Table Of ContentCitrix XenServer 6.2.0 Administrator's Guide
®
Published Wednesday, 10 September 2014
1.1 Edition
Citrix XenServer ® 6.2.0 Administrator's Guide
Copyright © 2013 Citrix Systems. Inc. All Rights Reserved.
Version: 6.2.0
Citrix, Inc.
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United States of America
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Contents
1. Document Overview ..................................................................................... 1
1.1. Introducing XenServer .................................................................................................. 1
1.1.1. Benefits of Using XenServer ............................................................................... 1
1.1.2. Administering XenServer ................................................................................... 2
1.2. New Features and Improvements Since XenServer 6.1.0 ................................................. 2
1.2.1. Licensing Simplification ...................................................................................... 2
1.2.2. Performance and Scale ...................................................................................... 2
1.2.3. Monitoring ........................................................................................................ 2
1.2.4. Clone on Boot ................................................................................................... 3
1.2.5. New and Improved Guest Support ..................................................................... 3
1.2.6. Other Improvements ......................................................................................... 3
1.2.7. Retired Features ................................................................................................ 3
1.2.7.1. Workload Balancing ................................................................................ 3
1.2.7.2. SCOM Integration ................................................................................... 3
1.2.7.3. Virtual Machine Protection & Recovery ................................................... 4
1.2.7.4. Web Self Service .................................................................................... 4
1.2.7.5. XenConvert ............................................................................................ 4
1.2.8. Deprecated Features ......................................................................................... 4
1.3. XenServer Documentation ............................................................................................ 4
2. Managing Users ............................................................................................. 6
2.1. Authenticating Users With Active Directory (AD) ........................................................... 6
2.1.1. Configuring Active Directory Authentication ....................................................... 7
2.1.2. User Authentication .......................................................................................... 9
2.1.3. Removing Access for a User ............................................................................. 10
2.1.4. Leaving an AD Domain .................................................................................... 11
2.2. Role Based Access Control .......................................................................................... 11
2.2.1. Roles .............................................................................................................. 12
2.2.2. Definitions of RBAC Roles and Permissions ....................................................... 13
2.2.3. Using RBAC with the CLI .................................................................................. 18
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2.2.3.1. To List All the Available Defined Roles in XenServer ................................. 18
2.2.3.2. To Display a List of Current Subjects: ..................................................... 19
2.2.3.3. To Add a Subject to RBAC ..................................................................... 19
2.2.3.4. To Assign an RBAC Role to a Created subject .......................................... 19
2.2.3.5. To Change a Subject's RBAC Role: .......................................................... 20
2.2.4. Auditing .......................................................................................................... 20
2.2.4.1. Audit Log xe CLI Commands .................................................................. 20
2.2.4.2. To Obtain All Audit Records From the Pool ............................................. 20
2.2.4.3. To Obtain Audit Records of the Pool Since a Precise Millisecond
Timestamp ....................................................................................................... 20
2.2.4.4. To Obtain Audit Records of the Pool Since a Precise Minute Timestamp
......................................................................................................................... 20
2.2.5. How Does XenServer Compute the Roles for the Session? .................................. 20
3. XenServer Hosts and Resource Pools .......................................................... 22
3.1. Hosts and Resource Pools Overview ............................................................................ 22
3.2. Requirements for Creating Resource Pools .................................................................. 22
3.3. Creating a Resource Pool ............................................................................................ 23
3.4. Creating Heterogeneous Resource Pools ...................................................................... 24
3.5. Adding Shared Storage ............................................................................................... 24
3.6. Removing a XenServer Host from a Resource Pool ....................................................... 25
3.7. Preparing a Pool of XenServer Hosts for Maintenance .................................................. 25
3.8. High Availability ......................................................................................................... 26
3.8.1. HA Overview ................................................................................................... 26
3.8.1.1. Overcommitting .................................................................................... 27
3.8.1.2. Overcommitment Warning .................................................................... 27
3.8.1.3. Host Fencing ........................................................................................ 27
3.8.2. Configuration Requirements ............................................................................. 27
3.8.3. Restart Priorities ............................................................................................. 28
3.9. Enabling HA on a XenServer Pool ................................................................................ 29
