CXS-203-1 Citrix XenServer 6.0 Administration

Introduction to XenServer

• XenServer Product Line
• Product Simplification
• Product Simplification
• Architectural Changes
• Virtual Appliances and Broader Vendor Support
• Microsoft System Center Integration
• XenDesktop Integration
• Enhanced Operating System Support
• Other Enhancements and Improvements
• XenServer Architecture Overview
• XenCenter Overview
• Resource Pools
• XenServer Storage Overview
• XenServer Networking Overview
• Provisioning Services Overview

Installing and Configuring XenServer

• XenServer Installation
• Virtual Machine Storage
• Installing Single and Multiple Disk Systems
• Installing XenServer
• Pre-Installation Checklist
• XenServer Installation Process
• IntelliCache
• Configuring NTP
• XenCenter Installation and Management Consoles
• XenCenter Consoles
• XenServer Licensing Components
• License File Management
• Citrix License Server Virtual Appliance
• Obtaining License Files
• License Management Console
• Managing XenServer Users
• Key Benefits of Active Directory Integration
• Configuring Active Directory Integration
• End-User Authentication Using Active Directory
• Active Directory Integration
• External Authentication Process
• Role-Based Access Control
• Roles
• Security Logs

XenServer Networking

• XenServer Networking Overview
• Network Stacks Supported by XenServer
• Network Components and Architecture
• Network Architecture Diagram
• Network Adapter Drivers
• Private-Server and External Networks
• VLAN Support and Components
• Initial Network Setup
• NIC Bond
• NIC Bonding Architecture
• Load Balancing
• NIC Bond Configuration for Resource Pools

XenServer Storage Repositories

• Storage Technologies
• Virtual Disk Image Formats
• Storage Technology Comparison
• XenServer Storage Architecture
• Storage Repository Architecture
• Multiple Storage Repositories
• Local Storage Repositories
• Virtual Disk Size
• Storage Capability Comparison
• NFS Storage Overview
• NFS Architecture
• NFS Virtual Disks
• NFS Remote Storage Configuration and Recommendations
• iSCSI Storage Overview
• iSCSI Architecture
• iSCSI Adapters
• iSCSI Setup Configuration and Recommendations
• Resizing a Storage Repository
• Resizing a Storage Repository - iSCSI
• Resizing a Storage Repository - HBA
• Fibre Channel SANs Overview
• Fibre Channel Architecture
• LUN Device Path
• Dedicated NIC Bonds for Remote Storage
• Dedicated Remote Storage Interface Configuration
• Storage Multipathing
• Citrix StorageLink Overview
• Citrix StorageLink Storage Repository
• StorageLink Supported Array Types
• Upgrading to StorageLink with XenServer

Creating and Managing Virtual Machines

• Windows Virtual Machine Architecture
• Virtual Memory and Disk Size Limits for Windows Virtual Machines
• Virtual Device Support for Windows Virtual Machines
• Installation from an ISO
• ISO Libraries
• To Create a Windows Virtual Machine
• Linux Distributions
• Creating Linux Virtual Machines
• XenServer Tools
• XenServer Tools for Windows Virtual Machines
• XenServer Tools for Linux Virtual Machines
• To Install XenServer Tools

Installing and Configuring Provisioning Services

• Provisioning Services Technology
• Provisioning Services for XenServer
• Citrix Provisioning Services Components
• Citrix Provisioning Services Infrastructure
• Provisioning Services Administration
• Administrative Roles
• Key Services
• DHCP Deployment Options
• DHCP Configuration
• Installation Planning
• Provisioning Services Farm Design
• Farms
• SQL Database Server
• SQL Database Authentication and Configuration
• Configuration Wizard User Permissions
• Service Account Permissions
• Sites
• Stores
• Storage Requirements
• Sample vDisk Storage Requirements
• Provisioning Services Installation
• Provisioning Services Configuration
• Store Configuration
• Provisioning Services Hosts in the Console
• Target Device Connections
• Server Properties
• Target Device Collection
• Target Device Template
• Target Device Properties
• Target Device Additions to the Database
• Auto-Add Wizard
• Active Directory Integration
• Domain Password Validation Process
• Automatic Password Renegotiation
• To Integrate Active Directory
• To Reset Computer Accounts for Target Devices

