Citrix Systems 5.6 User Manuals

Table of Contents

• Citrix XenServer ® 5.6 Administrator's Guide

  1
• Table of Contents

  3
• Document Overview

  21
  • How this Guide relates to other documentation

    21
• Managing users

  22
  • Authenticating users using Active Directory (AD)

    22
    • Configuring Active Directory authentication

      23
    • User authentication

      25
    • Removing access for a user

      26
    • Leaving an AD domain

      26
  • Role Based Access Control

    27
    • Roles

      28
    • Definitions of RBAC roles and permissions

      29
    • Working with RBAC using the xe CLI

      34
      • To list all the available defined roles in XenServer

        34
      • To display a list of current subjects:

        35
      • To add a subject to RBAC

        36
      • To assign an RBAC role to a created subject

        36
      • To change a subject's RBAC role:

        37
    • Auditing

      37
      • Audit log xe CLI commands

        37
      • To obtain all audit records from the pool

        37
      • To obtain audit records of the pool since a precise millisecond timestamp

        37
      • To obtain audit records of the pool since a precise minute timestamp

        37
    • How does XenServer compute the roles for the session?

      38
• XenServer hosts and resource pools

  39
  • Hosts and resource pools overview

    39
  • Requirements for creating resource pools

    39
  • Creating a resource pool

    40
  • Creating heterogeneous resource pools

    41
  • Adding shared storage

    41
  • Removing a XenServer host from a resource pool

    42
  • High Availability

    43
    • HA Overview

      43
      • Overcommitting

        43
      • Overcommitment Warning

        43
      • Host Fencing

        43
    • Configuration Requirements

      44
    • Restart priorities

      44
  • Enabling HA on a XenServer pool

    45
    • Enabling HA using the CLI

      45
    • Removing HA protection from a VM using the CLI

      46
    • Recovering an unreachable host

      46
    • Shutting down a host when HA is enabled

      46
    • Shutting down a VM when it is protected by HA

      46
  • Host Power On

    47
    • Powering on hosts remotely

      47
    • Using the CLI to Manage Host Power On

      47
      • To enable Host Power On using the CLI

        48
      • To turn on hosts remotely using the CLI

        48
    • Configuring a Custom Script for XenServer's Host Power On Feature

      48
      • Key/Value Pairs

        48
        • host.power_on_mode

          48
        • host.power_on_config

          49
      • Sample Script

        49
• Storage

  50
  • Storage Overview

    50
    • Storage Repositories (SRs)

      50
    • Virtual Disk Images (VDIs)

      50
    • Physical Block Devices (PBDs)

      50
    • Virtual Block Devices (VBDs)

      51
    • Summary of Storage objects

      51
    • Virtual Disk Data Formats

      51
      • VHD-based VDIs

        52
        • VHD Chain Coalescing

          52
        • Space Utilization

          52
      • LUN-based VDIs

        53
  • Storage configuration

    53
    • Creating Storage Repositories

      53
    • Upgrading LVM storage from XenServer 5.0 or earlier

      54
    • LVM performance considerations

      54
      • VDI types

        54
      • Creating a raw virtual disk using the xe CLI

        54
    • Converting between VDI formats

      55
    • Probing an SR

      55
    • Storage Multipathing

      58
  • Storage Repository Types

    59
    • Local LVM

      60
      • Creating a local LVM SR (lvm)

        60
    • Local EXT3 VHD

      60
      • Creating a local EXT3 SR (ext)

        60
    • udev

      61
    • ISO

      61
    • EqualLogic

      61
      • Creating a shared EqualLogic SR

        61
      • EqualLogic VDI Snapshot space allocation with XenServer EqualLogic Adapter

        62
        • Creating a VDI using the CLI

          63
    • NetApp

      63
      • Creating a shared NetApp SR over iSCSI

        66
      • Managing VDIs in a NetApp SR

        67
      • Taking VDI snapshots with a NetApp SR

        67
    • Software iSCSI Support

      67
      • XenServer Host iSCSI configuration

        68
    • Managing Hardware Host Bus Adapters (HBAs)

      68
      • Sample QLogic iSCSI HBA setup

        68
      • Removing HBA-based SAS, FC or iSCSI device entries

        69
    • LVM over iSCSI

      69
      • Creating a shared LVM over iSCSI SR using the software iSCSI initiator (lvmoiscsi)

        69
      • Creating a shared LVM over Fibre Channel / iSCSI HBA or SAS SR (lvmohba)

        70
    • NFS VHD

      72
      • Creating a shared NFS SR (nfs)

        73
    • LVM over hardware HBA

      73
    • Citrix StorageLink Gateway (CSLG) SRs

      74
      • Creating a shared StorageLink SR

        74
  • Managing Storage Repositories

    78
    • Destroying or forgetting a SR

      79
    • Introducing an SR

      79
    • Resizing an SR

      80
    • Converting local Fibre Channel SRs to shared SRs

      80
    • Moving Virtual Disk Images (VDIs) between SRs

      80
      • Copying all of a VM's VDIs to a different SR

        80
      • Copying individual VDIs to a different SR

        80
    • Adjusting the disk IO scheduler

      81
  • Virtual disk QoS settings

    81
• Configuring VM memory

  83
  • What is Dynamic Memory Control (DMC)?

