1. Select the VM in the Resources pane and click the HA restart priority tab.
2. Choose Restart to guarantee a VM will be restarted if sufficient resources are available within the pool. They will be restarted before VMs with a Restart if possible priority.
3. Restart if possible are not considered when calculating a failure plan, but one attempt to restart them will be made if a server that is running them fails.
• Restart is attempted after all higher-priority VMs are restarted, and if the attempt to start them fails, then it will not be retried.
4. Do not restart will not be restarted automatically.
• In an HA-enabled pool, to conserve XenServer host resources, use Do not restart on VMs that don’t always have to be powered on.

The following steps to export and import VMs are condensed explanations from the XenCenter Help Contents.

Export a VM

1. Select the desired VM or VMs to move and open the Export wizard.
• Click Export from the VM menu.
2. Specify the export file details.
• Enter the name of the export file.
• Specify the folder in which to save the file.
• Choose the export file format from the Format list.
3. Confirm VMs selected for export.
4. If desired, modify the VM selections.
5. For OVF/OVA only – Configure EULA, Advanced Options, and Transfer VM settings.
6. Complete VM export by reviewing the settings and selecting Verify export on completion check box.
7. Click Finish to begin exporting the selected VM(s) and close the wizard.

Import a VM

1. Open the Import wizard from the File menu.
2. Select the import file.
3. VHD and VMDK import only – Specify the new VM’s name and allocate vCPU and memory resources.
4. OVF/OVA only – Review/accept EULA(s).
5. Choose the location/home server.
6. Select the destination pool where the imported VMs will be placed.
• To nominate a home server for the incoming VM(s), select a server in the list.
7. Configure storage by choosing the storage repositories (SRs) where the virtual disks in the imported VM(s) will be placed.
8. OVF/OVA only – If the selected OVF/OVA package is configured with security features such as certificates or a manifest, specify the necessary information.
9. OVF/OVA and disk image only – If the VMs were built on a hypervisor other than XenServer, configure the Operating System Fixup feature to enable the imported VM to boot correctly on XenServer and configure networking for the Transfer VM.
10. On the final page of the Import wizard, review all of the configuration options.
11. Click Finish to finish importing the selected VMs and close the wizard.

Be sure to see the Help Contents in XenCenter for more detailed instructions to export and import VMs.





]]> http://citrixxperience.com/2012/04/10/xencenter-move-vm-to-another-xenserver-resource-pool/feed/ 0 http://citrixxperience.com/2012/04/10/xencenter-move-vm-to-another-xenserver-resource-pool/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CitrixExamPrep/~3/GM0p2zcKPp0/ http://citrixxperience.com/2012/03/04/citrix-ccee-and-ccia-valid-for-three-years/#comments Mon, 05 Mar 2012 00:19:09 +0000 Jeff Rohrer http://citrixxperience.com/?p=2617 I’m sure some of you already know this but I was just reading about it and thought I’d share as a reminder to get your old CCEA, CCEE, and CCIA certifications updated before the expiration dates.

The CCEE and CCIA certifications are valid for a period of three years, and it will make life much easier if you stay ...]]> I’m sure some of you already know this but I was just reading about it and thought I’d share as a reminder to get your old CCEA, CCEE, and CCIA certifications updated before the expiration dates.

The CCEE and CCIA certifications are valid for a period of three years, and it will make life much easier if you stay current with the certifications by passing one or two new exams before the expiration date, because if you lose it, you have to basically start the whole CCEE or CCIA track all over again.

This is a breakdown of which exams you need to take and what date you must pass them by, depending on the certification(s) that you currently hold. (See Citrix Education to verify before preparing for or scheduling any Citrix exam.)

• If you hold the old XenApp/XenDesktop/XenServer for Windows Server 2003 CCEA or CCIA, you must pass one of the Engineering a Citrix Virtualization Solution exams (1Y0-A15 or the new 1Y0-A25) by July 31, 2012 to keep your CCEE status.
• If you hold the more recent XenApp/XenDesktop/XenServer for Windows Server 2008 CCEE, you have three years from your certification date to pass the 1Y0-A25 exam to update your CCEE.
• If you hold the XenApp/XenDesktop/XenServer for Windows Server 2008 CCIA, you have three years from your certification date to pass the 1Y0-A16 (Architecting a Citrix Virtualization Solution) and the 1Y0-A25 exams to keep your CCIA status.

If you haven’t thought about it or just haven’t had time, now is a good time to start planning on updating your Windows Server 2003 CCEE certification. (Remember, July 31st, 2012 it expires.)





