virsh attach-device for serial device

Question

I would like to add a serial device (console) to a guest via the virsh attach-device command. I have a console.xml file containing:

<serial type="pty">
  <target port="0"/>
</serial>

And I run the following command:

sudo virsh attach-device VMNAME console.xml

But get the following error:

error: Failed to attach device from console.xml
error: XML error: unknown device type

Here's my version information:

Compiled against library: libvir 0.9.8
Using library: libvir 0.9.8
Using API: QEMU 0.9.8
Running hypervisor: QEMU 1.0.0

What am I doing wrong? How can I add this from a script? Any help would be appreciated!!

Thanks in advance.

score -1 · Answer 1 · answered Jun 12 '13 at 12:49

-1

According to the libvirt documentation, you also need a source element. Something like this:

<serial type='pty'>
  <source path='/dev/pts/3'/>
  <target port='0'/>
</serial>

answered Jun 12 '13 at 12:49

mat

Thanks I'll give this a try when I have a minute and let you kno how it went – D.Mill Jun 13 '13 at 15:44
Very late but this gives me the same error: – D.Mill Jul 11 '13 at 13:45
Did you use the correct pts number? – mat Jul 16 '13 at 10:15
Yes, the thing is. this snipet works if it is inserted manually via virsh edit but it fails via virsh attach-device. I don't have the link but I read somewhere that only a limited number of devices (ie: disks and I forget which others) were supported through attach-device. So I've put this on hold for the time being. – D.Mill Jul 16 '13 at 11:12
Is you VM running? 'attach-device' only works on active domains. – mat Jul 17 '13 at 08:49
Yes. I still get error: XML error: unknown device type – D.Mill Sep 16 '13 at 14:16

1 Answers1