3.9.1. Enabling HA Using the CLI ............................................................................... 29
3.9.2. Removing HA Protection from a VM using the CLI ............................................. 30
3.9.3. Recovering an Unreachable Host ...................................................................... 30
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3.9.4. Shutting Down a host When HA is Enabled ....................................................... 30
3.9.5. Shutting Down a VM When it is Protected by HA .............................................. 30
3.10. Host Power On ........................................................................................................ 31
3.10.1. Powering on Hosts Remotely ......................................................................... 31
3.10.2. Using the CLI to Manage Host Power On ........................................................ 31
3.10.2.1. To Enable Host Power On Using the CLI ................................................ 31
3.10.2.2. To Turn on Hosts Remotely Using the CLI ............................................. 31
3.10.3. Configuring a Custom Script for XenServer's Host Power On Feature ................. 32
3.10.3.1. Key/Value Pairs ................................................................................... 32
3.10.3.1.1. host.power_on_mode .............................................................. 32
3.10.3.1.2. host.power_on_config .............................................................. 32
3.10.3.2. Sample Script ..................................................................................... 33
4. Networking .................................................................................................. 34
4.1. Networking Support ................................................................................................... 34
4.2. vSwitch Networks ...................................................................................................... 34
4.3. XenServer Networking Overview ................................................................................. 35
4.3.1. Network Objects ............................................................................................. 37
4.3.2. Networks ........................................................................................................ 37
4.3.3. VLANs ............................................................................................................. 37
4.3.3.1. Using VLANs with Management Interfaces ............................................. 37
4.3.3.2. Using VLANs with Virtual Machines ....................................................... 37
4.3.3.3. Using VLANs with Dedicated Storage NICs .............................................. 38
4.3.3.4. Combining Management Interfaces and Guest VLANs on a Single Host
NIC ................................................................................................................... 38
4.3.4. Jumbo frames ................................................................................................. 38
4.3.5. NIC Bonds ....................................................................................................... 38
4.3.5.1. Active-Active Bonding ........................................................................... 40
4.3.5.2. Active-Passive Bonding ......................................................................... 42
4.3.5.3. LACP Link Aggregation Control Protocol Bonding .................................... 43
4.3.5.4. Switch Configuration ............................................................................. 46
4.3.5.4.1. Switch Configuration for LACP Bonds ........................................... 46
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4.3.6. Initial Networking Configuration after Setup ..................................................... 47
4.3.7. Changing Networking Configuration ................................................................. 47
4.3.7.1. Modifying the Network Object .............................................................. 47
4.3.8. Changing the Up Delay for Bonds ..................................................................... 48
4.4. Managing Networking Configuration ........................................................................... 48
4.4.1. Cross-Server Private Networks ......................................................................... 48
4.4.2. Creating Networks in a Standalone Server ........................................................ 49
4.4.3. Creating Networks in Resource Pools ................................................................ 50
4.4.4. Creating VLANs ............................................................................................... 50
4.4.5. Creating NIC Bonds on a Standalone Host ......................................................... 50
4.4.5.1. Creating a NIC Bond ............................................................................. 50
4.4.5.2. Controlling the MAC Address of the Bond .............................................. 51
4.4.5.3. Reverting NIC Bonds ............................................................................. 51
4.4.6. Creating NIC Bonds in Resource Pools .............................................................. 52
4.4.6.1. Adding NIC Bonds to New Resource Pools .............................................. 52
4.4.6.2. Adding NIC Bonds to an Existing Pool .................................................... 52
4.4.7. Configuring a Dedicated Storage NIC ................................................................ 53
4.4.8. Using SR-IOV Enabled NICs .............................................................................. 54
4.4.9. Controlling the Rate of Outgoing Data (QoS) ..................................................... 54
4.4.10. Changing Networking Configuration Options ................................................... 55
4.4.10.1. Hostname ........................................................................................... 55
4.4.10.2. DNS Servers ........................................................................................ 56
4.4.10.3. Changing IP Address Configuration for a Standalone Host ...................... 56
4.4.10.4. Changing IP Address Configuration in Resource Pools ............................ 56
4.4.10.5. Management Interface ........................................................................ 57
4.4.10.6. Disabling Management Access ............................................................. 57
4.4.10.7. Adding a New Physical NIC .................................................................. 57
4.4.10.8. Using Switch Port Locking ................................................................... 57
4.4.10.8.1. Requirements .......................................................................... 58
4.4.10.8.2. Notes ...................................................................................... 58
4.4.10.8.3. Implementation Notes .............................................................. 58