]]> http://citrixxperience.com/2012/03/04/citrix-ccee-and-ccia-valid-for-three-years/feed/ 1 http://citrixxperience.com/2012/03/04/citrix-ccee-and-ccia-valid-for-three-years/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CitrixExamPrep/~3/iZVJToRoWLY/ http://citrixxperience.com/2012/02/29/citrix-xenserver-6-0-on-vmware-player/#comments Wed, 29 Feb 2012 11:31:43 +0000 Jeff Rohrer http://citrixxperience.com/?p=2542 I finally received a laptop that has an Intel Processor with VT-x and VT-d technology, allowing me to install my own Citrix XenServer 6.0 virtual host so I stop bugging my colleagues for time on their labs.

It will be a big help while I’m writing the rest of the 1Y0-A26 Citrix XenServer 6.0 Administration practice exam. Most ...]]>

I finally received a laptop that has an Intel Processor with VT-x and VT-d technology, allowing me to install my own Citrix XenServer 6.0 virtual host so I stop bugging my colleagues for time on their labs.

It will be a big help while I’m writing the rest of the 1Y0-A26 Citrix XenServer 6.0 Administration practice exam. Most of the time I find very detailed information online either through the Citrix Support documentation, a virtualization expert’s blog post, or an image on Google Images. I also recently downloaded the XenCenter 6.0 Windows Management Console from MyCitrix.com, so I finally had my hands on the Help documentation that can only be found (as far as I know) in the console itself.

I decided to see if I could install it on VMWare Player, since it’s free, and although I couldn’t find any documentation online about installing it on Player, I did find some nice articles on installing XS (usually older versions) on VMWare Workstation, which I had done myself in the past. I decided to read though a few of the articles, and one of the highest ranked Google results happened to be a blog post from my good buddy Eric Haavarstein of XenAppBlog.com. That post led me to his YouTube video, “Citrix XenServer 6 and Web Self Service on VMWare Workstation 8″. I decided to give it a try on Player using the WS instructions. To make a long enough story short, with a few variations in settings, I was able to install XS 6 on a USB external drive on VMWare Player.

The basic differences are that Player, of course, isn’t as powerful as Workstation, and Player is free. There are fewer configurations that need to be performed on Player.

If you’re thinking of installing XS 6 on VMW Player, read Eric’s blog post, watch about half of his video (the whole video is only about 6 minutes long), and when the configurations differ, see the images and descriptions below for the settings that I configured to make it work. Of course these exact settings might not work for you, but try different settings and configurations and you’ll get it to work if you have the correct hardware.

The settings are really basic, not that other virtual machine installer applications are complicated, but it’s very simple to use, as one would expect from a freeware virtualization application.

As you can see, I already removed the floppy drive and sound card, because they are not needed. I also set memory to 4GB. All of that is in the video.



The network settings weren’t too bad to configure. They differ a little from Workstation. As you can see, I chose Bridged, just like Eric did in the video, and I have ‘Connect at power on’ selected, which may have given me problems when first installing because it kept trying to use PXE to find the network address information. I should have documented it at the time of installation because I might have had something else configured wrong, so that might not have been the issue at all. Either way, it boots up fine now with networking enabled; and of course, you have to have networking!



I tried different USB settings, but using the three that I have chosen, ‘Enable high-speed support for USB 2.0 devices’, ‘Automatically connect new USB devices’, and ‘Show all USB input devices’ worked fine. I believe that when I didn’t have the first one, ‘Enable high-speed…’ chosen, I received a message that the USB connection wouldn’t allow me to keep going, or something to that effect.

Don’t worry about display settings and just make sure to connect the XenServer 6 ISO package to the correct drive letter for your USB drive.

Another good practice is to be sure your external hard drive isn’t 15 years old with only 5GB of space, because you’ll need quite a bit of room to allocate for the XenServer. Documentation states that the minimum requirement is 2GB, but I received an error stating that I didn’t have enough disk space when I tried the minimum. I settled on allocating 40GB just to be on the safe side.



The next tab over, Options, is very straight-forward. During initial setup you’ll have already chosen Other for ‘Guest operating system’ and ‘Other 64bit’ for Version. Just make sure you are in the correct directory where you want the VM created and that’s all for options.



That’s really all I had to do, along with Eric’s instructions, to get it to install and run. Now I’m enjoying performing all of the configurations on my own XenServer lab.





