XCP-ng: Latest Rust Guest Tools Enhancements

XCP-ng has made significant progress in the development of their VM guest tools, which are being rewritten in Rust. These tools have moved from their alpha phase to the beta phase and are now considered robust, though not yet stable.

Here are the achievements that have been made:

A complete README: XCP-ng has created a comprehensive README file that outlines the goals, design, and instructions for building and running the tools. The README can be found here.
Drop-in compatibility: The new tools are designed to be fully compatible with the existing XCP-ng toolstack. This means that installing the new tools will not interfere with any external elements. Xen Orchestra, for example, will accurately display all relevant information such as IP addresses, distro version, and RAM usage.
Alternative schema: The tools allow for flexibility in reporting data by offering different data formats. The default model, called ‘std’, is retro-compatible, while the adaptable model, called ‘rfc’, provides superior results. More details can be found in the usage documentation.
Netlink as first class citizen: Netlink, a socket family that facilitates communication between the guest kernel and user space processes, plays a crucial role in the toolkit. It allows for efficient notification of network changes in the VM, resulting in quicker and more efficient updates. For guests without Netlink support, a fallback system has been implemented to ensure networking information can still be reported.
Not restricted to Linux: The guest agent is compatible with other UNIX-family systems, such as BSDs. However, making it as efficient as on Linux guests poses a challenge, as Netlink support was previously limited to Linux. Efforts are being made to address this issue and make the guest agent work seamlessly on BSDs.
Rust xenstore library: XCP-ng has contributed to the existing Rust xenstore project by enhancing API coverage. Financial support is also provided to the current maintainer to ensure the library’s upkeep.
Modern builds, Security & dependency checking: Reproducible builds and security are key considerations in the redesign of the tools. CI infrastructure has been set up to maintain checks and balances, and Dependabot is being utilized to detect known vulnerabilities in dependencies. Work is ongoing to improve security measures.
Code base improvements: The use of Rust in this project has allowed for code that embodies more “Rust-like” characteristics. The experience gained from this project has contributed to the growth of the code base.

Overall, XCP-ng’s progress in rewriting the VM guest tools in Rust is promising. The tools are becoming more robust, compatible, and efficient, offering improved functionality for users.