How to compile DRBD RPM for XenServer 6.0

A few quick notes on compiling your own DRBD RPM for XenServer 6.0

1. Download the latest XenServer DDK ISO - Available from Citrix.com

2. Mount or Extract the ISO - Import into XenServer as a VM

3. Make sure you add a network connection

4. SSH onto the VM

You need to install gcc and libxslt to compile DRBD

> yum --enablerepo=base -y install gcc libxml2.i386 libxslt.i386

> mkdir drbd

> cd drbd

> wget http://oss.linbit.com/drbd/8.4/drbd-8.4.1.tar.gz

> tar -xvf drbd-8.4.1.tar.gz

> cd drbd-8.4.1.tar.gz

> ./configure

> make km-rpm

> make rpm

RPM file are created in /usr/src/redhat/RPMS/i386/

You need,

drbd-km-2.6.32.12_0.7.1.xs6.0.0.529.170661xen-8.4.1-1.i386.rpm
drbd-utils-8.4.1-1.i386.rpm

Thats it enjoy!

DRBD RPM for Xen Server 6.0

Here is the latest RPM for Xen Server 6 - I haven’t had a chance to test XenServer 6.0 with DRBD local storage.

Download: http://bit.ly/v2S86L

I’m hopeful it will work without having to patch the Kernel - same as 5.6 FP2

If you have a chance let me know if it works.

******Update******

Here is the RPM for the latest Kernel drbd-km-2.6.32.12_0.7.1.xs6.0.0.529.170661xen-8.4.1-1.i386

Download here: http://bit.ly/zV9jVI

Cheers, Joe

XenServer 5.6 FP1 DRBD working

Xenlogo

Hi all,

The wait is over so to speak, XenServer 5.6 FP1 was released over a month ago but DRBD wouldn’t work due to a bug in blktap2,

The issue was highlighted by Tomoe Sugihara on the Xen-Api mailing list prior to FP1 being released - http://lists.xensource.com/archives/html/xen-api/2010-12/msg00001.html

There is mention of a couple of patches but neither of them fixed the issue - it was necessary to download the latest Soruce from the Xen Cloud Project release 1 RC1 and use the blktap2 source files.

The steps to make it work, Very simple,

1. Download the patched Kernel RPM (Link below)

2. Use WinSCP or similar to load it onto your XenServer

3. Login as root on the console

4. Run # rpm -ivh kernel-2.6.32.120.7.1.xs5.6.100.307.170586xen-1.i386.rpm --force

5. Reboot

This will replace the current kernel with the patched one.

That’s it DRBD is working now

Enjoy and let me know how it goes.

Cheers, Joe

If you already have DRBD installed and setup before installing the Kernel - you will need to reinstall the DRBD RPM, modprobe & start DRBD

Just run

# rpm -ivh drbd-km-2.6.32.12_0.7.1.xs5.6.100.307.170586xen-8.3.10-1.i386.rpm --force

# /etc/init.d/drbd start

# modprobe drbd

Direct link download Kernel + Utilities: http://tinyurl.com/6xr4g6h

For installing DRBD with XenServer including the latest release 8.3.10 please see http://joekane.eu/xenserver-drbd-update-4-the-guide

PHD Virtual 5.1 Released

Testing 5.1 today - excellent product, some great features added to 5.1 such as,

Flexible Backup Storage Options: New in 5.1

Backup virtual machines to locally attached storage or external storage locations via NFS or SMB/CIFS share.

Set It and Forget It Job Scheduling: New in 5.1

Backup jobs can be assigned to defined containers (representing hosts, resource pools, folders…).  Any VM in a container or later added to a container will automatically be backed up based on job settings.  For flexibility, specific VM’s in a container can be set to be excluded from backups.

File Level Restore (FLR) Any OS, Any File System: New in 5.1

Quickly restore individual files and folders without the need to restore the entire virtual machine image.

Application Object Recovery: New in 5.1

Use your existing recovery tools to quickly restore application objects (database object, mailbox, mail message, etc.) directly from backup storage.

Supports Tape Backup Solutions: New in 5.1

Backup Data Connector enables quick and easy integration with tape backup solutions.

