BRRABill's Field Report With XenServer

BRRABill

I haven't read the entire thing yet, but found something that looks like good information about this on Daniel's Techblog

That's what I found as well, and made me think there is a lot more to it than just doing a simple backup from XC. In fact, I'm not really sure what the heck that even gets for you, since it's like 1 step of 20!

travisdh1

@BRRABill said in BRRABill's Field Report With XenServer:

@travisdh1 said

I haven't read the entire thing yet, but found something that looks like good information about this on Daniel's Techblog

That's what I found as well, and made me think there is a lot more to it than just doing a simple backup from XC. In fact, I'm not really sure what the heck that even gets for you, since it's like 1 step of 20!

From what it sounds like, when you restore the configuration information in the XenConsole/XO, that should bring the repository information back. Then you can restore the metadata information via the console. I haven't had to try the process myself yet, going togive it a shot after I get some other machines swaped out.

BRRABill

@travisdh1

Yeah I got a little burned out on XS stuff.

Then some other work stuff came up.

I'll get back to it, too, and let you know if I do it before you get to it.

I wish they would release 7 already. It is supposed to make transferring between non-similar hosts much easier/doable. That would make it easier for me to transfer VMs back and forth. Right now it's a PITA for me and my 1 (new) server shop.

BRRABill

Overnight my other XS decided to crash on me.

This is the temp one, so no iDRAC available. The VMs were down, and XC could not contact it.

Came in, it all seemed fine. The VMs said they were running.

I wonder if the network adapter in this machine just lost its mind. Can't think of anything else it could be.

A reboot fixed everything right up.

DustinB3403

@BRRABill It could be a hardware issue as you mentioned. If rebooting the host addressed the issue, and your management interface was the issue, you'll likely see more issues in the future.

BRRABill

@DustinB3403 said

@BRRABill It could be a hardware issue as you mentioned. If rebooting the host addressed the issue, and your management interface was the issue, you'll likely see more issues in the future.

Always an adventure.

Once I am sure the SSD array is stable on the other machine the VM on this temporary machine is getting moved to that server.

BRRABill

I was sure my USB boot stick had filled up with logs. But I took a look and it looks fine.

Though FileZilla showing things in bytes threw me off. No coffee yet.

BRRABill

@DustinB3403 said

I'm glad that it worked for you, but I would refrain from doing it. Use XO to apply the patches (I know you said you would). It's elegant enough to not break things.

If the server needs a reboot after a patch, is XO elegant enough to handle that as well?

It never seems to need a reboot, and yet when you install through XC it almost always does.

DustinB3403

It should handle the restarting.

Should...

BRRABill

@DustinB3403 said

It should handle the restarting.

Should...

Has yours ever restarted?

For example, I ran the last two updates just now for 6.5.

Through XC, each update required a reboot. I do not think XO rebooted the server.

Perhaps this is a @olivier question. Because the updating in XO is so good.

momurda

The last 2 updates for XS dont require reboots, just a restart of the xapi iirc from a couple weeks ago.
If they were the updates for ssl fixes and the one for gpus, that is. Teh other updates that are rollups of 2 or more updates do require restarts usually.

BRRABill

@momurda said

The last 2 updates for XS dont require reboots, just a restart of the xapi iirc from a couple weeks ago.
If they were the updates for ssl fixes and the one for gpus, that is. Teh other updates that are rollups of 2 or more updates do require restarts usually.

Both of them required restarts through XC Neither did through XO. That is what I am trying to get to the bottom of.

olivier

Hi there!

Let me recap the thing and put it in perspective.

The couple XenServer/XenCenter is targeting mainly Windows admins (thus the Windows client, the SP1 and so forth patching etc). You know, things that seems a bit strange inside the Linux world. It was really something wanted from Citrix to not "scare" their Windows public (have you ever seen the word "Linux" somewhere on XenServer/XenCenter?).

In this fabulous Windows world, you have to reboot very often for a lot of reasons.

Now, let's get to the point: XenServer updates are a kind of ugly tarball containing RPM packages (+ scripts) which are extracted on the host. In the patch metadata, there is a "recommendation" field, which gives you what to do after applying a patch. Roughly:

if it's a lib or updated scripts: no reboot needed at all
if it's kernel or hypervisor related: it will be used only after a reboot

But in all cases, there is no problem to install all patches at once, and do a reboot at the end. The missing info in XO is to display the recommandation field, which is now the case in the 5.0 interface.

So why on earth XenCenter will reboot your host 15 times? Even sometimes without asking you? I think that's really a bad behavior. It's up to you to decide.

scottalanmiller

@olivier said in BRRABill's Field Report With XenServer:

So why on earth XenCenter will reboot your host 15 times? Even sometimes without asking you? I think that's really a bad behavior. It's up to you to decide.

Simplified: Why would you run XenCenter?

BRRABill

@scottalanmiller said

Simplified: Why would you run XenCenter?

I started out on XC, but now do everything on XO.

I was just wondering why there were always reboots on one, and never on the other.

So it sounds like when 5 comes out, it'll tell you you need a reboot.

It's definitely different than the Windows world. It's interesting to know you can install update on top of update, and THEN just reboot.

BRRABill

@scottalanmiller said

Simplified: Why would you run XenCenter?

And aren't you a XC evangelist for the Windows folk? LOL.

olivier

@BRRABill said in BRRABill's Field Report With XenServer:

it'll tell you you need a reboot.

It won't tell you anything, it will display the recommendation for each patch.

DustinB3403

@BRRABill said in BRRABill's Field Report With XenServer:

@scottalanmiller said

Simplified: Why would you run XenCenter?

And aren't you a XC evangelist for the Windows folk? LOL.

Scott has always recommended using XenServer or Hyper-V over ESXi due to the business model. I think his gripe with XenCenter was the limited functionality prior to it being wide open.

But with XO there is very little need for XC any more.

I find XC is easier to manage a VM at times, just because of how I use my system.

BRRABill

@olivier said i

It won't tell you anything, it will display the recommendation for each patch.

Hey when XO displays, I listen.

olivier

@BRRABill ahahah