bhyve-run.sh

This is a simple script to install, run and destroy bhyve VMs loaded by grub2-bhyve. So this is mainly for non-FreeBSD guests. For FreeBSD guests the official vmrun.sh (located in /usr/share/examples/bhyve/vmrun.sh) works just fine.

Example

Let's set up a "ubuntu server" VM.

Step 1

Create an empty directory and create a bhyve-run.conf containing the following data. Of course you'll have to adapt the paths accordingly.

NAME="ubuntu"
TAP="tap0"
IF="lagg0"
BRIDGE="bridge0"

IMG="${NAME}.img"
IMGSIZE="8G"
ISO=/vms/isos/ubuntu-12.04.4-server-amd64.iso
MAP=./device.map

CPUS=1
MEM=1024

GRUB_RUN_ROOT="hd0,msdos1"

GRUB_INSTALL="|less"

GRUB_RUN=""

Step 2

Start bhyve-run.sh in install mode using bhyve-run.sh -i. A second window will open displaying the grub menu. Make sure your cursor is in the window from where you started bhyve-run.sh, not the window showing the grub menu. Select the entry you would choose to start the install process and press e. You will be presented with a series of grub commands. Enter the relevant commands into the GRUB_INSTALL variable in the bhyve-run.conf file (don't forget to append boot!). Shutdown the current bhyve instance using bhyve-run.sh -d.

My bhyve-run.conf looks like this after this step:

NAME="ubuntu"
TAP="tap0"
IF="lagg0"
BRIDGE="bridge0"

IMG="${NAME}.img"
IMGSIZE="8G"
ISO=/vms/isos/ubuntu-12.04.4-server-amd64.iso
MAP=./device.map

CPUS=1
MEM=1024

GRUB_RUN_ROOT="hd0,msdos1"

GRUB_INSTALL="linux /install/vmlinuz
file=/cdrom/preseed/ubuntu-server.seed quiet --
initrd /install/initrd.gz
boot"

GRUB_RUN=""

Step 3

Restart bhyve-run.sh in in install mode using bhyve-run.sh -i. The install routine should start. After finishing the install, shutdown the current bhyve instance using bhyve-run.sh -d.

Step 4

You should be able to boot into the VM by running bhyve-run.sh (you might have to change the GRUB_RUN_ROOT variable). You will be presented with a text based grub menu and after selecting the appropriate option boot into the VM. If you are presented with a graphical boot menu, in a seperate window, enter |less in GRUB_RUN variable and proceed with Step 5.

Step 5 (optional)

Select the entry you want to boot by default (remember to keep the cursor in the correct window, if you use the |less hack together with a graphical grub menu) and press e. Enter the relevant grub commands in the GRUB_RUN variable and add boot. Now you can directly boot into the VM using bhyve-run.sh. Remember to clean up the VM using bhyve-run.sh -d when it is not longer needed.

My bhyve-run.conf looks like this after this step:

NAME="ubuntu"
TAP="tap0"
IF="lagg0"
BRIDGE="bridge0"

IMG="${NAME}.img"
IMGSIZE="8G"
ISO=/vms/isos/ubuntu-12.04.4-server-amd64.iso
MAP=./device.map

CPUS=1
MEM=1024

GRUB_RUN_ROOT="hd0,msdos1"

GRUB_INSTALL="linux /install/vmlinuz
file=/cdrom/preseed/ubuntu-server.seed quiet --
initrd /install/initrd.gz
boot"

GRUB_RUN="insmod gzio
insmod part_msdos
insmod ext2
set root='(${GRUB_RUN_ROOT})'
search --no-floppy --fs-uuid --set=root
021b8c8a-fa59-4e30-b328-515fa86d3c49
linux        /boot/vmlinuz-3.11.0-15-generic
root=UUID=021b8c8a-fa59-4e30-b328-515fa86d3c49 ro
initrd        /boot/initrd.img-3.11.0-15-generic
boot"