Citrix XenServer 5.0 Highlights, part 1

So i have been working with XenServer for a bit now in my home lab, and i am really liking it so far. I am not saying a VMware ESX 3.5 would not have done the same job, but i like the fact that XenServer is now a competitor when it comes to delivering an Enterprise HyperVisor.

So based on different reviews read online, and my own experiences i wanted to compile a blog post with the sort of highlights i have experienced and heard about.

XenCenter

Now managed through GUI instead og CLI

Nic Bonding
FiberChannel Setup
Management Interface configuration

Improved Perfomance Monitoring
Better alerting

And a really cool feature.. tagging.. XenServer now has tagging in the XenCenter console. This means that one server can have several tags and both be in the Windows2008-tag along with XenApp-5-tag. This setup is much nicer than the regular "folder structure". On top of this you can do your own custom filters based on any number of things including tags. As an example you can see the Saved Searches down i the bottom left corner, i have a saved search for XenApp Servers which is based on the XenApp-tag.

Also Instant search allows you to search for a server by typing the beginning of the name and the list of servers will slowly narrow down to the one you are searching for so you dont have to remember the name of every server. In the screenshot i did a search for XA.

When you want to configure your search options you have a write variety of options to define from, and also the ability to save your search into the "Saved Searches" field.

XenCenter seems to really be coming along, and i find it stable and effective.

On the ‘Console side of things’, XenServer has been brightend up a bit as well. By default on the physical console of the XenServer administrators are met with a nice Gui-like text based interface.

This interface allows you to do most of the management needed on the XenServer host. This interface allows you to configure the ip-settings of the management interface, manage virtual machines, view disk and storage repositories, manage virtual machines with reboots, suspend etc.

This all gives an easier administrations, and rest assured, nothing has changed there is still all geeky commandline stuff we love so much behind the scenes From the commandline this console can be launched with the command xsconsole.