[virt-tools-list] Virt-install errors; cannot install guests.

[Cole Robinson]

On 01/21/2010 10:02 AM, Ed Hargin wrote:
> __Overview__
> + Running KVM-88, with a range of libvirt tools: libvirt-0.7.2,
>   virtinst-0.500.0, virt-viewer-0.0.3, virt-manager-0.7.0 on Centos-5.4.
> + On boxes that previously had older versions of software (KVM-84,
>   libvirt-0.6.2, virtinst-0.400.3, Centos-5.2) VMs were able to be
> installed and run
>   correctly.  Previously installed VMs continue to work with the new
> upgraded
>   install.
> + When trying to run virt-install in the new environment, we recieve the
>   following error message after virt-install has downloaded the vmlinuz
> file
>   from the remote URL:
>       ERROR    coercing to Unicode: need string or buffer, NoneType found
>   This happens both when using --prompt and providing full arguments on the
>   command line.  A more detailed trace can be found at the end of the
> email.
>   The same error occurs when trying use a local .iso image, and other
> mirrors.
> + I am perfectly happy to provide more details, particularly details of the
>   exact compile/configure options used to install all components of the
>   environment, just ask.  I tried to focus in on where the problem was and
>   didn't want to provide too much uneccessary information and make this
> hard to
>   read.
> + I believe it may (or may not) be significant that I had to hand-edit the
>   hard-coded values for virt-viewer and virsh, both of which are statically
>   referred to in /usr/bin within virt-install (within the vnc_console and
>   txt_console functions).
>   Any suggestions/advice/help would be much appreciated!
> 

There were a few bugs using the --prompt option in virtinst 0.500.0. I'd
recommend either skipping --prompt or updating to virtinst 0.500.1. All prompt
asks you for is really

--name <vmname>
--hvm or --paravirt (for xen only)
--accelerate or not (for kvm only)
--file /path/to/an/image
--file-size #Gb (if the file path doesn't exist)
do you want a url (--location) or cdrom (--cdrom) install ?
install media path

So just fill in the above options and you should be good to go.

- Cole