    83
    • The concept of dynamic range

      83
    • The concept of static range

      84
    • DMC Behaviour

      84
    • How does DMC Work?

      84
    • Memory constraints

      85
    • Supported operating systems

      85
  • xe CLI commands

    86
    • Display the static memory properties of a VM

      86
    • Display the dynamic memory properties of a VM

      86
    • Updating memory properties

      87
    • Update individual memory properties

      88
  • Upgrade issues

    88
  • Workload Balancing interaction

    88
• Networking

  89
  • XenServer networking overview

    89
    • Network objects

      90
    • Networks

      90
    • VLANs

      90
      • Using VLANs with host management interfaces

        90
      • Using VLANs with virtual machines

        90
      • Using VLANs with dedicated storage NICs

        91
      • Combining management interfaces and guest VLANs on a single host NIC

        91
    • NIC bonds

      91
    • Initial networking configuration

      92
  • Managing networking configuration

    92
    • Creating networks in a standalone server

      92
    • Creating networks in resource pools

      93
    • Creating VLANs

      93
    • Creating NIC bonds on a standalone host

      94
      • Creating a NIC bond on a dual-NIC host

        94
      • Controlling the MAC address of the bond

        95
      • Reverting NIC bonds

        95
    • Creating NIC bonds in resource pools

      95
      • Adding NIC bonds to new resource pools

        96
      • Adding NIC bonds to an existing pool

        97
    • Configuring a dedicated storage NIC

      99
    • Controlling Quality of Service (QoS)

      99
    • Changing networking configuration options

      99
      • Hostname

        100
      • DNS servers

        100
      • Changing IP address configuration for a standalone host

        100
      • Changing IP address configuration in resource pools

        100
      • Management interface

        101
      • Disabling management access

        101
      • Adding a new physical NIC

        102
    • NIC/PIF ordering in resource pools

      102
      • Verifying NIC ordering

        102
      • Re-ordering NICs

        102
  • Networking Troubleshooting

    103
    • Diagnosing network corruption

      103
    • Recovering from a bad network configuration

      104
• Workload Balancing

  105
  • What's New?

    105
    • New Features

      105
    • Changes

      106
  • Workload Balancing Overview

    106
    • Workload Balancing Basic Concepts

      107
  • Workload Balancing Installation Overview

    107
    • Workload Balancing System Requirements

      108
      • Supported XenServer Versions

        108
      • Supported Operating Systems

        108
      • Recommended Hardware

        108
    • Workload Balancing Data Store Requirements

      109
      • SQL Server Database Authentication Requirements

        109
    • Operating System Language Support

      110
    • Preinstallation Considerations

      110
      • WLB Access Control Permissions

        111
    • Installing Workload Balancing

      111
      • To install Workload Balancing server

        112
      • To verify your Workload Balancing installation

        113
    • Configuring Firewalls

      114
    • Upgrading Workload Balancing

      114
      • Upgrading Workload Balancing on the Same Operating System

        115
      • Upgrading SQL Server

        115
      • Upgrading Workload Balancing and the Operating System

        115
  • Initializing Workload Balancing

    115
    • To initialize Workload Balancing

      116
    • Authorization for Workload Balancing

      117
    • Configuring Antivirus Software

      118
  • Configuring Workload Balancing Settings

    118
    • To display the Workload Balancing Configuration dialog box

      119
    • Adjusting the Optimization Mode

      119
      • Fixed

        119
      • Scheduled

        119
      • To set an optimization mode for all time periods

        120
      • To specify times when the optimization mode will change automatically

        120
      • To edit or delete an automatic optimization interval

        120
    • Optimizing and Managing Power Automatically

      120
      • Accepting Optimization Recommendations Automatically

        121
      • Enabling Workload Balancing Power Management

        121
      • Designing Environments for Power Management and VM Consolidation

        122
      • To apply optimization recommendations automatically

        123
      • To select servers for power management

        123
    • Changing the Critical Thresholds

      123
      • Default Settings for Critical Thresholds

        124
      • To change the critical thresholds

        124
    • Tuning Metric Weightings

      124
      • To edit metric weighting factors

        125
    • Excluding Hosts from Recommendations

      125
      • To exclude hosts from placement and optimization recommendations

        125
    • Configuring Optimization Intervals, Report Subscriptions, and Data Storage

