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symtex_22198's avatar
symtex_22198
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Jul 03, 2013

BIG-IP LTM VE on KVM?

 

F5 now posts

 

BIGIP-11.3.0.2806.0.qcow2.zip

 

I followed the instructions on this document

 

http://support.f5.com/content/kb/en-us/products/big-ip_ltm/manuals/product/bigip-ve-kvm-setup-11-3-0/_jcr_content/pdfAttach/download/file.res/BIG-IP%C2%AE_Virtual_Edition_Setup_Guide_for_Linux_KVM.pdf

 

the VM starts up and everything but some processes do not seem to run correctly.

 

here is the output of "tmsh show sys version"

 

[root@localhost:NO LICENSE:] config tmsh show sys version

 

Cannot connect to mcpd

 

Cannot connect to mcpd. Your preferences and aliases will not be available until it comes back up.

 

The connection to mcpd has been lost, try again.

 

 

I also get these messages every 10 seconds

 

[root@localhost:NO LICENSE:] config Jul 8 16:37:18 localhost emerg logger: Re-starting chmand

 

Jul 8 16:37:28 localhost emerg logger: Re-starting chmand

 

Jul 8 16:37:38 localhost emerg logger: Re-starting chmand

 

Jul 8 16:37:48 localhost emerg logger: Re-starting chmand

 

 

 

I tried to post the domain xml file I'm using here on devcentral but no success. so here's the pastebin link.

 

any suggestions to change this XML file would be GREATLY APPRECAITED.

 

regards

 

 

Click Here

 

13 Replies

  • I finally got it to work but only on RHEL

     

    I was trying to get LTM VE on debian/KVM with openvswitch. I've spent a lot of time trying to get it to work but it just won't.

     

     

    I think F5 should consider supporting KVM universally not just tie down to R.H.

     

    With technologies like openstack gaining momentum in the market F5's ADC services should be supported on the following OS platforms

     

     

    Debian GNU/Linux wheezy

     

    Fedora / Red Hat Enterprise Linux / CentOS / Scientific Linux

     

    openSUSE / SLES11 SP2

     

    Ubuntu 12.04 LTS (Precise Pangolin)

     

     

    I don't think this should be that hard since in the end it's the same hypervisor.
    • Tom_04_144543's avatar
      Tom_04_144543
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      I also hit this issue. It seems it's more related to the way the image runs under OpenStack running on Ubuntu with KVM. Under KVM on a standard Ubuntu system, I do not see the issue, it's only when I upload to my OpenStack setup w/OpenVSwitch that I notice the issue. It looks like F5 haven't tested this combination yet and I also note that only CentOS6/RHEL6 is listed for KVM support under their F5 BIGIP VE hypervisor matrix document.
  • I managed to get it up and running. I run:

    virsh edit the-domainname

    Where "the-domainname" is the name of the virtual machine as seen by "Virtual Machine Manager".

    Then, I edited this part:

    hvm
    

    to

    hvm
    

    This was the change that got this working. Prior to this I also changed the virtual processor in "View" > "Details" >"Processor" > "Configuration" by clicking on "Copy host CPU configuration".

    So, the relevant part of the XML look like this now:

      
        hvm
        
      
      
        
        
        
      
      
        SandyBridge
        Intel
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
        
      
      
      destroy
      restart
      restart
    

    Hope this helps.

    • yaxzone_100047's avatar
      yaxzone_100047
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      Gonzalo A. Arana, your suggestion worked. I went ahead and remove the content of /PLATFORM and just added the one line you suggested: "platform=Z100 family=0xC0000000 host=Z100 systype=0x71" Right after I saved, it stopped the the emerg logger error: "May 6 13:09:04 localhost emerg logger: Re-starting chmand" I'm running VE LTM BigIP-11.3.0.39.0, this is on VirtualBox 5.0.16 r105871 on the Mac with El Capitan v10.11.3. Thanks for the suggestion.
  • This is what I have done to make it work in openstack. BIGIP ltm ve versions tried are 11.4.1 and 11.5.1 edit the /PLATFORM file to add

    platform=Z100
    family=0xC0000000
    host=Z100
    systype=0x71

    and delete the /temp/platform_info file and restart the vm.

    I am not sure what will be the adverse effect of these changes so please do it on your own risk. Do let me know if it works.

    • bzubair_204319's avatar
      bzubair_204319
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      Hi All, It didnt work for me. I tested with "BIGIP 11.3.0 on Ubuntu 12.04.5 LTS KVM" AND "BIGIP 11.3.0 on Openstack CentOs7" any other solution? Thanks
    • fmarignier_2154's avatar
      fmarignier_2154
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      Hi All, The tricks works for me on my openstack plateforme but I have now a nex problem due to the licence. The F5 licence server return : F5 registration key is not compatible with the detected platform - This platform, "Z100", cannot be activated with this registration key.. ggrrr!! Do you have further informations about parameters we can put in /PLATFORM file ? or another idea ? Thanks in advance.
  • Just FYI, I had the same issues with BIG-IQ v4.4 on OpenStack (running on RHEL) and modifying the /PLATFORM file as above did the trick.

     

    Haven't had this issue with BIG-IP v11.4.1 on OpenStack at all.