Virtualization using Xenserver

In this post I am going to share my experience with Xenserver.

I have implemented Xenserver for Virtualization. I feel this is better than community version of VMware Server & equipped with more features.

Features.

Xencenter to manage multiple xenservers.

VLAN.

Using pool resource you get auto shift of VM in case of one of xenserver fails.

You can download latest version of Xenserver & Xencenter from http://www.citrix.com/xenserver/download

Refer for Installation.

You need to enable Virtualization support in BIOS, you can find it under CPU configuration.

Following is the guideline to configure xenserver for production use.

Start Xencenter

Add new server (here I am using xenserver1 & xenserver2)

Add ISO library for installation source.

Click on new store, here you can select NFS / CIFS for ISO library.

I am using NFS for ISO library.

Mention ip_address:/nfs_share

e.g 192.168.0.1:/home/iso

Add Virtual Disk Storage

you can use SAN / NAS for remote virtual storage. (this is helpful to achieve load balance / redundancy. If you are not using HA Licensed, this will help you start VM running on failed server to another server with minimum downtime.)

Add another server.

Adding pool

Click on new pool

Mention pool name

Select xenservers to add in new pool, here xenserver1 is kept as master server.

Create new VM for both Xenservers.

I have created CentOS on Xenserver1 & Windows 2000 on Xenserver2

In case of Master failed.

Run following commands on Xensevrer2. After successful completion of below commands Xenserver2 will act as master & will accept connections from slave.

Here Xenserver2 is active as master. You can notice VM-CentOS created on Xenserver1 is moved to parent & can be started from Xenserver2.

Note: If mater server is failed while VM is active, it may corrupt OS. You need to buy license for HA.

If you can afford downtime continue with Free version & keep regular backup of configured VM.

In case of slave failed, all VMs are accessible through master (there is no need to run any command on console.)

Once Xenserver1 is online. You can define same commands to switch Xenserver1 to master mode.

xe pool-emergency-transition-to-master
xe pool-recover-slaves

Configure VLAN

to enable VLAN, ensure one interface of server is connected to Trunk port of L3 switch.

Click on Pool –> Network –> Add Network.

Select External Network as network type.

Enter description

Select NIC (where trunk is terminated) & enter VLAN ID.

Add interface in desired VM

Select Network & click on Add Interface

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