      126
      • Historical Data (Storage Time)

        126
        • To configure the data storage period

          126
      • VM Optimization Criteria

        126
        • Length of Time Between Optimization Recommendations After VM Moves

          126
        • Number of Times an Optimization Recommendation is Made

          127
        • Setting the Minimum Optimization Severity

          127
        • Modifying the Aggressiveness Setting

          127
      • Receiving Reports by Email Automatically (Report Subscriptions)

        128
        • To configure report subscriptions

          129
  • Choosing an Optimal Server for VM Initial Placement, Migrate, and Resume

    129
    • To start a virtual machine on the optimal server

      129
      • To resume a virtual machine on the optimal server

        129
  • Accepting Optimization Recommendations

    130
    • To accept an optimization recommendation

      130
  • Administering Workload Balancing

    130
    • Disabling Workload Balancing

      131
    • Reconfiguring a Pool to Use Another WLB Server

      131
    • Updating Workload Balancing Credentials

      132
    • Uninstalling Workload Balancing

      133
    • Customizing Workload Balancing

      133
  • Entering Maintenance Mode with Workload Balancing Enabled

    133
    • To enter maintenance mode with Workload Balancing enabled

      134
  • Working with Workload Balancing Reports

    134
    • Introduction

      134
    • Subscribing to Workload Balancing Reports

      134
    • Using Workload Balancing Reports for Tasks

      135
      • Evaluating the Effectiveness of Your Optimization Thresholds

        135
    • Generating and Managing Workload Balancing Reports

      135
      • To generate a Workload Balancing report

        135
      • To subscribe to a Workload Balancing report

        135
      • To cancel a report subscription

        136
      • To navigate in a Workload Balancing Report

        136
      • To print a Workload Balancing report

        137
        • To export a Workload Balancing report

          137
    • Displaying Workload Balancing Reports

      137
      • Report Generation Features

        137
      • Toolbar Buttons

        137
    • Workload Balancing Report Glossary

      138
      • Host Health History

        138
      • Pool Optimization Performance History

        139
      • Pool Audit Log History

        139
        • Audit Log Event Names

          140
      • Pool Health

        140
      • Pool Health History

        141
      • Pool Optimization History

        141
      • Virtual Machine Motion History

        142
      • Virtual Machine Performance History

        142
• Backup and recovery

  143
  • Backups

    143
  • Full metadata backup and disaster recovery (DR)

