Install Uyuni in a Virtual Machine Environment with Minimal SLES

1. Virtual Machine Manager (virt-manager) Settings

This chapter provides the required Kernel Virtual Machine (KVM) settings for installation of Minimal SLES as the base for Uyuni. KVM combined with Virtual Machine Manager (virt-manager) will be used as a sandbox for this installation.

Enter the following settings when creating a new virtual machine using virt-manager.

This table specifies the minimum requirements. These are suitable for a quick test installation, such as a server with one client. If you want to use a production environment, review the requirements listed in Hardware Requirements.

In the following table replace 15 SP5 with the actual product version string. Find the Minimal SLES image at https://download.suse.com/.

KVM Settings

Installation Method

Import Existing Disk Image

OS:

Linux

Version:

SLES15-SP5-Minimal-VM.x86_64-kvm-and-xen-GM.qcow2

Memory:

16 GB

CPU’s:

4

Storage Format:

.qcow2 24 GB (Default) Minimal Root Partition

Virtual Disks:

VirtIO Disk 2

101 GB for /var/spacewalk

VirtIO Disk 3

50 GB for /var/lib/pgsql

VirtIO Disk 4

4 GB for swap

Name:

test-setup

Network

Bridge br0

For more information on SUSE Linux Enterprise Virtualization Guide, see https://documentation.suse.com/sles/15-SP4/html/SLES-all/book-virtualization.html.

2. Minimal SLES KVM Settings

Create three additional virtual disks required for the Uyuni storage partitions.

Procedure: Creating the Required Partitions with KVM

  1. Create a new virtual machine using the downloaded Minimal KVM image and select Import existing disk image.

  2. Configure RAM and number of CPUs (at least 16 GB RAM and 4 CPUs).

  3. Name your KVM machine and select the Customize configuration before install check box.

  4. Click Add Hardware to create three new virtual disks with these specifications. These disks will be partitioned and mounted in Procedure: Preparing Minimal SLES for Uyuni Installation.

    Storage size values are the absolute minimum—only suitable for a small test or demo installation. Especially /var/spacewalk/ may quickly need more space. Also consider to create a separate partition for /srv where Kiwi images are stored.
    VirtIO Storage Disks Name Sizing

    VirtIO Disk 2

    spacewalk

    101 GB

    VirtIO Disk 3

    pgsql

    50 GB

    VirtIO Disk 4

    swap

    4 GB

  5. Click Begin Installation to boot the new VM from the Minimal SLES image.

Follow the prompts to complete the basic Minimal SLES installation, until the process is complete and the command prompt waits for input.

During the basic installation prompts you are asked to enter the root password. In the next message box click Confirm root Password.

3. Preparing Minimal SLES for SUSE Manager

Procedure: Preparing Minimal SLES for Uyuni Installation

  1. Log in as root.

  2. Uninstall the sles-release package:

    rpm -e --nodeps sles-release

  3. Register Uyuni with SCC. For example, replace <productnumber> with 2024.03 and <architecture> with x86_64:

    SUSEConnect -e <EMAIL_ADDRESS> -r <SUSE_MANAGER_CODE> \
  -p SUSE-Manager-Server/<productnumber>/<architecture>

  4. Add Uyuni repositories:

    SUSEConnect -p sle-module-basesystem/15.4/x86_64
SUSEConnect -p sle-module-server-applications/15.4/x86_64
SUSEConnect -p sle-module-web-scripting/15.4/x86_64
SUSEConnect -p sle-module-suse-manager-server/<productnumber>/x86_64

    Minimal SLES is configured to install only required packages. To get all features working you should allow to install also recommended packages. In /etc/zypp/zypp.conf change:

    solver.onlyRequires = true

    To:

    solver.onlyRequires = false

  5. Install yast2-storage-ng with all required dependencies (approx. 40 packages, 30 MB when installed). This basic administration package is required for preparing storage partitions:

    zypper in yast2-storage-ng

  6. Partition and mount the virtual disks at the following locations using YaST Partitioner (yast2 disk).

    Storage size values are the absolute minimum. They are suitable only for a small test or demonstration installation, such as a server with one client. Especially /var/spacewalk/ may quickly need more space. Also consider to create a separate partition for /srv where Kiwi images are stored.
    VirtIO Storage Disks Name Storage Size File System Type

    VirtIO Disk 2

    /var/spacewalk

    101 GB

    XFS

    VirtIO Disk 3

    /var/lib/pgsql

    50 GB

    XFS

    VirtIO Disk 4

    swap

    4 GB

    swap

  7. Exit the partitioner and install the Uyuni pattern (approximately 730 packages, using 1.4 GB of disk space when installed):

    zypper in -t pattern suma_server

  8. Reboot.

For proceeding with Uyuni setup, see SUSE Manager Setup.