature_menuentry_id}" = xy ]; then
menuentry_id_option="--id"
else
menuentry_id_option=""
fi
export menuentry_id_option
if [ "${prev_saved_entry}" ]; then
set saved_entry="${prev_saved_entry}"
save_env saved_entry
set prev_saved_entry=
save_env prev_saved_entry
set boot_once=true
fi
function savedefault {
if [ -z "${boot_once}" ]; then
saved_entry="${chosen}"
save_env saved_entry
fi
}
function load_video {
if [ x$feature_all_video_module = xy ]; then
insmod all_video
else
insmod efi_gop
insmod efi_uga
insmod ieee1275_fb
insmod vbe
insmod vga
insmod video_bochs
insmod video_cirrus
fi
}
if [ x$feature_default_font_path = xy ] ; then
font=unicode
else
insmod part_gpt
insmod ext2
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 0123abcd
else
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 0123abcd
fi
font="/usr/share/grub/unicode.pf2"
fi
if loadfont $font ; then
set gfxmode=auto
load_video
insmod gfxterm
set locale_dir=$prefix/locale
set lang=en_GB
insmod gettext
fi
terminal_output gfxterm
if [ "${recordfail}" = 1 ] ; then
set timeout=30
else
if [ x$feature_timeout_style = xy ] ; then
set timeout_style=menu
set timeout=5
# Fallback normal timeout code in case the timeout_style feature is
# unavailable.
else
set timeout=5
fi
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/00_header ###
### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###
insmod part_gpt
insmod ext2
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 0123abcd
else
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 0123abcd
fi
insmod png
if background_image /usr/share/desktop-base/homeworld-theme/grub/grub-4x3.png; then
set color_normal=white/black
set color_highlight=black/white
else
set menu_color_normal=cyan/blue
set menu_color_highlight=white/blue
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/05_debian_theme ###
### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/08_linux_xen ###
menuentry 'Debian GNU/Linux, with Xen hypervisor' --class debian --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os --class xen $menuentry_id_option 'xen-gnulinux-simple-0123abcd' {
insmod part_gpt
insmod ext2
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 0123abcd
else
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 0123abcd
fi
echo 'Loading Xen 4.14-amd64 ...'
if [ "$grub_platform" = "pc" -o "$grub_platform" = "" ]; then
xen_rm_opts=
else
xen_rm_opts="no-real-mode edd=off"
fi
multiboot2 /xen-4.14-amd64.gz placeholder ${xen_rm_opts}
echo 'Loading Linux 5.10.0-16-amd64 ...'
module2 /vmlinuz-5.10.0-16-amd64 placeholder root=UUID=0123abcd ro quiet
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
module2 --nounzip /initrd.img-5.10.0-16-amd64
}
submenu 'Advanced options for Debian GNU/Linux (with Xen hypervisor)' $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-advanced-0123abcd' {
submenu 'Xen hypervisor, version 4.14-amd64' $menuentry_id_option 'xen-hypervisor-4.14-amd64-0123abcd' {
menuentry 'Debian GNU/Linux, with Xen 4.14-amd64 and Linux 5.10.0-16-amd64' --class debian --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os --class xen $menuentry_id_option 'xen-gnulinux-5.10.0-16-amd64-advanced-0123abcd' {
insmod part_gpt
insmod ext2
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 0123abcd
else
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 0123abcd
fi
echo 'Loading Xen 4.14-amd64 ...'
if [ "$grub_platform" = "pc" -o "$grub_platform" = "" ]; then
xen_rm_opts=
else
xen_rm_opts="no-real-mode edd=off"
fi
multiboot2 /xen-4.14-amd64.gz placeholder ${xen_rm_opts}
echo 'Loading Linux 5.10.0-16-amd64 ...'
module2 /vmlinuz-5.10.0-16-amd64 placeholder root=UUID=0123abcd ro quiet
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
module2 --nounzip /initrd.img-5.10.0-16-amd64
}
menuentry 'Debian GNU/Linux, with Xen 4.14-amd64 and Linux 5.10.0-16-amd64 (recovery mode)' --class debian --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os --class xen $menuentry_id_option 'xen-gnulinux-5.10.0-16-amd64-recovery-0123abcd' {
insmod part_gpt
insmod ext2
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 0123abcd
else
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 0123abcd
fi
echo 'Loading Xen 4.14-amd64 ...'
if [ "$grub_platform" = "pc" -o "$grub_platform" = "" ]; then
xen_rm_opts=
else
xen_rm_opts="no-real-mode edd=off"
fi
multiboot2 /xen-4.14-amd64.gz placeholder ${xen_rm_opts}
echo 'Loading Linux 5.10.0-16-amd64 ...'
