Table of Contents

Description

Add, remove and enable/disable auto start virtual machines (guests) at server boot.

Add guest

Enter the name of the configuration file previously created/edited (out of the menu) or clone (c) an existing one based on the list that can be displayed by entering "l".

Once cloned, the configuration file must be edited to change settings like disks, network interface(s), etc..

Some checks are performed to verify the same network interface and same console ports are not already used, vdisk files if used exist or not, etc... This does not guarantee the configuration file is correct. Please refer to the corresponding Charon product and version for configuration file details.

Once added, the guest can be started directly.

If the Charon log monitoring (global) option is set to enabled (default) in the preferences, the log monitoring service is created automatically when creating a virtual machine from menu option VM Management (add/remove VM, start, stop, console connection, ...).

Example: CentOS 7.9 server with Charon-PAR V3.0.1 installed

We are now going to update the guests list and add a virtual machine:

We will add here the /charon/rp7400.cfg already prepared configuration file:

Notes:

• Use the 'l' option to list available configuration files and templates
• Use the 'c' option to clone provided templates
•  If you don't edit the file now, you won't be prompted to start the guest (virtual machine).
• The editor will be asked if you did not set your favorite one in the preferences option.
• The location of the log file is forced to be under the configuration file folder and named "logs/". If the folder does not exist, it will be automatically created.

Using the selected editor or the one defined in the preferences, the configuration file can be customized.

Notes:

• The log.name value is not taken into account, it is forced as explained above
• Ensure the port number is unique if multiple virtual machines will run on the same server. An alert will be displayed while displaying the managed virtual machines in case.
• If .dsk and .iso files are defined, their existence will be checked upon editor exit
• Network settings will be checked upon editor exit
• Lines starting with "#INFO:" are comments that will be displayed when accessing the console

When leaving the editor, the log monitoring service is automatically enabled (installed) unless globally disabled in the preferences:

We can now start the guest. If the preferences have been set to have a continuous view of the log file, the log will be displayed:

...

 The continuous log file stops itself as this was defined in the preferences: "Automatically stop continuous log view: Yes"

Press CTRL-C at any time to leave the log file view if the preference was set to not automatically stop or if the startup failed.

We can see below the service is active, meaning the emulator is running ( this does not mean "booted") and will be automatically started at Linux server boot ("OnBoot" or "OnB" column on the right side)

The "Stop script" line (see below) shows the script has not been initialized meaning the guest will receive a SIGKILL signal upon stop request. This will be explained further (see Service management - Create/Edit guest stop script)

Remove guest

 Before removing a guest, please ensure it has been properly stopped (a check will automatically be performed before removal). The way the guest is stopped depends on the "Stop script" existence and settings (see Service management - Create/Edit guest stop script)

If the guest log is monitored, you will be proposed to stop and remove the monitoring service

Example: CentOS 7.9 server with Charon-PAR 3.0.1 installed, virtual machine rp7400 installed

We are now going to remove (1 & 2) the rp7400 guest, currently in active state:

No stop script has been defined so this guest will be stopped (see below) without proper shutdown (emulator process will receive a SIGKILL). The service status will then be considered as failed (last line in the screenshot below) and deleted:

As the guest has been deleted, the log monitoring service can also be removed (1 below):

Another guest can be added if needed (2).

Multiple Charon guests can be added on the Linux server. This is however limited by the license (available products and instances allowed) and the Linux server hardware configuration.

Enable/Disable start at server boot

Use this option if you want (default) or do not want a guest to be started at Linux server boot

By default newly added guests are started automatically at Linux server boot ( this does not mean "booted")

Example: CentOS 7.9 server with Charon-PAR 3.0.1 installed, virtual machine rp7400 installed

We are now going to prevent from the rp7400 guest to be started automatically (1). Once completed enter 'n' to return to the previous menu (2):