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4.4.10.8.4. Examples ................................................................................. 58
4.4.10.8.5. How Switch-port Locking Works ................................................ 59
4.4.10.8.6. VIF Locking-Mode States .......................................................... 60
4.4.10.8.7. Configuring Switch Port Locking ................................................ 61
4.4.10.8.8. Preventing a Virtual Machine from Sending or Receiving Traffic
from a Specific Network ............................................................................ 62
4.4.10.8.9. Removing a VIF's Restriction to an IP Address ............................ 62
4.4.10.8.10. Simplifying VIF Locking Mode Configuration in the Cloud .......... 62
4.4.10.8.11. Using Network Settings for VIF Traffic Filtering ......................... 64
4.5. Networking Troubleshooting ....................................................................................... 64
4.5.1. Diagnosing Network Corruption ....................................................................... 64
4.5.2. Emergency Network Reset ............................................................................... 64
4.5.2.1. Verifying the Network Reset .................................................................. 65
4.5.2.2. Using the CLI for Network Reset ............................................................ 65
4.5.2.2.1. Pool Master Command Line Examples ......................................... 66
4.5.2.2.2. Pool Member Command Line Examples ....................................... 66
5. Storage ........................................................................................................ 68
5.1. Storage Overview ....................................................................................................... 68
5.1.1. Storage Repositories (SRs) ............................................................................... 68
5.1.2. Virtual Disk Images (VDIs) ................................................................................ 68
5.1.3. Physical Block Devices (PBDs) ........................................................................... 69
5.1.4. Virtual Block Devices (VBDs) ............................................................................ 69
5.1.5. Summary of Storage objects ............................................................................ 69
5.1.6. Virtual Disk Data Formats ................................................................................ 69
5.1.6.1. VDI Types ............................................................................................. 70
5.1.6.2. Creating a Raw Virtual Disk Using the xe CLI ........................................... 70
5.1.6.3. Converting Between VDI Formats .......................................................... 70
5.1.6.4. VHD-based VDIs ................................................................................... 70
5.2. Storage Repository Formats ........................................................................................ 71
5.2.1. Local LVM ....................................................................................................... 72
5.2.1.1. LVM Performance Considerations .......................................................... 72
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5.2.1.2. Creating a Local LVM SR (lvm) ............................................................... 72
5.2.2. Local EXT3 ...................................................................................................... 72
5.2.2.1. Creating a Local EXT3 SR (ext) ............................................................... 72
5.2.3. udev ............................................................................................................... 73
5.2.4. ISO ................................................................................................................. 73
5.2.5. Integrated StorageLink (iSL) SRs ....................................................................... 73
5.2.5.1. Supported Arrays .................................................................................. 74
5.2.5.2. Creating Integrated StorageLink SRs for NetApp ...................................... 74
5.2.5.3. Creating an iSL SR for EMC VNX Series (SMI-S) ........................................ 75
5.2.5.4. Upgrading XenServer with StorageLink Gateway SRs ............................... 76
5.2.5.5. Creating an Integrated StorageLink SR using the CLI ................................ 77
5.2.6. Software iSCSI Support .................................................................................... 79
5.2.6.1. XenServer Host iSCSI configuration ........................................................ 80
5.2.7. Hardware Host Bus Adapters (HBAs) ................................................................ 80
5.2.7.1. Sample QLogic iSCSI HBA setup ............................................................. 80
5.2.7.2. Removing HBA-based SAS, FC or iSCSI Device Entries .............................. 81
5.2.8. Shared LVM Storage ........................................................................................ 81
5.2.8.1. Creating a Shared LVM Over iSCSI SR Using the Software iSCSI Initiator
(lvmoiscsi) ........................................................................................................ 81
5.2.8.2. Creating a Shared LVM over Fibre Channel / Fibre Channel over
Ethernet / iSCSI HBA or SAS SR (lvmohba) .......................................................... 82
5.2.9. NFS VHD ......................................................................................................... 84
5.2.9.1. Creating a Shared NFS SR (NFS) ............................................................. 85
5.2.10. LVM over Hardware HBA ............................................................................... 85
5.3. Storage Configuration ................................................................................................. 85
5.3.1. Creating Storage Repositories .......................................................................... 85
5.3.2. Probing an SR ................................................................................................. 86
5.4. Storage Multipathing .................................................................................................. 89
5.4.1. MPP RDAC Driver Support for LSI Arrays. .......................................................... 90
5.5. Managing Storage Repositories ................................................................................... 90
5.5.1. Destroying or Forgetting a SR ........................................................................... 90
5.5.2. Introducing an SR ............................................................................................ 91
