Configure a XEN Virtual Machine (domu) for a kernel / core dump

Document ID:7001384
Creation Date:17-Sep-2008
Modified Date:25-Jul-2017
- Micro Focus Products:
  ZENworks Linux Management
- SUSE Products:
  SUSE Linux Enterprise Server

Environment

Novell Open Enterprise Server (NetWare 6.5)
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10 Service Pack 1
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10 Service Pack 2
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 10 Service Pack 3
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 Service Pack 1 (SLES 11 SP1)
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 Service Pack 2 (SLES 11 SP2)
SUSE Linux Enterprise Server 11 Service Pack 3 (SLES 11 SP3)
XEN

Situation

XEN Virtual Machine (domu) is panicking / crashing / abending.
Need to get kernel dump or core dump from a virtual machine (domu)

Resolution

How to Configure XEN Virtual Machines for kernel dumps

Configure a SLES 10 or SLES11 vm for a vmcore

On the XEN host (dom0)
1. Modify the following line in /etc/xen/xend-config.xsp

uncomment and change (enable-dump no) to (enable-dump yes)

2. Modify the vm config file for desired behavior

Edit the following line(s) in the /etc/xen/images/vm/<vm name> file:

on_crash=”coredump-restart” or "coredump-destroy"

3. As ROOT run rcxend restart from a terminal
4. Test the configuration:

At a terminal prompt, shutdown corresponding vm if running and restart using

xm create <vm name>

Connect to the vm console by running xm console <vm name>& login as ROOT

Run modprobe crasher call_panic=1

Check /var/lib/xen/dump for the dump file

As root user, from a terminal on XEN Host (dom0) run xm dump-core <vm name>

Check /var/log/dump on the XEN Host (dom0)

Configure NetWare for a core dump

System Requirements:
OES2 and Virtualized NetWare (NW65sp7 or later)

Configure the NetWare VM for an "over-the-wire" coredump using dbnet6. TID 10098883

Additional Information

As stated above, use the rpm's created in the sles10-sp2 directory for SLES10 SP2, SLES10 SP3 & SLES11 XEN hosts.