Re: [Qemu-devel] [PATCH][RFC] qemu-nbd:multiple files server

[Anthony Liguori]

Laurent Vivier wrote:
> This patch allows the NBD client to select the file to use.
>
> It modifies the NBD protocol to allow the client to provide a filename
> if the NBD server reports a disk size of 0.
>   

I don't have a problem with it from a client/server perspective, but we 
need to make sure that we're extending the NBD protocol in a way that's 
compatible with other implementations.

So please make sure Paul is on board with how you're extending the protocol.

Regards,

Anthony Liguori

> Example:
>
> # add in /etc/services
>
> nbd     1024/tcp
>
> # add in /etc/inetd.conf
>
> nbd             stream  tcp     nowait root /usr/local/bin/qemu-nbd 
> /usr/local/bin/qemu-nbd --nocache --read-only --port 0 --directory /ISO
>
> In /ISO, there are:
>
> debian-31r0a-amd64-netinst.iso   openSUSE-10.3-GM-x86_64-mini.iso
> debian-40r0-i386-netinst.iso     ubuntu-6.06-desktop-amd64.iso
> debian-40r0-i386-xfce-CD-1.iso   ubuntu-7.10-desktop-amd64.iso
> debian-40r1-amd64-netinst.iso    ubuntu-8.04-desktop-i386.iso
> debian-40r1-powerpc-netinst.iso  winxp_64.iso
>
> Then I can start qemu with:
>
> x86_64-softmmu/qemu-system-x86_64 -net nic -net tap -hda new_disk.qcow2 -cdrom 
> nbd:my_nbd_server:1024:ubuntu-6.06-desktop-amd64.iso -boot d
>
> or
>
> x86_64-softmmu/qemu-system-x86_64 -net nic -net tap -hda new_disk.qcow2 -cdrom 
> nbd:my_nbd_server:1024:winxp_64.iso -boot d
>
> My goal is to be able to provide an install CD server, without
> configuring BOOTD/DHCP/TFTP server.
>
> Signed-off-by: Laurent Vivier <address@hidden>
>