    144
    • DR and metadata backup overview

      144
    • Backup and restore using xsconsole

      144
    • Moving SRs between hosts and Pools

      145
    • Using Portable SRs for Manual Multi-Site Disaster Recovery

      146
  • VM Snapshots

    146
    • Regular Snapshots

      147
    • Quiesced Snapshots

      147
    • Snapshots with memory

      147
    • Creating a VM Snapshot

      147
    • Creating a snapshot with memory

      148
    • To list all of the snapshots on a XenServer pool

      148
    • To list the snapshots on a particular VM

      148
    • Restoring a VM to its previous state

      149
      • Deleting a snapshot

        149
    • Snapshot Templates

      150
      • Creating a template from a snapshot

        150
      • Exporting a snapshot to a template

        151
      • Advanced Notes for Quiesced Snapshots

        151
  • Coping with machine failures

    153
    • Member failures

      153
    • Master failures

      153
    • Pool failures

      154
    • Coping with Failure due to Configuration Errors

      154
    • Physical Machine failure

      154
• Monitoring and managing XenServer

  156
  • Alerts

    156
    • Customizing Alerts

      157
    • Configuring Email Alerts

      158
  • Custom Fields and Tags

    159
  • Custom Searches

    159
  • Determining throughput of physical bus adapters

    159
• Troubleshooting

  160
  • XenServer host logs

    160
    • Sending host log messages to a central server

      160
  • XenCenter logs

    161
  • Troubleshooting connections between XenCenter and the XenServer host

    161
• Appendix A. Command line interface

  162
  • Basic xe syntax

    162
  • Special characters and syntax

    163
  • Command types

    164
    • Parameter types

      165
    • Low-level param commands

      165
    • Low-level list commands

      166
  • xe command reference

    167
    • Bonding commands

      167
      • bond-create

        167
      • bond-destroy

        167
    • CD commands

      168
      • cd-list

        169
    • Console commands

      169
    • Event commands

      170
      • event-wait

        170
    • Host (XenServer host) commands

      171
      • host-backup

        174
      • host-bugreport-upload

        175
      • host-crashdump-destroy

        175
      • host-crashdump-upload

        175
      • host-disable

        175
      • host-dmesg

        175
      • host-emergency-management-reconfigure

        175
      • host-enable

        176
      • host-evacuate

        176
      • host-forget

        176
      • host-get-system-status

        176
      • host-get-system-status-capabilities

        177
      • host-is-in-emergency-mode

        178
      • host-apply-edition

        178
      • license-server-address

        178
      • license-server-port

        178
      • host-license-add

        178
      • host-license-view

        179
      • host-logs-download

        179
      • host-management-disable

        179
      • host-management-reconfigure

        179
      • host-power-on

        180
      • host-set-power-on

        180
      • host-reboot

        180
      • host-restore

        180
      • host-set-hostname-live

        180
      • host-shutdown

        181
      • host-syslog-reconfigure

        181
    • Log commands

      181
      • log-get-keys

        181
      • log-reopen

        181
      • log-set-output

        181
    • Message commands

      182
      • message-create

        182
      • message-list

        182
    • Network commands

      183
      • network-create

        184
      • network-destroy

        184
    • Patch (update) commands

      184
      • patch-apply

        185
      • patch-clean

        185
      • patch-pool-apply

        185
      • patch-precheck

        185
      • patch-upload

        185
    • PBD commands

      185
      • pbd-create

        186
      • pbd-destroy

        186
      • pbd-plug

        186
      • pbd-unplug

        186
    • PIF commands

      186
      • pif-forget

        189
      • pif-introduce

        189
      • pif-plug

        190
      • pif-reconfigure-ip

        190
      • pif-scan

        190
      • pif-unplug

        190
    • Pool commands

      190
      • pool-designate-new-master

        192
      • pool-dump-database

        192
      • pool-eject

        192
      • pool-emergency-reset-master

        192
      • pool-emergency-transition-to-master

        192
      • pool-ha-enable

        192
      • pool-ha-disable

        193
      • pool-join

        193
      • pool-recover-slaves

        193
      • pool-restore-database

        193
      • pool-sync-database

        193
    • Storage Manager commands

      193
    • SR commands

      194
      • sr-create

        195
      • sr-destroy

        195
      • sr-forget

        195
      • sr-introduce

        196
      • sr-probe

        196
      • sr-scan

        196
    • Task commands

      196
      • task-cancel

        197
    • Template commands

      197
      • template-export

        205
    • Update commands

      205
      • update-upload

        205
    • User commands

      205
      • user-password-change

        205
    • VBD commands

      206
      • vbd-create

        207
      • vbd-destroy

        208
      • vbd-eject

        208
      • vbd-insert

        208
      • vbd-plug

        208
      • vbd-unplug

        208
    • VDI commands

      208
      • vdi-clone

        210
      • vdi-copy

        210
      • vdi-create

        210
      • vdi-destroy

        211
      • vdi-forget

        211
      • vdi-import

        211
      • vdi-introduce

        211
      • vdi-resize

        211
      • vdi-snapshot

        211
      • vdi-unlock

        212
    • VIF commands

      212
      • vif-create

        214
      • vif-destroy

        214
      • vif-plug

        214
      • vif-unplug

        214
    • VLAN commands

      215
      • vlan-create

        215
      • pool-vlan-create

        215
      • vlan-destroy

        215
    • VM commands

      215
      • vm-cd-add

        222
      • vm-cd-eject

        222
      • vm-cd-insert

        223
      • vm-cd-list

        223
      • vm-cd-remove

        223
      • vm-clone

        223
      • vm-compute-maximum-memory

        223
      • vm-copy

        224
      • vm-crashdump-list

        224
      • vm-data-source-forget

        224
      • vm-data-source-list

        224
      • vm-data-source-query

        225
      • vm-data-source-record

        225
      • vm-destroy

        225
      • vm-disk-add

        225
      • vm-disk-list

        226
      • vm-disk-remove

        226
      • vm-export

        226
      • vm-import

        226
      • vm-install

        227
      • vm-memory-shadow-multiplier-set

        227
      • vm-migrate

        227
      • vm-reboot

        228
      • vm-reset-powerstate

        228
      • vm-resume

        228
      • vm-shutdown

        228
      • vm-start

        229
      • vm-suspend

        229
      • vm-uninstall

        229
      • vm-vcpu-hotplug

        229
      • vm-vif-list

        230
    • Workload Balancing commands

      230
      • pool-initialize-wlb

        230
      • pool-param-set other-config

        230
      • host-retrieve-wlb-evacuate-recommendations

        230
      • vm-retrieve-wlb-recommendations

        230
      • pool-certificate-list

        231
      • pool-certificate-install

        231
      • pool-certificate-sync

        231
      • pool-param-set

        232
      • pool-deconfigure-wlb

        232
      • pool-retrieve-wlb-configuration

        232
      • pool-retrieve-wlb-recommendations

        232
      • pool-retrieve-wlb-report

        232
      • pool-send-wlb-configuration

        233
• Index

  234