BRRABill's Field Report With XenServer
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@scottalanmiller said:
@BRRABill said:
@JaredBusch said:
While I highly recommend Hyper-V for most SMB, it is because they are alreadyused to managing Windows stuff and it is a similar workflow.
Yeah once I got into XenCenter, my first thought was .... OK, NOW what? Wither HYper-V (granted, installed as a role) I knew exactly what to do.
Make a VM? What make XenServer different? What was the trigger for one that told you to start making your first VM and the other did not?
Because he probably installed Hyper-V inside a full Windows 2012 R2 install, and not the stand alone Hyper-V 2012 Server. So by installing Hyper-V, it's kinda obvious (as a windows admin) that you would need to find the tool that manages Hyper-V - well that's Hyper-V manager, which would be installed right along with Hyper-V being installed.
But Hyper-V when setup using this method is the only hypervisor that does this. EXSi and XS both require one to connect to the host via a web browser to download the Windows client, install it, then use it to mange the hypervisor.
I think the console on ESXi tells you to do this, go to a web browser, browse to the IP of the server - not sure if XS does this or not?
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@BRRABill said:
I would like to run a test of restoring my failing server to XenServer, but doing it without putting it on the network.
This possible with Hyper-V. You simply remove the network connection, and the can ... RDP I guess? ... on the local server into the VM.
Is this possible with XenServer?
Yes, it is basically the same thing just don't give the VM a network connection and then use the VM Console in XenServer or XO to access it.
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@BRRABill said:
I would like to run a test of restoring my failing server to XenServer, but doing it without putting it on the network.
This possible with Hyper-V. You simply remove the network connection, and the can ... RDP I guess? ... on the local server into the VM.
Is this possible with XenServer?
Yes you can import the VM into Xenserver and remove the NIC from it.
You'd then administer the VM from within XenCenter or Xen Orchestra, it's simply disconnected from the network.
Just like if the cord was unplugged.
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@DustinB3403 said:
Yes you can import the VM into Xenserver and remove the NIC from it.
You'd then administer the VM from within XenCenter or Xen Orchestra, it's simply disconnected from the network.
Just like if the cord was unplugged.
But can I actually SEE it? Like get the GUI of the server up on my screen?
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@BRRABill Yep.
You'd see it as if you were trying to figure out why it had no internet access.
The XC Console tab is like physically being at the VM (if it were physical)
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Remember I'm from the old RDP way of managing.
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AH, console.
That's what I was missing!
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@BRRABill said:
@DustinB3403 said:
Yes you can import the VM into Xenserver and remove the NIC from it.
You'd then administer the VM from within XenCenter or Xen Orchestra, it's simply disconnected from the network.
Just like if the cord was unplugged.
But can I actually SEE it? Like get the GUI of the server up on my screen?
Yes, from the XenCenter click on the VM and then the Console tab at the top of the screen. You may have to click inside of the black window that appears but it will be like you are standing in front of the keyboard.
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@BRRABill XS is really simple to "get" and understand.
Nothing is difficult about it at all.
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Can you run the "fixup" tool after importing a virtual disk?
I did not run it on import, and now of course, as it said it wouldn't, it won't boot.
I can just delete it and do it again. But was just wondering.
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will XenServer boot Windows based VHDs?
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I think so.
But I need to run their "fixup" program.
Which I am trying to figure out how to do after the fact.
More for knowledge sake. Like I said I can just redo the import,
But today is all about learning!
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@BRRABill said:
I think so.
But I need to run their "fixup" program.
Which I am trying to figure out how to do after the fact.
More for knowledge sake. Like I said I can just redo the import,
But today is all about learning!
while it's booting, press F8 to get into the options, just like a bare metal install.
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@Dashrender said:
while it's booting, press F8 to get into the options, just like a bare metal install.
I think I need to find a way to get the ISO file I need into XenServer.
Is that possible to do through XenCenter?
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@BRRABill said:
@Dashrender said:
while it's booting, press F8 to get into the options, just like a bare metal install.
I think I need to find a way to get the ISO file I need into XenServer.
Is that possible to do through XenCenter?
You need to create an external share, Windows of NFS, to host the ISO file.
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I followed this to create my ISO Library locally on the XS datastore
http://www.riverlite.co.uk/blog/xenserver-creating-a-local-iso-library/ -
@Dashrender said:
I followed this to create my ISO Library locally on the XS datastore
http://www.riverlite.co.uk/blog/xenserver-creating-a-local-iso-library/(shivers)
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@Dashrender said:
I followed this to create my ISO Library locally on the XS datastore
http://www.riverlite.co.uk/blog/xenserver-creating-a-local-iso-library/I wouldn't do this production. In a lab or test environment it is fine though.
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@coliver said:
@Dashrender said:
I followed this to create my ISO Library locally on the XS datastore
http://www.riverlite.co.uk/blog/xenserver-creating-a-local-iso-library/I wouldn't do this production. In a lab or test environment it is fine though.
Why?
You can use the available space outside of the boot partition for xen for this.
it's perfectly safe.
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@Dashrender said:
will XenServer boot Windows based VHDs?
Yes, it did after I used the "fixup" option.
