Let’s take a quick look on how to configure XenServer at the first install. For this purpose we’ll review the buit-in console. In the previous steps we have seen how to deploy XenServer nested in VMware and how to proceed to install XenServer Hypervisor Host.
In this step we’ll review the configuration options avaialable in the built-in console.
Configure XenServer using console
The built-in console to configure XenServer is very easy to use with a simple and direct approach to the settings to configure. The first one is about the “Status Display” which shows the main information about the XenServer Host like the settings for the Management Network and the Host version.
From this menu we can also check the SSL key fingerprints the XenCenter consoles will use to connect to a specific XenServer Host.
From the “Network and Management Interface” it is possbile to setup details for the Management Network interface, DNS Servers, NTP and virtual Switches configuration. This menu also includes commands to test the network connectivity and in case go for an Emergency Network Reset to the default values.
In the “Authentication” menu we can define a new password for the localroot account and also change the “Auto-Logout Time”.
An interesting one is the “Virtual Machines” menu. From this menu in fact we can see which VMs are running on the Host together with Host performances information like CPU and Memory usage.
When it comes down to the “Disk and Storage Repositories” menu we have the options to create and attach existing Storage Repositories (SR) or even specify storage location for suspended VMs.
When using different tires of Storage this feature is very handy.
Of course when managing multiple Hosts it is possible to join forces and create “Resource Pool Configuration” VMs can use where required. For example migrating to a new capable Host.
In the “Hardware and BIOS Information” we can quickly view details about General System, CPU Processors, Sytem Memory, Local Storage Controllers and BIOS information.
Should this be required we can setup “Keyboard and Timezone” settings to reflect changes.
In the “Remote Service Configuration” we can enable/disable SSH access to the XenServer Host and also configure a SysLog server where to send the log data.
From the “Backup, Restore and Update” menu we can take care of the Virtual machines metadata. This option can also be scheduled and send the data to a special Storage Repository.
This is handy when migrating VMs to another repository we can still operate with the pertinent metadata and restore them accordingly.
From the “Technical Support” menu it is possible to collect server configuration info and send them to the technical support.
Not sure at this point in time the level of support with the Free version if included or not.
From the “Reboot or Shutdown” we can issue a full power cycle to the Host and even set the Host in Maintenance Mode. For example when installing updates to the XenServer Host itself.
And lastly we also have the option to use the command line for extra tasks just going into the “Local Command Shell” menu.
All the tasks will be executed with root account.
This concludes this very quick overview on how to configure XenServer using the built-in console. But there is also another option to configure XenServer Hosts. And that is the XenCenter component.
In the next article we’ll review how to install XenCenter.
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