Document Overview | Citrix Systems 5.6 instruction

Document Overview

This document is a system administrator's guide to XenServer™, the platform virtualization solution from Citrix®. It describes the tasks involved in configuring a XenServer deployment-- in particular, how to set up storage, networking and resource pools, and how to administer XenServer hosts using the xe command line interface (CLI).

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

•XenServer hosts and resource pools

•XenServer storage configuration

•XenServer network configuration

•XenServer workload balancing

•XenServer backup and recovery

•Monitoring and managing XenServer

•XenServer command line interface

•XenServer troubleshooting

•XenServer resource allocation guidelines

How this Guide relates to other documentation

This document is primarily aimed at system administrators, who need to configure and administer XenServer deployments. Other documentation shipped with this release includes:

•XenServer Installation Guide provides a high level overview of XenServer, along with step-by-step instructions on installing XenServer hosts and the XenCenter management console.

•XenServer Virtual Machine Installation Guide describes how to install Linux and Windows VMs on top of a XenServer deployment. As well as installing new VMs from install media (or using the VM templates provided with the XenServer release), this guide also explains how to create VMs from existing physical machines, using a process called P2V.

•XenServer Software Development Kit Guide presents an overview of the XenServer SDK- a selection of code samples that demonstrate how to write applications that interface with XenServer hosts.

•XenAPI Specification provides a programmer's reference guide to the XenServer API.

•XenServer User Security considers the issues involved in keeping your XenServer installation secure.

•Release Notes provides a list of known issues that affect this release.

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Citrix Systems 5.6 manual Document Overview, How this Guide relates to other documentation

