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Supplement of Server distributables by a KVM VM disk image

Summary

Virtualization has long been a steadily growing use case of Fedora Server Edition, but it is still time consuming and tedious for the system administrator to create a Fedora Server VM. Supplementing the downloads by a KVM VM image remedies the deficiency.

Owner


Current status

Detailed Description

The creation of the VM disk image, uses the same kickstart files and installation groups as the standard full installation, except of course for the hardware-specific items. The image is optimized for KVM.

That way, the VM resembles a default server installation as closely as possible.

All administrative tools are available reliably from the beginning, all administrative routines and helps (scripts) can be used in the same way. All application services work in the identical way.

A default VM installation takes 1-2 minutes instead of about 30 mins.

Feedback

The change proposal is based on an extensive discussion of the server WG and has become part of its work program. For example, the server documentation on virtualization has already been significantly expanded in parallel and will continue to be supplemented and updated on an ongoing basis. This is a response to the importance of the topic.

Benefit to Fedora

Significantly improves usability for Fedora Server Edition administrators when deploying a Fedora Server Edition VM. It thus makes Fedora Server Edition more attractive, especially for new users without extensive experience with Fedora. It thus helps to expand our user base.

Fedora finally provides an installation path for a Fedora Server VM that is built entirely on Fedora Resources, subject to Fedora quality control, and compliant with Fedora principles. Until now, if a system administrator has to install a VM preferable without the hassles of a full default installation, we could only recommend third party binary blob (e.g. virt-builder), which is a violation of our own core principles. In addition, the third party products do not provide a 'Fedora Server Edition', but their own different concept and vision of a server, under the name Fedora Server.

Scope

  • Proposal owners:

A kickstart file for ImageFactory is completed and locally tested.


  • Other developers:

n/a

  • Release engineering: #10768
  • Policies and guidelines: N/A (not needed for this Change)
  • Trademark approval: N/A (not needed for this Change)


  • Alignment with Objectives:

n/a

Upgrade/compatibility impact

none

How To Test

Basically, the same test procedures as for the full install apply.

1. Install a Fedora Server Edition including virtualization, follow the Server documentation

2. Import the Fedora Server disk image following the Server documentation (staging), either using Cockpit or cli virt-install

3. Use the VM with your intendend server applications.

User Experience

Users (system administrators) will have a VM install method available, which saves them a lot of time and efforts.

Dependencies

none


Contingency Plan

  • Contingency mechanism: (What to do? Who will do it?) N/A (not a System Wide Change)
  • Contingency deadline: N/A (not a System Wide Change)
  • Blocks release? N/A (not a System Wide Change), No


Documentation

N/A (not a System Wide Change)

Fedora Server documentation is available.

Release Notes

Fedora Server provides now a virtual disk image to greatly facilitate installation of Fedora Server VMs. The image resembles all features of the Server standard installation as much as technically possible. Administration and usage are largely identical.

The server documentation provides detailed information on installing and using the disk image.

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