Ubuntu

software dependencies under chroot

Asked by Phil Marsh

My host system is Ubuntu 18.04
$ uname -a 4.15.0-88-generic #88-Ubuntu SMP Tue Feb 11 20:11:34 UTC 2020 x86_64 x86_64 x86_64 GNU/Linux
I am running a commercial software for microwave circuit design, Keysight ADS version 2017-1, but this ADS version I have requires
RedHat 7 as a Keysight (the vendor) qualified choice. I've heard from Keysight, that it should also run on CentOS7.
While the best solution would be to run RedHat7 on a dedicated machine, I did set up CentOS7 on another machine, named bellatrix for ADS. However, my Ubuntu machine, sibyl, is much faster and therefore, I'd like to run ADS there. I didn't want to have to switch
 Rather, I am attempting to run ADS on sibyl under Ubuntu, but it seems buggy under Ubuntu.
So far, I've tried the following:
Ubuntu 18.04 (sibyl):
Install working CentOS7 OS files into a chroot then installed ADS into a directory of the chroot.
then bind:
# mount -B /dev /VM_pool/centos7_chroot/dev
# mount -B /dev/pts /VM_pool/centos7_chroot/dev/pts
# mount -B /sys /VM_pool/centos7_chroot/sys
# mount -B /proc /VM_pool/centos7_chroot/proc

where /VM_pool/centos7_chroot is the location of the chroot on sibyl.
I also set up the chroot to allow internet access via:
cp -rp /etc/resolv.conf /VM_pool/centos7_chroot/etc/resolv.conf (copy resolv.conf from sibyl to the chroot)
and shared sibyl's x-server via:
# xhost +localhost
Then, I mounted the chroot from sibyl
# chroot /VM_pool/centos7_chroot

I had to CD to the home directory I set up in the chroot because, for some reason, this was required to prevent ADS from crashing when running in the chroot.
So ADS appears to run under the chroot, but still shows some bugs e.g. the ADS widgets don't always open required menus when clicked. I've found out that ADS was written using the Qt framework.
My chroot, contains all the required dependencies as per the dependency checker application which shipped with ADS.

My question is:
Why doesn't ADS run quite right under the above chroot whereas I don't see these problems when ADS runs native on CentOS7 installed on bare metal as on the bellatrix machine?
My next question is:
Do you think this is down to kernel dependencies or am I capturing incorrect dependencies via my above directory bindings for my chroot? Do you see anything obvious I could or should do to rectify ADS issues running under the chroot?
Thanks!
Phil

Question information

Language:
English Edit question
Status:
Expired
For:
Ubuntu Edit question
Assignee:
No assignee Edit question
Last query:
Last reply:
Revision history for this message
actionparsnip (andrew-woodhead666) said : 		#1

Not sure about the chroot but could you run the install inside virtualbox? Just a brain thought

Revision history for this message
Phil Marsh (marsh-pf) said : 		#2

Hi actionparsnip,
Thanks for your reply! When I ran the commercial software in question on
RedHat7 native install, it was just as buggy as running it under chroot in
CentOS7. So it runs "just as well" in a chroot jail as on the recommended
native RedHat 7 installation. Moreover, I tried my RedHat native install in
a chroot, using the same install but running it from Ubuntu under a choot,
and this also worked as it did under the CentOS7 chroot. Therefore, I'm
concluding that the CentOS7 chroot is "just as good" as the native RedHat7
on bare metal.
Apparently, the buggyness of the commercial package isn't a result of OS
compatibility.
Thanks,
Phil

On Mon, Mar 2, 2020 at 9:32 AM actionparsnip <
<email address hidden>> wrote:

> Your question #688916 on Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/688916
>
> actionparsnip posted a new comment:
> Not sure about the chroot but could you run the install inside
> virtualbox? Just a brain thought
>
> --
> You received this question notification because you asked the question.
>

Revision history for this message
Phil Marsh (marsh-pf) said : 		#3

Hi actionparsnip,
Yes, to answer your question, I have tried it in a VM on Windows 8.1 (the
Windows version) and also on CentOS7, but Win8.1 version on a VM i.e.
virtualbox, was about half the CPU utilization vs chroot CentOS7 and the
CentOS7 VM was really buggy with frequent freezes. Moreover, the chroot
appears to be just easier and lighter-weight. I'm still wondering why the
Windows version was so dog slow on Virtualbox.
Thanks,
Phil

On Mon, Mar 2, 2020 at 10:58 AM Phil Marsh <
<email address hidden>> wrote:

> Your question #688916 on Ubuntu changed:
> https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/688916
>
> You gave more information on the question:
> Hi actionparsnip,
> Thanks for your reply! When I ran the commercial software in question on
> RedHat7 native install, it was just as buggy as running it under chroot in
> CentOS7. So it runs "just as well" in a chroot jail as on the recommended
> native RedHat 7 installation. Moreover, I tried my RedHat native install in
> a chroot, using the same install but running it from Ubuntu under a choot,
> and this also worked as it did under the CentOS7 chroot. Therefore, I'm
> concluding that the CentOS7 chroot is "just as good" as the native RedHat7
> on bare metal.
> Apparently, the buggyness of the commercial package isn't a result of OS
> compatibility.
> Thanks,
> Phil
>
> On Mon, Mar 2, 2020 at 9:32 AM actionparsnip <
> <email address hidden>> wrote:
>
> > Your question #688916 on Ubuntu changed:
> > https://answers.launchpad.net/ubuntu/+question/688916
> >
> > actionparsnip posted a new comment:
> > Not sure about the chroot but could you run the install inside
> > virtualbox? Just a brain thought
> >
> > --
> > You received this question notification because you asked the question.
> >
>
> --
> You received this question notification because you asked the question.
>

Revision history for this message
Launchpad Janitor (janitor) said : 		#4

This question was expired because it remained in the 'Open' state without activity for the last 15 days.