module2 /vmlinuz-5.10.0-16-amd64 placeholder root=UUID=0123abcd ro single
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
module2 --nounzip /initrd.img-5.10.0-16-amd64
}
}
submenu 'Xen hypervisor, version 4.14-amd64.efi' $menuentry_id_option 'xen-hypervisor-4.14-amd64.efi-0123abcd' {
menuentry 'Debian GNU/Linux, with Xen 4.14-amd64.efi and Linux 5.10.0-16-amd64' --class debian --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os --class xen $menuentry_id_option 'xen-gnulinux-5.10.0-16-amd64-advanced-0123abcd' {
insmod part_gpt
insmod ext2
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 0123abcd
else
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 0123abcd
fi
echo 'Loading Xen 4.14-amd64.efi ...'
if [ "$grub_platform" = "pc" -o "$grub_platform" = "" ]; then
xen_rm_opts=
else
xen_rm_opts="no-real-mode edd=off"
fi
multiboot2 /xen-4.14-amd64.efi placeholder ${xen_rm_opts}
echo 'Loading Linux 5.10.0-16-amd64 ...'
module2 /vmlinuz-5.10.0-16-amd64 placeholder root=UUID=0123abcd ro quiet
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
module2 --nounzip /initrd.img-5.10.0-16-amd64
}
menuentry 'Debian GNU/Linux, with Xen 4.14-amd64.efi and Linux 5.10.0-16-amd64 (recovery mode)' --class debian --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os --class xen $menuentry_id_option 'xen-gnulinux-5.10.0-16-amd64-recovery-0123abcd' {
insmod part_gpt
insmod ext2
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 0123abcd
else
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 0123abcd
fi
echo 'Loading Xen 4.14-amd64.efi ...'
if [ "$grub_platform" = "pc" -o "$grub_platform" = "" ]; then
xen_rm_opts=
else
xen_rm_opts="no-real-mode edd=off"
fi
multiboot2 /xen-4.14-amd64.efi placeholder ${xen_rm_opts}
echo 'Loading Linux 5.10.0-16-amd64 ...'
module2 /vmlinuz-5.10.0-16-amd64 placeholder root=UUID=0123abcd ro single
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
module2 --nounzip /initrd.img-5.10.0-16-amd64
}
}
}
### END /etc/grub.d/08_linux_xen ###
### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
function gfxmode {
set gfxpayload="${1}"
}
set linux_gfx_mode=
export linux_gfx_mode
menuentry 'Debian GNU/Linux' --class debian --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-simple-0123abcd' {
load_video
insmod gzio
if [ x$grub_platform = xxen ]; then insmod xzio; insmod lzopio; fi
insmod part_gpt
insmod ext2
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 0123abcd
else
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 0123abcd
fi
echo 'Loading Linux 5.10.0-16-amd64 ...'
linux /vmlinuz-5.10.0-16-amd64 root=UUID=0123abcd ro quiet
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /initrd.img-5.10.0-16-amd64
}
submenu 'Advanced options for Debian GNU/Linux' $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-advanced-0123abcd' {
menuentry 'Debian GNU/Linux, with Linux 5.10.0-16-amd64' --class debian --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-5.10.0-16-amd64-advanced-0123abcd' {
load_video
insmod gzio
if [ x$grub_platform = xxen ]; then insmod xzio; insmod lzopio; fi
insmod part_gpt
insmod ext2
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 0123abcd
else
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 0123abcd
fi
echo 'Loading Linux 5.10.0-16-amd64 ...'
linux /vmlinuz-5.10.0-16-amd64 root=UUID=0123abcd ro quiet
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /initrd.img-5.10.0-16-amd64
}
menuentry 'Debian GNU/Linux, with Linux 5.10.0-16-amd64 (recovery mode)' --class debian --class gnu-linux --class gnu --class os $menuentry_id_option 'gnulinux-5.10.0-16-amd64-recovery-0123abcd' {
load_video
insmod gzio
if [ x$grub_platform = xxen ]; then insmod xzio; insmod lzopio; fi
insmod part_gpt
insmod ext2
if [ x$feature_platform_search_hint = xy ]; then
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 0123abcd
else
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root 0123abcd
fi
echo 'Loading Linux 5.10.0-16-amd64 ...'
linux /vmlinuz-5.10.0-16-amd64 root=UUID=0123abcd ro single
echo 'Loading initial ramdisk ...'
initrd /initrd.img-5.10.0-16-amd64
}
}
### END /etc/grub.d/10_linux ###
### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
### END /etc/grub.d/30_os-prober ###
### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/30_uefi-firmware ###
menuentry 'System setup' $menuentry_id_option 'uefi-firmware' {
fwsetup
}
### END /etc/grub.d/30_uefi-firmware ###
### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###
# 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.
### END /etc/grub.d/40_custom ###
### BEGIN /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
if [ -f ${config_directory}/custom.cfg ]; then
source ${config_directory}/custom.cfg
elif [ -z "${config_directory}" -a -f $prefix/custom.cfg ]; then
source $prefix/custom.cfg;
fi
### END /etc/grub.d/41_custom ###
