=====Creating Virtual Machines=====
This project will have you setting up virtual machines that can be used for experimentation and other projects.
====Prerequisites====
To do this project, you will need to have successfully completed:

  * [[spring2011/hpc0/projects/vm_server_install|Linux VM Server Install]]

====Ingredients====
You will need:

  * available VMserver that can host your virtual machine
  * an allocated VM that nobody else has claimed
====Background====

Following your setup of a VM server, the next logical step is to do something with it; creating and running virtual machines allows you to have network-accessible machines that you can set up various services, just as if they were a real machine.

  Host names: vm##.student.lab  (01-32)
  MAC address: 00:16:3e:2e:c0:##
  
  For vm01, ## would be "01"
  For vm10, ## would be "0a" (they're in hex).
  For vm32, ## would be "20" (0x20 = 32).
====Allocating the VM====

  * Log into the VM server (as root)
  * Check number of running virtual machines: xm list (if there are already 8 VMs running, use a different VM server)
  * Reference [[lab46>notes:hpc0]] and claim an open VM (edit the table and put in your information)

====Creating the VM====

  * Create the VM (on the vmserver)

<WRAP round important>Be sure to substitute to your VM's two digit number in place of ## below.</WRAP>

<cli>
vmserver:~# xen-create-image --hostname=vm## --mac=00:16:3e:2e:c0:## --role=udev
</cli>

If you have no errors in your /etc/xen/xend-config.sxp and /etc/xen-tools/xen-tools.conf files, it should appear to proceed (watch for warnings).

====Launching your VM====
If your VM was created successfully (watch for errors), you can now "boot" it.

The config file for your VM is located in /xen/conf/vm##.cfg, cat it and see how it is structured.

When ready to boot your VM, do the following:

<cli>
vmserver:~# xm create -c /xen/conf/vm##.cfg
</cli>

This will boot the VM and automatically attach you to the console of the VM. If you just want it to boot without viewing it, leave off the "-c".

When the machine is booted, you can detach from the virtual machine and return to the VMserver's prompt. To do this, hit: **CTRL-]** (control, close-square-bracket).
====Care and feeding of your VM====
Once the VM is running (assuming it was properly configured), it should have received an IP address, and should be reachable at the following address:

<WRAP round box muchbigger>vm##.student.lab</WRAP>

Go ahead and try connecting to your VM via ssh (you can do this from lab46):

<WRAP bgblack fgwhite box bigger>
lab46:~$ ssh root@vm##.student.lab
</WRAP>

On the VM server, you can use the **xm** tool to manage your running VMs. Run "xm help" to get a list of actions you can take.

In general, once you get your VMs up and running, you won't need to directly interact with the VM server.

Enjoy!