Install-Configure-Basic Administration

Citrix Xen Server 5.5 (V1)

Author: Samir Lahiri

E-Mail: samlahir@in.ibm.com

Install-Configure-Basic Administration Citrix Xen Server 5.5 (V1)

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Introduction

Citrix® XenServer® is a complete, managed server virtualization

platform built on the powerful Xen® hypervisor. Xen technology is
widely acknowledged as the fastest and most secure virtualization
software in the industry. XenServer is designed for efficient
management of Windows® and Linux® virtual servers and delivers
cost-effective server consolidation and business continuity.

Virtualization Overview
Server virtualization is a proven technology that enables
multiple virtual machines to run on a single physical server.
Each virtual machine is completely isolated from other virtual
machines and is decoupled from the underlying host by a
thin layer of software known as a hypervisor. This allows
each virtual machine to run different operating systems and
applications. Because the machines have been decoupled
from the underlying host, the guest can also be moved from
one physical server host to another while running; this is
known as live migration. These attributes are transforming
how organizations approach virtual computing.

Install-Configure-Basic Administration Citrix Xen Server 5.5 (V1)

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Environment
Test machine
Software Version Remarks
Citrix Xen Server 5.5 Installed on VM (64bit processor)

Prerequisites.
a. Check Hardware compatibility at http://www.citrix.com
b. Ensure Virtualization Technology is enabled in your Server Bios.
c. Download Below 2 .iso installers from http://www.citrix.com
XenServer-5.5.0-install-cd.iso (Base OS Installer without Linux VM Support)
XenServer-5.5.0-linux-cd.iso (Linux Pack installer for Linux VM support)

Note: By Default Base installer does not support Linux VM, so download Linux
Pack installer for Linux support on Citrix Xen Server)

Boot using ISO image (Press Enter to Install using Standard mode) or press F2 for
advance mode.

Install-Configure-Basic Administration Citrix Xen Server 5.5 (V1)

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Keep default Keymap (qwerty) us.

Select Install or Upgrade…

Install-Configure-Basic Administration Citrix Xen Server 5.5 (V1)

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Click ok to proceed installation.

Accept License Agreement.

Install-Configure-Basic Administration Citrix Xen Server 5.5 (V1)

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Select Local Media to install Xen Server using CD/DVD drive.

Click Yes to install Linux Pack after completion of Base Server Installation

Install-Configure-Basic Administration Citrix Xen Server 5.5 (V1)

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Skip verification or verify if required to check integrity of ISO installer image.

Specify root password for root account.

Install-Configure-Basic Administration Citrix Xen Server 5.5 (V1)

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Assign Static IP address (This IP will be used for Management Network)

Specify DNS server IP address.

Install-Configure-Basic Administration Citrix Xen Server 5.5 (V1)

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Select Time Zone.

Select Country.

Install-Configure-Basic Administration Citrix Xen Server 5.5 (V1)

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Set Manual time or use NTP if you have NTP server in your environment.

Click on Install XenServer

Install-Configure-Basic Administration Citrix Xen Server 5.5 (V1)

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Now remove your Base OS CD and insert Linux Pack CD to install Linux Pack.

Click on Use Media or verify media to check integrity of iso image.

Install-Configure-Basic Administration Citrix Xen Server 5.5 (V1)

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Change Date and Time as per your requirement.

Once installation is complete you can see configuration menu on console (Do not make
any changes keep configuration as defaults until you know how to configure)

Install-Configure-Basic Administration Citrix Xen Server 5.5 (V1)

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Note: Advance Configuration of Citrix Xen Server console will be covered under
document V1.1.

To connect Xen Server remotely, download Xen Center (XenServer-5.6.0-

XenCenter)from www.citrix.com and install it on Windows Machine.

Open Xen Center right click to Add XEN server.

Type Xen server IP address and root credentials.

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There are several basic user friendly parameters to configure on Xen Center console.

Note: Advance Configuration of Citrix Xen Center will be covered under document
V1.1.

To Create VM go to VM on menu bar and click New VM

Install-Configure-Basic Administration Citrix Xen Server 5.5 (V1)

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Select Operating System you want to install on Xen VM.

Note: For Linux OS installations select Other Media at below to install OS using CD
media. On selecting Linux type here requires respective OS templates.

(Creating and managing Linux Templates will be covered under document v.1.1)

Give suitable name to your VM.

Install-Configure-Basic Administration Citrix Xen Server 5.5 (V1)

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Select Installation media mode.

Only select Place the VM on this Server (Selecting any other Storage can lead to non
functional VM’s)

Install-Configure-Basic Administration Citrix Xen Server 5.5 (V1)

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Assign CPU and RAM as per requirement and resource availability.

Create Virtual HDD for VM on Local Storage.

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Add Virtual Nic card to VM.

Review VM configurations and click finish to create.

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Click on VM for console access
access. There are different basic parameters, change as per
your requirement.

Conclusion
Wee have installed Citrix Xen Server 5.5 with basic configurations and created a VM.
VM

Note: New version of this document V1.1 will contain Advance Configurations and
Features available on Citrix Xen Server 5.5
5.5.. For example: using Shared Storage
NFS, SAN. iSCSI; Xenmotion,
tion, Creating & Managing Templates,, HA, Resource
Pool, P2V, Conversion etc.

Install-Configure
Configure-Basic Administration Citrix Xen Server 5.5 (V1)
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