Citrix XenServer 6.0 Administration

Live Online & Classroom Enterprise Training

Location: Bangalore, India | Dubai, UAE

Industry Experienced Instructor  |  Remote Labs  |  Lab Access Post Training

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Course Details

In this Citrix XenServer 6.0 training course, you will gain the foundationalknowledge necessary to effectively install, configure, administer, andtroubleshoot XenServer 6.0. You will learn how to configure a ProvisioningServices 6.0 host, and create and manage vDisks in a XenServer environment.Through hands-on labs, you will acquire the skills needed to configure theDistributed Virtual Switch (DVS) as well as Workload Balancing (WLB). You willalso create and manage Windows virtual machines and the resource pools in whichthey will be placed.

This course includes an exam voucher for Exam A26 Citrix XenServer 6.0Administration, a requirement for the CCA for Citrix XenServer 6.

Certification:

This course prepares you for Exam A26 Citrix XenServer 6.0 Administration, arequirement for the CCA for Citrix XenServer 6.

Course Prerequisites

  • Basic knowledge virtualization technology
  • Understanding of computing architecture, including network and storagedevices, device drivers, and operating systems
  • Basic experience installing and administering Windows Server 2003 orWindows Server 2008
  • Basic experience installing and administering Linux variants
  • Intermediate knowledge of network devices and site architecture,including configuring vLANs
  • Basic knowledge of storage terminology and technologies, includingpartitions, SANs, LUNs, iSCSI, NFS, and CIFS file shares

Course Agenda

1. XenServer

  • Product Line
  • 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
  • XenCenter
  • Resource Pools
  • XenServer Storage
  • XenServer Networking
  • Provisioning Services

2. 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

3. XenServer Networking

  • 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
  • Network Interface Card (NIC) Bond
  • NIC Bonding Architecture
  • Load Balancing
  • NIC Bond Configuration for Resource Pools

4. 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
  • Network File System (NFS) Storage
    • Architecture
    • Virtual Disks
    • Remote Storage Configuration and Recommendations
  • iSCSI Storage
    • Architecture
    • Adapters
    • Setup Configuration and Recommendations
  • Resizing a Storage Repository
    • iSCSI
    • Host Bus Adapter (HBA)
  • Fibre Channel SANs
  • Fibre Channel Architecture
  • LUN Device Path
  • Dedicated NIC Bonds for Remote Storage
  • Dedicated Remote Storage Interface Configuration
  • Storage Multipathing
  • Citrix StorageLink
    • Storage Repository
    • Supported Array Types
    • Upgrading to StorageLink with XenServer

5. 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
  • Install XenServer Tools
  • Life Cycle Operations
  • Suspend and Resume
  • Deleting a Virtual Machine
  • Virtual Machine Templates
    • Creating a Template from a Windows Virtual Machine
    • Creating a Template from a Linux Virtual Machine
  • Virtual Machine Snapshots
  • Exporting a Virtual Machine
  • Copying a Virtual Machine
  • Assigning Resources to a Virtual Machine
  • Importing a Virtual Machine
  • Modifying Virtual Machine or Template Resources
  • Virtual Disks
  • Virtual Disk Sizes
  • Virtual NICs
  • Virtual CPUs
  • Memory
  • Virtual Appliance Packages
  • Creating Virtual Appliances
  • Exporting an Appliance Package
  • Importing an Appliance Package
  • XenConvert
  • Physical Machine Conversion
  • Converting from Physical to Virtual Machine
  • Performing a PV Conversion
  • Dynamic Memory Control
  • Dynamic Memory Control Optimization
  • Static Memory Range
  • DMC Behavior Launching New Virtual Machines

6. 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
  • Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (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 and 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
    • Template
    • Properties
    • Additions to the Database
  • Auto-Add Wizard
  • Active Directory Integration
  • Domain Password Validation Process
  • Automatic Password Renegotiation
  • Integrate Active Directory
  • Reset Computer Accounts for Target Devices

7. Managing vDisks and Target Devices

  • vDisk Image Modes
  • Standard Image Mode
  • Private Image Mode
  • Write Caches
  • Write-Cache Types
  • Cache on Server Disk
    • Local Storage
    • Shared Storage
  • Cache on Target Device Hard Drive
    • Local Storage
    • 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
  • 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
  • Creating a vDisk Manually
  • vDisk Management
  • Assigning vDisks to Target Devices
  • vDisk Versions
  • vDisk Backup
  • vDisk Updates
  • Autoupdate Tool
  • vDisk Update Management Requirements
  • Install Updates Automatically
  • Incremental Update Rollback
  • vDisk Replication
  • vDisk Inventory Service
  • High Availability
  • Provisioning Services Failover
  • Configuring the Boot File for High Availability
  • Adding Provisioning Services Hosts to the Boot File
  • Enabling High Availability on vDisks
  • Provide Provisioning Services Hosts with Access to Stores
  • Considerations for Offline Database Support
  • Enabling Offline Database Support
  • Stream Logging
  • Enable Logging
  • Troubleshooting vDisk Images

8. Implementing Resource Pools

  • Pool Member Types
  • Resource Pool Communication
  • Homogeneous Pools
  • Heterogeneous Pools
  • Shared Configurations
  • Adding a Host
  • Adding a Member
  • Removing a Secondary Member
  • XenMotion
  • Migrating a Virtual Machine or Template
  • Pool Member Failure
  • Failure Detection Process
  • Promote a Secondary Member to a Master

9. Distributed Virtual Switching (DVS)

  • Features
  • 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
  • DVS Policy Configuration Hierarchy
  • Access Control List
    • Policies
    • Hierarchy
    • Rules
    • Rule Enforcement Order
  • Configuring Fail Modes
  • Setting Up Port Configuration Policies
  • Configuring QoS
  • Configuring RSPAN
  • Configuring Mac Address Spoof Checking
  • Cross-Server Private Networks
    • Requirements
  • XenMotion with Cross-Server Private Networks
  • Recovering from a Failed vSwitch Controller

10. Workload Balancing (WLB)

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

11. Configuring High Availability

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

12. Managing and Troubleshooting XenServer

  • Command-Line Interface
    • Operations Targets
    • Basics
    • 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
  • 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
  • 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
  • Update XenServer Hosts Using XenCenter
  • Update Hosts or Pool Using the Command-Line Interface
  • Rolling Pool Upgrade
    • Planning
  • WLB Reports