Contents

Citrix XenServer 5.6 Administrators Guide Trademarks Managing users Table of Contents Storage ISO NFS VHD Configuring VM memory Viii Workload Balancing Page Page Backup and recovery 123 Monitoring and managing XenServer 136 Xiv Page Xvi Xvii Xviii Xix Index 214 How this Guide relates to other documentation Document Overview Managing users Authenticating users using Active Directory AD Upgrading from XenServer Configuring Active Directory authentication Enabling external authentication on a pool Disabling external authentication User authenticationAllowing a user access to XenServer using the CLI Removing access for a user using the CLI Listing subjects with access Removing access for a userTerminating all authenticated sessions using xe Terminating individual user sessions using xe Role Based Access Control Rbac process Roles Definitions of Rbac roles and permissions Users role can be changed in two waysPermissions available for each role WLB Definitions of permissions Permission Allows Assignee To Rationale/Comments Definitions of permissions Permission Allows Assignee To Rationale/Comments Permission Allows Assignee To Rationale/Comments To list all the available defined roles in XenServer Working with Rbac using the xe CLI To display a list of current subjects Run the command xe subject-add subject-name=AD user/group To add a subject to RbacTo assign an Rbac role to a created subject Auditing Audit log xe CLI commandsTo change a subjects Rbac role To obtain all audit records from the pool How does XenServer compute the roles for the session? Requirements for creating resource pools Hosts and resource pools overview Naming a resource pool Creating a resource pool Adding shared storage Creating heterogeneous resource pools Adding NFS shared storage to a resource pool using the CLI To remove a host from a resource pool using the CLIRemoving a XenServer host from a resource pool HA Overview High AvailabilityOvercommitting Overcommitment Warning Restart priorities Configuration Requirements Enabling HA on a XenServer pool Enabling HA using the CLI Recovering an unreachable host Removing HA protection from a VM using the CLIShutting down a host when HA is enabled Shutting down a VM when it is protected by HA Host Power On Powering on hosts remotelyUsing the CLI to Manage Host Power On To enable Host Power On using the CLI To turn on hosts remotely using the CLIKey/Value Pairs Possible values Sample Script Storage Repositories SRs Storage OverviewVirtual Disk Images VDIs Physical Block Devices PBDs Virtual Block Devices VBDs Summary of Storage objectsVirtual Disk Data Formats VHD Chain Coalescing VHD-based VDIs Storage configuration Creating Storage RepositoriesLUN-based VDIs Upgrading LVM storage from XenServer 5.0 or earlier Creating a raw virtual disk using the xe CLILVM performance considerations VDI types Probing an SR Converting between VDI formats Following parameters can be probed for each SR type Page Storage Multipathing To enable storage multipathing using the xe CLI Storage Repository Types Local EXT3 VHD Local LVMCreating a local LVM SR lvm Creating a local EXT3 SR ext Udev EqualLogicCreating a shared EqualLogic SR Parameter Name Description Optional? NetApp Creating a VDI using the CLI Aggregates FlexVols Thick or thin provisioning Access ControlFAS Deduplication Licenses Creating a shared NetApp SR over iSCSI Software iSCSI Support Managing VDIs in a NetApp SRTaking VDI snapshots with a NetApp SR XenServer Host iSCSI configuration Sample QLogic iSCSI HBA setupManaging Hardware Host Bus Adapters HBAs Removing HBA-based SAS, FC or iSCSI device entries LVM over iSCSI Parameter Name Description Optional? Hitachi NFS VHD Creating a shared NFS SR nfs LVM over hardware HBA Creating a shared StorageLink SR Citrix StorageLink Gateway Cslg SRs Parameter name Description Optional? To create a Cslg SR Page Managing Storage Repositories Introducing an SR Destroying or forgetting a SR Converting local Fibre Channel SRs to shared SRs Resizing an SRMoving Virtual Disk Images VDIs between SRs Copying all of a VMs VDIs to a different SR Adjusting the disk IO scheduler Virtual disk QoS settings Possible values of qosalgorithmparamsched are Concept of dynamic range What is Dynamic Memory Control DMC? Concept of static range DMC BehaviourHow does DMC Work? Supported operating systems Memory constraints Xe CLI commands Display the static memory properties of a VMDisplay the dynamic memory properties of a VM Updating memory properties Upgrade issues Update individual memory propertiesWorkload Balancing interaction XenServer networking overview Networking Using VLANs with virtual machines Using VLANs with host management interfacesNetwork objects Networks NIC bonds Using VLANs with dedicated storage NICs Managing networking configuration Initial networking configurationCreating networks in a standalone server To connect a network to an external Vlan using the CLI To add a new network using the CLICreating networks in resource pools Creating VLANs Creating NIC bonds on a standalone host Creating a NIC bond on a dual-NIC hostBonding two NICs together Creating NIC bonds in resource pools Controlling the MAC address of the bondReverting NIC bonds Adding NIC bonds to new resource pools Adding NIC bonds to an existing pool To add NIC bonds to the pool master and other hosts Controlling Quality of Service QoS Configuring a dedicated storage NICChanging networking configuration options To assign NIC functions using the xe CLI Changing IP address configuration in resource pools Changing IP address configuration for a standalone hostHostname DNS servers To change the IP address of a pool master host Disabling management accessManagement interface To change the NIC used for the management interface Adding a new physical NIC NIC/PIF ordering in resource poolsVerifying NIC ordering Re-ordering NICs Diagnosing network corruption Networking Troubleshooting Recovering from a bad network configuration Whats New? New Features Changes Workload Balancing Overview Workload Balancing Basic Concepts Workload Balancing Installation Overview Supported XenServer Versions Workload Balancing System RequirementsSupported Operating Systems Recommended Hardware Workload Balancing Data Store Requirements SQL Server Database Authentication Requirements Operating System Language Support Preinstallation Considerations WLB Access Control Permissions Installing Workload Balancing To install Workload Balancing server To verify your Workload Balancing installation Upgrading Workload Balancing Configuring Firewalls Upgrading Workload Balancing on the Same Operating System Initializing Workload BalancingUpgrading SQL Server Upgrading Workload Balancing and the Operating System To initialize