Re: [libvirt] [PATCH DISCUSSION ONLY] Add inspection thread to virt-manager.

On Mon, Apr 18, 2011 at 05:50:01PM -0400, Cole Robinson wrote: > First, thanks a lot for the patch! I'm sure everyone will be glad to see > libguestfs integration in virt-manager. > >> [This patch is incomplete and just for discussion] >> >> Using libguestfs inspection[1], we can find out a lot about a virtual >> machine, such as what operating system is installed, the OS version, >> the OS distro, the hostname, the (real) disk usage, what apps are >> installed, and lots more. It would be nice if virt-manager could use >> this information: for example we could change the generic "computer" >> icon into a Windows or Fedora logo if Windows or Fedora was installed >> in the virtual machine. >> > > That icon bit was originally intended for the current design, but since we've > never really tracked OS info after install time, it never came about. > > Particularly for OS type/version tracking, I think we need a few things: > > - Everything standardize on some naming scheme, ideally libosinfo (though > nothing is using it yet :/ ). libosinfo could also distribute the OS icons We sort of got bored of waiting for that train. We have a primitive but rather effective system in libguestfs, which I explain at the end of this email.

> - Libvirt domain XML schema is extended with a field to track the > installed OS. For most libvirt drivers this would just be metadata > (vmware/esx the exception). Even though the data might be out of > date if the guest is upgraded, I think it has become clear that > there is a lot of value in tracking this in XML. Yes, I agree. This also solves the persistence problem. It's a bit of a shame that the <description> field in the libvirt XML isn't structured, at least so that different applications could store their own data there without it being trampled upon by users or other applications. (CC'd to libvir-list in case they have any thoughts about that).