XEN: Kernel image does not exist error when booting Netware DomU

  • Document ID:7000585
  • Creation Date:05-Jun-2008
  • Modified Date:30-Apr-2012
    • Micro Focus Products:
      Open Enterprise Server
    • SUSE Products:
      SUSE Linux Enterprise Server

Environment

Novell NetWare 6.5 Support Pack 7
Novell Open Enterprise Server (Linux based)
Novell Open Enterprise Server (NetWare based)
Novell SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10 Service Pack 1
Novell SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10 Service Pack 2

Situation

ERROR: "Error: Kernel image does not exist: /tmp/nw-kernel" or similiar appears when booting up a Netware DomU.

Resolution

This error is seen typically when the VNC window spawned by "virt-manager" is closed before the installation of the DomU guest is finished. This error is seen on para-virtual guests.

Please take the following steps to resolve this issue.

  1. Go to /etc/xen/vm
  2. Locate the configuration file for the DomU, it is not the XML file.
  3. Open the file for editing
  4. Remove the kernel="..." line.
    kernel="/tmp/netware.60l0ng"
  5. Add the a bootloader line
    bootloader="/usr/lib/xen/boot/domUloader.py"
  6. Add a booloader args line. While selecting the bootloader args for the disk partition, change the xvdaX to the appropriate partition name. Most of the time, xvda1 is fine.
    bootargs="--entry=xvda1:/nwserver/xnloader.sys"
  7. Save and close the file
  8. Test the configuration file to make sure that the DomU will load. Replace name with the correct file name. You can access the terminal window through "virt-manager"
    xm create /etc/xen/vm/name
  9. Import the DomU configuration. Replace name with the name of your configuration file.
    xm new -f /etc/xen/vm/name
  10. Start the DomU normally