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5.5.3. Resizing an SR ................................................................................................. 91
5.5.4. Converting Local Fibre Channel SRs to Shared SRs ............................................. 91
5.5.5. Live VDI Migration ........................................................................................... 92
5.5.5.1. Limitations and Caveats ........................................................................ 92
5.5.5.2. To Move Virtual Disks using XenCenter .................................................. 92
5.5.6. Cold Migration of VDIs between SRs (Offline Migration) ..................................... 92
5.5.6.1. Copying All of a VMs VDIs to a Different SR ............................................ 92
5.5.6.2. Copying Individual VDIs to a Different SR ............................................... 93
5.5.7. Adjusting the Disk IO Scheduler ....................................................................... 93
5.5.8. Automatically Reclaiming Space When Deleting Snapshots ................................. 93
5.5.8.1. Reclaiming Space Using the Off Line Coalesce Tool .................................. 94
5.5.9. Virtual Disk QoS Settings ................................................................................. 94
6. Configuring VM Memory ............................................................................ 96
6.1. What is Dynamic Memory Control (DMC)? .................................................................. 96
6.1.1. The Concept of Dynamic Range ....................................................................... 96
6.1.2. The Concept of Static Range ............................................................................ 96
6.1.3. DMC Behavior ................................................................................................. 97
6.1.4. How Does DMC Work? .................................................................................... 97
6.1.5. Memory Constraints ........................................................................................ 97
6.1.6. Supported Operating Systems .......................................................................... 98
6.2. xe CLI Commands ..................................................................................................... 100
6.2.1. Display the Static Memory Properties of a VM ................................................ 100
6.2.2. Display the Dynamic Memory Properties of a VM ............................................ 100
6.2.3. Updating Memory Properties ......................................................................... 101
6.2.4. Update Individual Memory Properties ............................................................ 101
6.3. Upgrade Issues ......................................................................................................... 102
7. XenServer Memory Usage ......................................................................... 103
7.1. Control Domain Memory .......................................................................................... 103
7.1.1. Changing the Amount of Memory Allocated to the Control Domain .................. 103
7.1.2. How Much Memory is Available to VMs ......................................................... 104
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8. Disaster Recovery and Backup .................................................................. 105
8.1. Understanding XenServer DR .................................................................................... 105
8.2. DR Infrastructure Requirements ................................................................................ 105
8.3. Deployment Considerations ...................................................................................... 107
8.3.1. Steps to Take Before a Disaster ...................................................................... 107
8.3.2. Steps to Take After a Disaster ........................................................................ 107
8.3.3. Steps to Take After a Recovery ....................................................................... 107
8.4. Enabling Disaster Recovery in XenCenter ................................................................... 107
8.5. Recovering VMs and vApps in the Event of Disaster (Failover) ..................................... 108
8.6. Restoring VMs and vApps to the Primary Site After Disaster (Failback) ......................... 108
8.7. Test Failover ............................................................................................................. 109
8.8. vApps ...................................................................................................................... 110
8.8.1. Using the Manage vApps dialog box in XenCenter ........................................... 111
8.9. Backing Up and Restoring XenServer Hosts and VMs .................................................. 111
8.9.1. Backing up Virtual Machine metadata ............................................................ 112
8.9.1.1. Backing up single host installations ...................................................... 113
8.9.1.2. Backing up pooled installations ............................................................ 113
8.9.2. Backing up XenServer hosts ........................................................................... 113
8.9.3. Backing up VMs ............................................................................................ 114
8.10. VM Snapshots ........................................................................................................ 114
8.10.1. Regular Snapshots ....................................................................................... 115
8.10.2. Quiesced Snapshots ..................................................................................... 115
8.10.3. Snapshots with memory .............................................................................. 115
8.10.4. Creating a VM Snapshot .............................................................................. 115
8.10.5. Creating a snapshot with memory ................................................................ 116
8.10.6. To list all of the snapshots on a XenServer pool ............................................. 116
8.10.7. To list the snapshots on a particular VM ....................................................... 116
8.10.8. Restoring a VM to its previous state ............................................................. 117
8.10.8.1. Deleting a snapshot .......................................................................... 118
8.10.9. Snapshot Templates ..................................................................................... 118
8.10.9.1. Creating a template from a snapshot ................................................. 118
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Description:Sep 9, 2013 Citrix Systems, Inc., the Citrix logo, Citrix XenServer and Citrix XenCenter, are trademarks of Citrix Systems, Inc. and/or one or more of its
