virtual deep-dive: citrix xen server

Architektur XenServer

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XenServer Architectural Components

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Architectural Changes

The Open vSwitch is now the default network stack for the product.

Improvements to Distributed Virtual Switching include a fail-safe option and various improvements based on customer feedback from XenServer 5.6 Feature Pack 1.

General network performance has been improved, particularly aggregate host network throughput.

Support for hardware-assisted Single Route I/O Virtualization network performance optimizations has been improved, particularly for use with the NetScaler VPX and SDX products.

XenServer no longer requires Windows-based virtual machines for features such as StorageLink, Site Recovery, and Workload Balancing.

XenServer 6.0 is the first XenServer release to include High Definition User Experience (HDX) enhancements for an optimized user experience with virtual desktops.

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XenServer Product Line

XenServer is available in four editions to meet the needs of any organization.

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XenCenter Overview

XenCenter:• is a graphical, Windows-based user interface. • allows you to manage XenServer hosts, resource pools

and shared storage, and to deploy, manage and monitor virtual machines from your Windows desktop machine.

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Resource Pools

XenServer allows you to manage multiple XenServer hosts as a single entity through the use of resource pools. In the event of a host failure In preparation for upgrade a XenServer host To consolidate virtual machines to a select number of

XenServer hosts in order to reduce power consumption

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Microsoft System Center Integration

XenServer 6.0 supports System Center Virtual Machine Manager (SCVMM) 2012 for managing XenServer hosts and virtual machines. To enable these management capabilities, install a supplemental pack from Citrix.

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Live Storage XenMotion

Extends standard XenMotion Migrates VM disks from any storage type to any other storage

type Local, DAS, iSCSI, FC

•Supports cross pool migration Requires compatible CPUs

•Encrypted Migration model •Specify management interface for optimal performance

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XenServer Conversion Manager

Convert VMware virtual machines to XenServer Convert multiple virtual machines in one simple wizard Map network settings between VMware and XenServer so

your converted virtual machines will come up with the proper network settings

Choose the storage location where you would like your new XenServer virtual machines to run

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Netzwerk XenServer

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XenServer Networking Overview

You can configure four different virtual networks in XenServer: Single-Server Private networks, which are a type of

internal network External networks Bonded networks, which are a type of external

network Cross-Server Private networks, which are a type of

internal network. (Cross-Server private networks will be discussed in the Distributed Virtual Switching module.)

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Network Stacks Supported by XenServer

There are two networking stacks in XenServer 6.0: The Open vSwitch, the default networking stack The Linux bridge

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Network Components and Architecture

One network is created for each physical network interface card during XenServer installation.

The XenServer host performs all the required configurations of the physical network interface cards.

When you add a XenServer host to a resource pool, the default networks are merged so that all physical NICs within the same device name are attached to the same network.

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Bonding - Source Load Balancing

SLB is an active/active mode which: Does not require switch support for EtherChannel or

802.3ad. Load-balances traffic between multiple physical

interfaces at the MAC address level by sending traffic through different physical interfaces based on the source MAC address of the packet.

Is derived from the open source Adaptive Load Balancing (ALB) mode and reuses the ALB capability to dynamically re-balance load across physical interfaces.

SLB Active-passive bonds: Can be configured with one fast path, and one slow

path for cost savings. In this scenario, the slow path should be used only if there is a failure on the fast path.

Are derived from the open source Active-Backup mode.

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Networking Enhancements in XenServer 6.1

LACP bonding support Support for up to 4 NICs per bond VLAN scalability improvements Port locking for cloud providers IPv6 guest support

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Active-Active SLB vs. LACP

All links can be active regardless of traffic type

Source MAC as well as IP/port based load balancing

Requires 802.3ad standard on switch

Requires switch-side configuration

All links must be connected to 1 switch/stack switches

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Can be used with any switch No requirement for stacking

(6.1) Support up to 4 NICs Load balancing only if multiple

MAC addresses are present