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FYI If you are looking for more info on the matter yourself ...

ver: 20.2-2 of the cloud-init is still the one with the bug mentioned by @olivierlambert earlier:
https://github.com/vatesfr/xen-orchestra/issues/4449

There is version 20.3 awaiting to be delivered but still awaiting to be packaged:
https://tracker.debian.org/pkg/cloud-init

flipsa created this issue in vatesfr/xen-orchestra

open Cloud-init NoCloud block device has wrong dosfslabel --> cloud-init can't find datasource and exits #4449

I was able to find the reason XO is not working with cloud-init.
XO attaches iso with the cloud-config data as additional disk xvdb and it does not work.
But if you provide it as a cd? It will.

That is why - as for now you will need to create your own iso and attach it as a cd-rom.
You do that this way:

Get your files ready (meta-data network-config user-data). My examples below:

metadata:

instance-id: local-nocloud
local-hostname: myhost.example.com

network-config:

network:
  version: 1
  config:
    - type: physical
      name: eth0
      subnets:
         - type: static
           address: 10.0.0.5/24
           gateway: 10.0.0.254
    - type: nameserver
      address:
        - 8.8.8.8
        - 8.8.4.4
      search:
        - example.com
    
    - type: physical
      name: eth1
      subnets:
         - type: static
           address: 192.168.0.5/24

user-data:

#cloud-config

### RUN CMD
runcmd:
  - /usr/bin/apt -y install mc
  - /usr/bin/date >> /root/testfile
  
# set system default user
system_info:
  default_user:
    name: testuser
    gecos: Default Cloud User

# password auth - comment out if not using passwords
password: testpassword
ssh_pwauth: true
chpasswd: { expire: false }

# do some package management
#package_update: true
packages:
 - iptraf
 - mtr
 - screen
 - net-tools
 - atop

Generate iso

genisoimage -output myiso.iso -volid cidata -joliet -rock user-data meta-data network-config

Upload iso to XO
home -> storage -> iso's -> disks -> new disk

Prepare VM/template

• Install Debian 10.6 with xo-tools
• install cloud-init and cloud-initramfs-growroot
• remove all network configuration leave just "allow-hotplug ethxxx"
  (network config will be added in /etc/network/interfaces/50-cloud-init. It will not overwrite yours)
• shutdown the machine and create the template if you want or just restart VM.
• DO NOT LET IT BOOT! - keep it in grub.
• attach your iso
• let it run

It will do whatever you need on the machine.

This is a great news as I will be able to have all my scripts written as of now and xo-cli in one place.
Thanks @olivierlambert

For those who are looking for direct instructions ... on Debian 10.x:

# install npm:

apt install npm

# install xo-cli:

npm install -g xo-cli