How to port virtual box vmdk to qubes?

User Support
1

I received a file.ova of a centos VirtualBox VM and I need to port it to Qubes.

I followed the procedure at https://doc.qubes-os.org/en/latest/user/advanced-topics/standalones-and-hvms.html#converting-virtualbox-vms-to-qubes-hvms and got no error.

When starting my HVM qube, I get a dracut# prompt.
Above it, there is the message:

WARNING: /dev/disk/by-uuid/8373[redacted] does not exist

Could you tell me:

  • what happens and what I should do be able to boot my HVM qube?
  • or where to find enough on dracut to be able to solve the problem?
2

Attach the HVM qube’s root partition to a disposable qube and check that it was written correctly:
How to mount LVM images — Qubes OS Documentation

1 Like
3

Thanks, MellowPoison, your link helped.

I also had to make a new initramfs containing Xen drivers so that block devices (disks) of my HVM were recognized in Qubes. This solved the WARNING: /dev/disk/by-uuid/8373[redacted] does not exist.

I am not a specialist in this area and, consequently, I wonder why the article from the documentation (converting-virtualbox-vms-to-qubes-hvms) does not mention anything about re-creating an initramfs. I mean, there is little chance for the initramfs in a virtualbox vmdk to contain the xen block drivers, right!?

This was just a thought but, again, I am not a all a specialist so nevermind and… Thank you!!

PS: To re-create the initramfs, my command was something like:

dracut --verbose --force --add-drivers="xenblk xennet" /boot/initramfs-3.10.0-1160...img  3.10.0-1160...

with: <3.10.0-1160…> being the kernel version.

4

I suspect that the main reason is that most images from (eg)
virtualboxes work fine without such a step, and no one has encountered
this problem.

If you would like to add to the documentation, please read this.
Helping with the documentation is a great way to get started in
contributing to Qubes.

I never presume to speak for the Qubes team.
When I comment in the Forum I speak for myself.