Backup Retention & Archiving – Meet DR and Retention Policies: New in 5.1

Define and configure flexible retention policies for storing VM backups.  Flexible trim options can automatically remove old backups based on customizable policies.  Archiving provides the ability to mark specific backups for archive to exclude them from being deleted by the retention policy. Archive can be set at the job level for increased flexibility.

Get the full run down here: http://www.phdvirtual.com/overview_citrix

Phd2
Phd1

One area I would like improved and it’s a small request is the initial login screen, it’s terrible - please add some basic functionality e.g. Save different hostnames, usernames etc...

Phd3

or get rid of it and integrate into the main app - He is what im thinking.

Loginscreen

 

Installing the XenServer Linux Pack after XenServer has been deployed

Installing the XenServer Linux Pack after XenServer has been deployed

This post is more of an FYI for myself as much as anything, but I installed a XenServer a while back, and at the time, I didn't have the Linux Guest Support CD and I continued the XenServer install without it. Well, just a few days ago, I needed to install the Linux Guest Support tools on this XenServer.

The process wasn't hard by any means and I'm sure there are many ways to do this. Here are the steps I took and I'm posting them here so I won't forget, and maybe they'll be helpful to somebody else.

1. I used WinSCP to connect to the XenServer and I copied the Linux Guest Support CD ISO to an ISOs directory that I had created.

2. I connected to the XenServer console using Putty.

3. Change to the ISOs directory and enter the following commands:
mkdir -p /mnt/iso
mount -o loop XS-linuxcd.iso /mnt/iso
cd /mnt/iso

4. Enter the command ./install.sh to install Linux Guest Support. If you have XenCenter open, you will lose the connection as XAPI will be restarted to complete the installation process.

via balld31.blogspot.com

Notes

Citrix XenServer network bonding

Earlier this month I was experiencing problems with my servers. The symptom was all VoIP traffic was choppy. Turns out that the traffic was being sent just fine, it was delayed and when a phone receives delayed packets (or packets that are out of order) it drops that traffic so you don't hear garble.

This was a less than pleasant problem to figure out. However should you experience these problems, let this be one more place to look.

I decided it was time to take my VoIP servers and make them redundant. I only had two NICs on each machine, using one for private traffic and the other for public. Since Citrix XenServer supports the bonding of nics and 802.1q vlan tagging, I thought that this would make a good combination for HA, in the event of a NIC or switch failure.

So away I went. Bonding is fairly simple in Citrix XenCenter. You just tell it you want to create a bond, select the nics and in a few seconds you have a bond. Great, just create the networks and vlan then life is all peachy.

I thought I was all good until the next day I started to receive calls that voice was choppy. Let me preface this with, the bonding wasn't the only thing I changed, but were focusing on it so I'll only make reference to it. After many packet captures and testing I found that packets were not being lost, they were being delayed by about three seconds.

At this point I started to investigate how citrix xenserver bonds their networks. It turns out they use the standard linux kernel modules to do the bonding. This is very good. The bad part is, they choose to only support 'balance-slb' which isn't well documented at all. (If you find documentation on this type of load balancing, please comment below.) The main idea with this type of load balancing is to share the load over both links. They do this by changing what interface is used ever 10-30 seconds. (I can't get a strait answer from Citrix on the time. One engineer said 10 the other said 30 seconds) Well that sounds all fine and dandy until you checkout the default settings for the bond:

via sysadminhead.com

Great post on 802.3ad Link aggregation in XenServer

Citrix XenServer 5.6 Beta Program

XenServer and Essentials for XenServer 5.6 Beta Program!
Welcome to the XenServer Beta Portal where you can obtain early access to the upcoming release of Citrix XenServer and Essentials for XenServer.  As a participant in the Beta Program, you’ll play a critical role in helping the XenServer product team develop and deliver the next edition of the product and provide valuable insight for enhancements in future releases.

Program participants will serve as a key source of suggestions, comments, and even criticism that help us make the solution the best it can be. As a participant you will receive early access to the product software, virtual evaluation appliances to assist in set-up and configuration and open access to submit and discuss issues directly with the development team via our community forum.

How do I become a Beta Program Participant?
Good news, it’s easy! Click here to download product software, install and configuration guides and evaluation virtual appliances. The only requirement is that you establish, or use your existing, My Citrix account to obtain the software. If you need a new account click here, the process takes no more than 30 seconds.

via citrix.com

5.6 is in beta - Midnight ride