How can I use vmbuilder to install the dev ubuntu release?

Question

I'd like to try some packaging for oneric and vmbuilder seems like the easiest way to install it in kvm, but when I tell vmbuilder to install oneric it says it only knows through natty.

jrwren@delays:{4}~ $ sudo vmbuilder kvm ubuntu --suite oneric
2011-07-29 11:16:30,578 INFO    : Calling hook: preflight_check
2011-07-29 11:16:30,579 INFO    : Cleaning up
2011-07-29 11:16:30,579 ERROR   : Invalid suite: "oneric". Valid suites are: dapper gutsy hardy intrepid jaunty karmic lucid maverick natty
Traceback (most recent call last):
  File "/usr/bin/vmbuilder", line 24, in <module>
    cli.main()
  File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/VMBuilder/contrib/cli.py", line 216, in main
    distro.build_chroot()
  File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/VMBuilder/distro.py", line 81, in build_chroot
    self.call_hooks('preflight_check')
  File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/VMBuilder/distro.py", line 67, in call_hooks
    call_hooks(self, *args, **kwargs)
  File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/VMBuilder/util.py", line 165, in call_hooks
    getattr(context, func, log_no_such_method)(*args, **kwargs)
  File "/usr/lib/python2.7/dist-packages/VMBuilder/plugins/ubuntu/distro.py", line 100, in preflight_check
    raise VMBuilderUserError('Invalid suite: "%s". Valid suites are: %s' % (suite, ' '.join(self.suites)))
VMBuilder.exception.VMBuilderUserError: Invalid suite: "oneric". Valid suites are: dapper gutsy hardy intrepid jaunty karmic lucid maverick natty

score 2 · Accepted Answer · edited Jul 29 '11 at 16:52

Turns out there's a tool that does this automatically called testdrive. Testdrive is the right way to run the ubuntu dev release in kvm/qemu.

Command line instructions:

sudo apt-get install testdrive
testdrive

Then pick the right menu choice.

In my case I am on a headless server, so I get an error about SDL when testdrive starts KVM. I copy the KVM command and paste it and add -curses -vnc 127.0.0.1:0

Now I can VNC to my ubuntu dev VM.

How can I use vmbuilder to install the dev ubuntu release?

1 Answers1