XenServer host

XenServer System Requirements

XenServer can make use of:

• up to 1 TB of RAM

• up to 16 NICs

• up to 64 logical processors

The system requirements for the XenServer host are:

1. CPUs : One or more 64-bit x86 CPU(s), 1.5 GHz minimum, 2 GHz or faster multicore CPU Recommended. To support VMs running Windows, an Intel VT or AMD-V 64-bit x86-based system with one or more CPU(s) is required.
2. RAM : 2 GB minimum, 4 GB or more recommended.
3. Disk Space : Locally attached storage (PATA, SATA, SCSI) with 16 GB of disk space minimum . 60 GB or more of disk space recommended.
4. Network : 100 Mbit/s or faster NIC. One or more gigabit NIC(s) is recommended for faster P2V and export/import data transfers and VM live migration.

The Simplest Setup of XenServer:

A single XenServer host with local strorage (storage is automatically configured on the local disk of the host).

You have to create and customize a new VM, after that convert that existing VM into a VM template. A VM template preserves your customizations so that you can always use it to create new VM to the same or to similiar specifications.  My recommend to use a snapshot  that provide a fast way to make VM template without replacing the original existing VM.

Creating a Windows 7 (32 bit) VM

1. On the toolbar, click the New VM button to open the New VM wizard.

2. select a template :

3. Enter a name for and optional description of the new VM

4. Choose the source of the OS media to install on the new VM

5. The VM will run on the installed host. Choose Next to proceed

6. Allocate processor and memory resources

7. Configure storage for the new VM

8. Configure networking on the new VM

9. Review settings, and then click Finish to create the new VM and return to the Search tab

10. Follow the OS installation screens and make your selections

The following shows a sample a Windows 7 (32-bit) installation from DVD/CD :

11. Once the OS installation completes and then VM reboots.

12. Install the XenServer Tools, Warning: You must install XenServer Tools for each Windows VM because running Windows VMs without XenServer Tools is not supported.

13. Install XenServer Tools: On the Resources pane > select the XenServer host and then the Search tab.

The XenServer Tools not installed blue status text appears next to the new VM.

Click the text to open the XenServer Tools setup wizard on the VM console >

Click the Install XenServer Tools button, and then Run Xensetup.exe >

When prompted, click Yes to allow the program to make changes to the computer >

Accept the License Agreement, and click Next to continue >

Choose a destination folder and click Install >

Select Reboot now, and then Finish to complete the installation. Once you have installed the XenServer Tools, you can go ahead and customize your VM by installing applications and performing any other configurations. If you would like to create multiple VMs with similar specifications, you can do so quickly by making a template from the existing VM and then creating new VMs from that template. The next section describes how to make VM templates.

Creating a VM Template from an Existing VM

To create a VM template from an existing VM:

Warning:

When you create a new template from an existing VM, the original VM will be replaced by

the new template. The VM will no longer exist.

Creating a VM Template from a VM Snapshot (recommended)

To create a template from a snapshot of a VM:

1. On the Resources pane, select the VM. > Click the Snapshots tab,  and then Take Snapshot.

2. Enter a name for and optional description of the new snapshot. >  Click Take Snapshot.

3. Once the snapshot finishes and the icon displays in the Snapshots tab, >  select the icon.

4. On the Actions drop-down list, choose Save as a Template.

5. Enter the name of the template, and then click Create.

To create a new VM from a customized VM template:

1. In the Resources pane, right-click the template, and select New VM wizard. The New VM wizard opens.

2. Follow the New VM wizard to create a VM from the selected template.

Note: When the wizard prompts you for an OS installation media source, select the default and continue.

The new VM will appear in the Resources pane.

If you are using a template created from an existing VM, you also have the option to select Quick Create. This option does not take you through the New VM wizard, but rather instantly creates and provisions a new VM using all the configuration settings specified in your template.