Managing vDisks and Target Devices

• vDisk Image Modes
• Standard Image Mode
• Private Image Mode
• Write Caches
• Write-Cache Types
• Cache on Server Disk
• Cache on Server Disk: Local Storage
• Cache on Server Disk: Shared Storage
• Cache on Target Device Hard Drive
• Cache on Target Device Hard Drive: Local Storage
• Cache on Target Device Hard Drive: Shared Storage
• Target Device-based RAM Cache
• Target Device RAM
• Cache Persistent on Server
• Microsoft Licensing for Provisioning Services
• Master Target Device
• Preparing a Master Target Device
• Preparing the Hard Disk of the Master Target Device
• Configuring the BIOS of a Master Target Device
• To Configure the BIOS of a Master Target Device
• Installing Master Target Device Software
• Imaging a Windows Target Device with XenConvert
• vDisk File Creation
• vDisk Lifecycle Operations
• VHD Formats
• Create vDisks Automatically Using Imaging Wizard
• To Create a New vDisk Automatically Using the Imaging Wizard
• Creating a vDisk Manually
• vDisk Management
• Assigning vDisks to Target Devices
• To Assign a vDisk to a Single Target Device
• vDisk Versions
• vDisk Backup
• vDisk Updates
• Autoupdate Tool
• vDisk Update Management Requirements
• To Install Updates Automatically
• Incremental Update Rollback
• vDisk Replication
• vDisk Inventory Service
• High Availability Overview
• Provisioning Services Failover
• Configuring the Boot File for High Availability
• Adding Provisioning Services Hosts to the Boot File
• Enabling High Availability on vDisks
• To Provide Provisioning Services Hosts with Access to Stores
• Considerations for Offline Database Support
• To Enable Offline Database Support
• Stream Logging
• To Enable Logging
• Troubleshoot vDisk Images
• Provisioning Services Failover
• Configuring the Boot File for High Availability
• Adding Provisioning Services Hosts to the Boot File
• Enabling High Availability on vDisks
• To Provide Provisioning Services Hosts with Access to Stores
• Considerations for Offline Database Support
• To Enable Offline Database Support
• Stream Logging
• To Enable Logging
• Troubleshoot vDisk Images

Distributed Virtual Switching

• Distributed Virtual Switching Features
• Distributed Virtual Switching Components
• vSwitch Controller Virtual Appliance Deployment
• Accessing the vSwitch Controller
• vSwitch Controller Configuration .
• High Availability
• Monitoring Network Activity
• Viewing Flow Statistics
• Exporting NetFlow Statistics
• Managing Address Groups and Virtual Machine Groups
• Distributed Virtual Switching Policy Configuration Hierarchy
• Access Control List Policies
• Access Control Policies Hierarchy
• Defining Access Control List Rules
• Access Control List Rule Enforcement Order
• Configuring Fail Modes
• Setting Up Port Configuration Policies
• Configuring QoS
• Configuring RSPAN
• To Configure RSPAN
• Configuring Mac Address Spoof Checking
• Cross-Server Private Networks
• Cross-Server Private Network Requirements
• XenMotion with Cross-Server Private Networks
• Recovering from a Failed vSwitch Controller

Workload Balancing

• Workload Balancing Overview
• Workload Balancing Key Concepts
• Workload Balancing Components
• To Download the Workload Balancing Virtual Appliance
• Import Considerations for the Workload Balancing Virtual Appliance
• Workload Balancing Configuration
• To Update Workload Balancing Credentials
• Connecting to the Workload Balancing Virtual Appliance
• Workload Balancing Access Control Permissions
• Workload Balancing Settings
• Critical Thresholds
• Critical Threshold Evaluation and Edit
• Metric Weighting
• Fixed and Scheduled Optimization Modes
• Optimization Recommendations
• Workload Balancing Power Management
• Power Management Behavior
• Power Management and Virtual Machine Consolidation
• To Apply Optimization Recommendations Automatically
• Optimal Server Selection
• Host Exclusion from Recommendations

Configuring High Availability

• High Availability Requirements
• High Availability Considerations
• Restart Priorities
• Server Failure Tolerance
• Overcommitting
• Host Fencing
• Disaster Recovery
• Disaster Preparedness and Response
• Backup and Recovery of XenServer Hosts and Virtual Machines
• Metadata
• Backing Up a Pool Installation
• To Restore a Pool Installation
• Backing Up Virtual Machines as Snapshots
• To Take a Snapshot of a Virtual Machine
• To Restore a Running XenServer Host
• Listing Snapshots Using the Command-line Interface
• Deleting a Snapshot
• Restoring a Virtual Machine from a Snapshot

Managing and Troubleshooting XenServer

• Command-line Interface Overview
• Command-line Interface Operations Targets
• Command-line Interface Basics
• Command-line Interface Shortcuts
• XenServer Menu-Driven Text Console
• Monitoring XenServer
• Using the XenTop Utility to Monitor Host and Virtual Machine Performance
• Logging to a Remote Syslog Server
• To Log Using a Remote Syslog Server
• Events and Alerts
• Alert Customization
• Persistent XenServer Performance Statistics
• Performance Statistics in XenCenter
• XenServer Logs and Reports
• XenCenter Event Logs
• Server Status Reports
• Xen-Bugtool Utility
• XenServer Crashdump Overview
• Generating the Crashdump File in the Command-Line Interface
• Running a Network Trace and Triggering a Memory Dump
• XenServer Updates and Hotfixes
• Update or Hotfix Considerations
• To Update XenServer Hosts Using XenCenter
• To Update Hosts or Pool Using the Command-line Interface
• Rolling Pool Upgrade
• Planning a Rolling Upgrade
• Workload Balancing Reports Overview
• Workload Balancing Reports

Follow-on Courses

Citrix XenApp and XenDesktop Fast Track

Citrix Certified Administrator (CCA)

For IT administrators, the CCA validates the skills necessary to implement a specific Citrix product.

CCA for Citrix XenServer 6

Exam: A26 Citrix XenServer 6.0 Administration