Citrix Systems 6.2.0 manual About this Document, Overview, XenServer Documentation

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Chapter 1. About this Document

1.1. Overview

This is a guide to using Virtual Machines (VMs) with XenServer, the platform virtualization solution from Citrix®. It describes how to create, configure, and manage VMs running on XenServer hosts.

This section summarizes the rest of the guide so that you can find the information you need. The following topics are covered:

General information about preparing and creating VMs

Creating Windows VMs

Creating Linux VMs

Updating VMs

Migrating VMs

Creating and using ISO images of vendor media for installing VMs

Setting up a network repository of vendor media for installing VMs

Troubleshooting VMs

1.2. XenServer Documentation

XenServer documentation shipped with this release includes:

Release Notes cover known issues that affect this release.

XenServer Quick Start Guide provides an introduction for new users to the XenServer environment and components. This guide steps through the installation and configuration essentials to get XenServer and the XenCenter management console up and running quickly. After installation, it demonstrates how to create a Windows VM, VM template and pool of XenServer hosts. It introduces basic administrative tasks and advanced features, such as shared storage, VM snapshots and XenMotion live migration.

XenServer Installation Guide steps through the installation, configuration and initial operation of XenServer and the XenCenter management console.

XenServer Virtual Machine User's Guide describes how to install Windows and Linux VMs within a XenServer environment. This guide explains how to create new VMs from installation media, from VM templates included in the XenServer package and from existing physical machines (P2V). It explains how to import disk images and how to import and export appliances.

XenServer Administrator's Guide gives an in-depth description of the tasks involved in configuring a XenServer deployment, including setting up storage, networking and pools. It describes how to administer XenServer using the xe Command Line Interface.

vSwitch Controller User's Guide is a comprehensive user guide to the vSwitch Controller for XenServer.

Supplemental Packs and the DDK introduces the XenServer Driver Development Kit, which can be used to modify and extend the functionality of XenServer.

XenServer Software Development Kit Guide presents an overview of the XenServer SDK. It includes code samples that demonstrate how to write applications that interface with XenServer hosts.

XenAPI Specification is a reference guide for programmers to the XenServer API.

For additional resources, visit the Citrix Knowledge Center.

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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 XenServer Documentation About this DocumentOverview Other Methods of VM Creation Virtual MachinesCreating VMs XenServer Tools Importing an Exported VMPage Operating System Minimum Maximum Minimum Disk Space Supported Guests and Allocating ResourcesSupported Guests, Virtual Memory, and Disk Size Limits 4GB 8GB Experimental Guests Operating SystemVirtual device Linux VMs Windows VMs Deprecated GuestsXenServer Product Family Virtual Device Support VM Block Devices Basic Procedure for Creating a Windows VM Creating Windows VMsAvailable Windows Templates Template Name DescriptionTo create a Windows 7 32-bit VM Using XenCenter to Create a VMAttaching an ISO Image Library Page Using the CLI to Create a Windows VM Installing a Windows VM from an ISO Repository Using the CLICreating Linux VMs Install From Network From CD Repository Distribution VendorCreating a Linux VM by Installing from a Physical CD/DVD Creating a Linux VM by Installing From an ISO Image Network Installation NotesTo install Rhel Using a Kickstart File Advanced Operating System Boot ParametersTo install Debian using a preseed file Installing the Linux Guest Agent To install the guest agentAdditional Installation Notes for Linux Distributions Linux Distribution Installation NotesPreparing to Clone a Linux VM Additional Debian NotesMachine Name IP addressPage VM Migration with XenMotion and Storage XenMotion XenMotion and Storage XenMotionXenMotion Storage XenMotionLimitations and Caveats Migrating a VM using XenCenterLive VDI Migration To Move Virtual Disks To uninstall the XenServer Tools Updating VMsUpdating Windows Operating Systems Updating XenServer Tools for Windows VMsPage Creating a vApp using XenCenter VAppsManaging vApps in XenCenter Creating vAppsStart and shutdown vApps using XenCenter Deleting vApps using XenCenterDeleting vApps To start a vAppTo import a vApp Importing and Exporting vAppsTo export a vApp VM Boot Behavior Persist XenDesktop Private Desktop ModeReset XenDesktop Shared Desktop Mode Advanced Notes for Virtual MachinesInstalldir/xensetup.exe /S /norestart Windows Volume Shadow Copy Service VSS provider Connecting to a Windows VM Using Remote DesktopTo enable the Windows XenServer VSS provider To Enable Remote Desktop on a Windows VMTime Handling in Windows VMs Time Handling in Linux VMsGuest OS Dependent wallclock Independent wallclock Installing a VM from Reseller Option Kit BIOS-locked MediaTo set individual Linux VMs to maintain independent times Using the CLI Preparing for Cloning a Windows VM Using VSSUsing XenCenter Assigning a GPU to a Windows VM for Use with XenDesktop Cloning Windows VMsTo assign a GPU to a Windows VM using XenCenter To assign a GPU to a Windows VM using xe CLITo 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 Useful Tests To Import the Demo Linux Virtual Appliance Using XenCenterImporting the Demo Linux Virtual Appliance Page Format Description Importing and Exporting VMsSupported Formats Open Virtualization Format OVF and OVA Attribute DescriptionDisk Image Formats VHD and Vmdk XVA FormatOperating System Fixup XVA Version 1 FormatTo use the RawVDI transfer protocol Transfer VMImporting VMs To Import VMs from OVF/OVA using XenCenter Importing VMs from OVF/OVAPage To Import VMs from a Disk Image using XenCenter Importing Disk ImagesTo Import VMs from XVA Files VM using XenCenter Importing VMs from XVAExporting VMs as OVF/OVA To Import a VM from XVA using the xe CLIExporting VMs To Export VMs as OVF/OVA using XenCenter To Export VMs as XVA Files using XenCenter Exporting VMs as XVATo Export VMs as XVA Files using the xe CLI Appendix A. Windows VM Release Notes Release NotesAppendix B. Linux VM Release Notes Red Hat Enterprise Linux 4.5 toRed Hat Enterprise Linux Preparing a Rhel 4.5 to 4.8 guest for cloningCentOS Oracle Enterprise LinuxSuse Enterprise Linux 10 SP1 Suse Enterprise Linux 10 SP3Ubuntu On a Windows computer Appendix C. Creating ISO ImagesCreating an ISO on a Linux computer Appendix D. Enabling VNC for Linux VMs Enabling a Graphical Console on Debian Squeeze VMsDetermining the Location of your VNC Configuration File Configuring GDM to use VNCFirewall Settings VNC Screen ResolutionEnabling VNC for RHEL, CentOS, or OEL 6.x VMs Create the xinetd.d file, /etc/xinetd.d/vnc-server-streamSetting up SLES-based VMs for VNC Enabling Remote AdministrationModifying the xinetd Configuration Checking for a VNC ServerTo Open the VNC Port on Sles 10.x VMs Firewall Checking Runlevels To Open the VNC Port on Sles 11.x VMs FirewallAppendix E. Setting Up a Red Hat Installation Server Copying Installation MediaEnable Remote Access NFSFTP HttpAppendix F. Troubleshooting VM Problems To enable saving of Linux VM crash dumpsVM Crashes Controlling Linux VM Crashdump BehaviourTroubleshooting Boot Problems on Linux VMs