Citrix Systems 6.2.0 manual Creating Linux VMs

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Chapter 5. Creating Linux VMs

This chapter discusses how to create Linux VMs, either by installing them or cloning them. This chapter also contains vendor-specific installation instructions.

When you want to create a new VM, you must create the VM using a template for the operating system you want to run on the VM. You can use a template Citrix provides for your operating system, or one that you created previously. You can create the VM from either XenCenter or the CLI. This chapter will focus on using the CLI.

You will need to install the XenServer Tools immediately after installing the operating system. For some operating systems, the XenServer Tools includes a XenServer specific kernel, which replaces the kernel provided by the vendor. Other operating systems, such as RHEL 5.x require you to install a specific version of a vendor provided kernel.

Warning:

Running a VM without installing the XenServer Tools is not a supported configuration, so Citrix recommends that you install the tools immediately after Operating System installation. For more information, see Section 2.3, “XenServer Tools”.

The overview for creating a Linux VM is as following:

1.Create the VM for your target operating system using XenCenter or the CLI.

2.Install the operating system using vendor installation media.

3.Install the XenServer Tools.

4.Configure the correct time and time zone on the VM and VNC as you would in a normal non-virtual environment.

XenServer supports the installation of many Linux distributions as VMs. There are three installation mechanisms:

1.Installing from an internet repository

2.Installing from a physical CD

3.Installing from an ISO library

Warning:

The Other install media template is meant for advanced users who want to attempt to install VMs running unsupported operating systems. XenServer has been tested running only the supported distributions and specific versions covered by the standard supplied templates, and any VMs installed using the Other install media template are not supported.

Note that VMs created using the Other install media template will be created as HVM guests, which means that the Linux VMs created using this template will not be able to use the native high-performance drivers (PV drivers) included in modern kernels.

For information regarding specific Linux distributions, see Section 5.6, “Additional Installation Notes for Linux Distributions”.

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Contents Citrix XenServer 6.2.0 Virtual Machine Users Guide Trademarks Contents VM Migration with XenMotion and Storage XenMotion Importing the Demo Linux Virtual Appliance Windows VM Release Notes Setting Up a Red Hat Installation Server About this Document OverviewXenServer Documentation Virtual Machines Creating VMsOther Methods of VM Creation Importing an Exported VM XenServer ToolsPage Supported Guests and Allocating Resources Supported Guests, Virtual Memory, and Disk Size LimitsOperating System Minimum Maximum Minimum Disk Space 4GB 8GB Operating System Experimental GuestsDeprecated Guests XenServer Product Family Virtual Device SupportVirtual device Linux VMs Windows VMs VM Block Devices Creating Windows VMs Basic Procedure for Creating a Windows VMAvailable Windows Templates Template Name DescriptionUsing XenCenter to Create a VM Attaching an ISO Image LibraryTo create a Windows 7 32-bit VM Page Installing a Windows VM from an ISO Repository Using the CLI Using the CLI to Create a Windows VMCreating Linux VMs Distribution Vendor Install From Network From CD RepositoryCreating a Linux VM by Installing from a Physical CD/DVD Network Installation Notes Creating a Linux VM by Installing From an ISO ImageAdvanced Operating System Boot Parameters To install Debian using a preseed fileTo install Rhel Using a Kickstart File To install the guest agent Installing the Linux Guest AgentLinux Distribution Installation Notes Additional Installation Notes for Linux DistributionsAdditional Debian Notes Preparing to Clone a Linux VMMachine Name IP addressPage XenMotion and Storage XenMotion VM Migration with XenMotion and Storage XenMotionXenMotion Storage XenMotionMigrating a VM using XenCenter Live VDI MigrationLimitations and Caveats To Move Virtual Disks Updating VMs To uninstall the XenServer ToolsUpdating Windows Operating Systems Updating XenServer Tools for Windows VMsPage VApps Creating a vApp using XenCenterManaging vApps in XenCenter Creating vAppsDeleting vApps using XenCenter Start and shutdown vApps using XenCenterDeleting vApps To start a vAppImporting and Exporting vApps To export a vAppTo import a vApp Persist XenDesktop Private Desktop Mode VM Boot BehaviorReset XenDesktop Shared Desktop Mode Advanced Notes for Virtual MachinesInstalldir/xensetup.exe /S /norestart Connecting to a Windows VM Using Remote Desktop Windows Volume Shadow Copy Service VSS providerTo enable the Windows XenServer VSS provider To Enable Remote Desktop on a Windows VMTime Handling in Linux VMs Time Handling in Windows VMsInstalling a VM from Reseller Option Kit BIOS-locked Media To set individual Linux VMs to maintain independent timesGuest OS Dependent wallclock Independent wallclock Preparing for Cloning a Windows VM Using VSS Using XenCenterUsing the CLI Cloning Windows VMs Assigning a GPU to a Windows VM for Use with XenDesktopTo assign a GPU to a Windows VM using xe CLI To assign a GPU to a Windows VM using XenCenterTo detach a Windows VM from a GPU using XenCenter To detach a Windows VM from a GPU using the xe CLIDetach the GPU from the VM by entering the following To Import the Demo Linux Virtual Appliance Using XenCenter Importing the Demo Linux Virtual ApplianceUseful Tests Page Importing and Exporting VMs Supported FormatsFormat Description Attribute Description Open Virtualization Format OVF and OVAXVA Format Disk Image Formats VHD and VmdkXVA Version 1 Format Operating System FixupTransfer VM Importing VMsTo use the RawVDI transfer protocol Importing VMs from OVF/OVA To Import VMs from OVF/OVA using XenCenterPage Importing Disk Images To Import VMs from a Disk Image using XenCenterImporting VMs from XVA To Import VMs from XVA Files VM using XenCenterTo Import a VM from XVA using the xe CLI Exporting VMsExporting VMs as OVF/OVA To Export VMs as OVF/OVA using XenCenter Exporting VMs as XVA To Export VMs as XVA Files using XenCenterTo Export VMs as XVA Files using the xe CLI Release Notes Appendix A. Windows VM Release NotesRed Hat Enterprise Linux 4.5 to Appendix B. Linux VM Release NotesPreparing a Rhel 4.5 to 4.8 guest for cloning Red Hat Enterprise LinuxOracle Enterprise Linux CentOSSuse Enterprise Linux 10 SP1 Suse Enterprise Linux 10 SP3Ubuntu Appendix C. Creating ISO Images Creating an ISO on a Linux computerOn a Windows computer Enabling a Graphical Console on Debian Squeeze VMs Appendix D. Enabling VNC for Linux VMsConfiguring GDM to use VNC Determining the Location of your VNC Configuration FileVNC Screen Resolution Firewall SettingsCreate the xinetd.d file, /etc/xinetd.d/vnc-server-stream Enabling VNC for RHEL, CentOS, or OEL 6.x VMsEnabling Remote Administration Setting up SLES-based VMs for VNCModifying the xinetd Configuration Checking for a VNC ServerTo Open the VNC Port on Sles 10.x VMs Firewall To Open the VNC Port on Sles 11.x VMs Firewall Checking RunlevelsCopying Installation Media Appendix E. Setting Up a Red Hat Installation ServerEnable Remote Access NFSHttp FTPTo enable saving of Linux VM crash dumps Appendix F. Troubleshooting VM ProblemsVM Crashes Controlling Linux VM Crashdump BehaviourTroubleshooting Boot Problems on Linux VMs