Workload Balancing Authorization for Workload Balancing Configuring Antivirus Software Configuring Workload Balancing Settings Adjusting the Optimization Mode To display the Workload Balancing Configuration dialog boxFixed Scheduled Optimizing and Managing Power Automatically To set an optimization mode for all time periodsTo edit or delete an automatic optimization interval Accepting Optimization Recommendations Automatically Enabling Workload Balancing Power Management 102 To select servers for power management Changing the Critical ThresholdsTo apply optimization recommendations automatically Tuning Metric Weightings Default Settings for Critical ThresholdsTo change the critical thresholds Excluding Hosts from Recommendations To edit metric weighting factors VM Optimization Criteria Historical Data Storage Time Number of Times an Optimization Recommendation is Made To configure VM Recommendation intervals To resume a virtual machine on the optimal server To start a virtual machine on the optimal server Administering Workload Balancing Accepting Optimization RecommendationsTo accept an optimization recommendation Disabling Workload Balancing Reconfiguring a Pool to Use Another WLB Server Updating Workload Balancing Credentials Click Update Credentials Entering Maintenance Mode with Workload Balancing Enabled Uninstalling Workload BalancingCustomizing Workload Balancing Working with Workload Balancing Reports To enter maintenance mode with Workload Balancing enabledIntroduction Subscribing to Workload Balancing Reports Generating and Managing Workload Balancing Reports Using Workload Balancing Reports for TasksTo generate a Workload Balancing report To subscribe to a Workload Balancing report To cancel a report subscription To navigate in a Workload Balancing ReportReport Toolbar Buttons Displaying Workload Balancing Reports Report Generation FeaturesTo print a Workload Balancing report Toolbar Buttons Host Health History Workload Balancing Report Glossary Pool Audit Log History Pool Optimization Performance History Audit Log Event Names Pool Health Pool Optimization History Pool Health History Virtual Machine Performance History Virtual Machine Motion History To backup pool metadata BackupsTo backup host configuration and software To backup a VM Full metadata backup and disaster recovery DR DR and metadata backup overviewBackup and restore using xsconsole Moving SRs between hosts and Pools VM Snapshots Using Portable SRs for Manual Multi-Site Disaster Recovery Quiesced Snapshots Regular SnapshotsSnapshots with memory Creating a VM Snapshot Creating a snapshot with memory To list all of the snapshots on a XenServer poolTo list the snapshots on a particular VM Deleting a snapshot Restoring a VM to its previous state Creating a template from a snapshot Snapshot Templates Advanced Notes for Quiesced Snapshots Exporting a snapshot to a template 132 Coping with machine failures Member failuresMaster failures Coping with Failure due to Configuration Errors Pool failuresPhysical Machine failure To restore a VM when VM storage is not available To restore a pool with all hosts failed Alerts Monitoring and managing XenServer Valid VM Elements Customizing Alerts Valid Host Elements Configuring Email Alerts Custom Searches Custom Fields and TagsDetermining throughput of physical bus adapters To determine PBD throughput XenServer host logs Sending host log messages to a central serverTo write logs to a remote server Userprofile%\AppData\Citrix\XenCenter\logs\XenCenter.log XenCenter logs Basic xe syntax Xe command-name argument=value argument=value Special characters and syntax Class-list Command types Low-level param commands Parameter typesClass-param-list uuid=uuid Low-level list commands Bonding commands Xe command referenceBond parameters Bond-create CD parameters CD commands Console parameters Console commandsCd-list Cd-listparams=param1,param2,... parameter=parametervalue Event commands Event classesEvent-wait Host XenServer host commands Host selectorsHost parameters Parameter Name Description Type Syslogdestination Host-backupfile-name=backupfilenamehost=hostname Host-backup Host-emergency-management-reconfigure Host-disableHost-bugreport-upload Host-crashdump-destroy Host-evacuate Host-enableHost-forget Host-get-system-status Attribute Description Host-get-system-status-capabilities Host-apply-edition Host-is-in-emergency-modeLicense-server-address License-server-port Host-management-reconfigure Host-management-disableHost-license-view Host-logs-download Host-set-power-on Host-power-onHost-reboot Host-restore Log commands Message parameters Message commandsMessage-create Message-list Network parameters Network commandsSubnet/netmask/gateway 192.168.0.4 Patch parameters Patch update commandsNetwork-create Network-destroy PBD parameters PBD commands Pbd-create PIF commandsPbd-destroy Pbd-plug MAC PIF parameters Dhcp Pif-forget Pif-introducePif-forget uuid=uuidofpif Pool parameters Pool commands Parameter Name Description Type Pool-ha-enable Pool-emergency-reset-masterPool-designate-new-master Pool-dump-database SM parameters Storage Manager commands SR parameters SR commands Sr-destroy Sr-createSr-forget Sr-destroy uuid=sruuid Task parameters Task commandsSr-introduce Sr-probe Template commands Task-cancelTask-cancel uuid=taskuuid Template parameters For memory-dynamic-max Uuid=vmuuid \ Parameter Name Description Type YyyymmddThhmmss z As not in database for Not in database for a Form yyyymmddThhmmss User commands Update commandsUpdate-upload User-password-change VBD parameters VBD commands Vbd-create VDI commands VDI parameters Vdi-copy Vdi-cloneVdi-create Tree /local/domain/0/backend Vdi-forget Vdi-destroyVdi-import Vdi-introduce VIF parameters VIF commandsVdi-unlock Vdi-unlockuuid=uuidofvditounlock force=true Uuid=vifuuid \ Vif-destroy Vif-createVif-plug Vif-unplug VM commands Vlan commandsVM selectors VM parameters Parameter Name Description Type Uuid=templateuuid \ Parameter Name Description Type Value pair autopoweron true VCPUs-number to a value Domain/domid/vm Vm-cd-add Vm-cd-ejectVm-cd-ejectvm-selector=vmselectorvalue Vm-cd-list Vm-cd-insertVm-cd-remove Vm-clone Vm-crashdump-list Vm-copyVm-data-source-forget Vm-data-source-list Vm-data-source-record Vm-data-source-queryVm-destroy Vm-disk-add Vm-disk-remove Vm-disk-listVm-export Vm-import Vm-install Vm-memory-shadow-multiplier-setVm-migrate Vm-reset-powerstate Vm-rebootVm-resume Vm-shutdown Vm-start Vm-uninstallVm-suspend Vm-vcpu-hotplug Workload Balancing commands Pool-certificate-install Pool-certificate-listPool-certificate-sync Pool-retrieve-wlb-configuration Pool-deconfigure-wlbPool-param-set Pool-retrieve-wlb-recommendations Pool-send-wlb-configuration Pool-send-wlb-configuration Index