]]> http://citrixxperience.com/2012/02/29/citrix-xenserver-6-0-on-vmware-player/feed/ 2 http://citrixxperience.com/2012/02/29/citrix-xenserver-6-0-on-vmware-player/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CitrixExamPrep/~3/m0i8uTdwBg8/ http://citrixxperience.com/2012/02/24/download-and-install-citrix-xencenter-6-0/#comments Fri, 24 Feb 2012 11:43:36 +0000 Jeff Rohrer http://citrixxperience.com/?p=2422 This is obviously a really simple task, but what some Citrix test takers don’t know is that you can download Citrix XenCenter for free and perform some tasks without having to build a single XenServer host.

The main reason I downloaded it is because I’m “in between” XenServer labs now while I wait for my new computer to arrive, ...]]> This is obviously a really simple task, but what some Citrix test takers don’t know is that you can download Citrix XenCenter for free and perform some tasks without having to build a single XenServer host.

The main reason I downloaded it is because I’m “in between” XenServer labs now while I wait for my new computer to arrive, so until then I need the XenCenter Help Contents. I searched all throughout the web for a simple image and/or description of certain configurations that I’m writing questions about, and although I could probably fake it and get it correct, I want to make sure that it’s correct.

So here is a step-by-step of where to download XenCenter Windows Management Console for free and instructions to install it. I’ve even included images!

1. Browse to MyCitrix.com and enter your credentials.
• Obviously, if you don’t have credentials, you can register at MyCitrix.com
2. On the top gray bar, click Downloads.
   

3. On the Search Downloads by Product drop-down list, select XenServer.



4. On the products page, scroll down to XenServer 6.0 and click it.



5. Click the gray circle next to Citrix XenServer to expand the selection.



6. In the list of expanded selections, click the XenCenter 6.0 Windows Management Console link.



7. The download starts in a new window and when finished, either open the folder that it’s in and run the setup wizard or click Open and start the wizard right away.



8. Click Next on the Welcome screen.



9. Choose a destination folder and if you want to install it for only you or everyone on the Destination Folder screen and click Next.



10. Click Install on the Ready to Install XenCenter screen.



11. XenCenter installs and when finished, click Finish on the Completed the Citrix XenCenter Setup Wizard screen.



12. Open XenCenter from the Start Menu and choose whether you’d like XenCenter to periodically check for updates or not.



13. Now, without a XenServer lab, you can at least see what it looks and feels like to perform a limited number of tasks such as creating a new pool, adding a new server, and a few other selections.



 



14. And the main reason I downloaded it, for the help section which I couldn’t find anywhere. In fact, in Citrix’s documentation it says to look at XenCenter Help for some configurations. Click the Help menu item to view Help Contents.



15. Some other selections you get in the Help menu item are checking for updates, browsing to the XenServer page on Citrix.com, and downloading XenCenter plugins from the Citrix Developer Network.



That’s all there is to it to download, install, and perform limited configurations without having a XenServer host with which to connect. Not to mention, get full access to the help contents.





]]> http://citrixxperience.com/2012/02/24/download-and-install-citrix-xencenter-6-0/feed/ 1 http://citrixxperience.com/2012/02/24/download-and-install-citrix-xencenter-6-0/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CitrixExamPrep/~3/4IVtk-b5bjE/ http://citrixxperience.com/2012/02/20/using-xenconvert-tips-for-xenserver-1y0-a26-exam/#comments Mon, 20 Feb 2012 18:35:29 +0000 Jeff Rohrer http://citrixxperience.com/?p=2412 This post will focus on a few things to remember about XenConvert for the 1Y0-A26 Citrix XenServer 6.0 Administration exam. Not much has changed, but a reminder is always good.

An objective from the 1Y0-A26 Exam Enablement Guide states, “Determine the correct steps to take ...]]> This post will focus on a few things to remember about XenConvert for the 1Y0-A26 Citrix XenServer 6.0 Administration exam. Not much has changed, but a reminder is always good.

An objective from the 1Y0-A26 Exam Enablement Guide states, “Determine the correct steps to take to create a virtual machine using the XenConvert Physical to Virtual conversion or the XenConvert Virtual to Virtual conversion of an existing server, based on the list of requirements.”

One of the first things that came up as I was writing practice questions on this objective is – what has changed in XenConvert 2.4 and 2.4.1 from previous versions?

Here are the main changes:

• XenConvert 2.4.1 fixed a few issues. See the 2.4.1 XenConvert Admin Guide (linked above) for the fixes.
• XenConvert 2.4 added interoperability with XenServer 6.0 and Provisioning Services 6.0.
• Files that are in use on a Windows Server 2003 application are copied.
• The administrator can select the XenServer storage repository for use for the virtual disk when converting from a physical machine to XenServer.
• The virtual disks are optimized by aligning its first partition with the block size on most storage devices (See Section 11 of the 2.4.1 XenConvert Admin Guide for more info).
• This release removes conversions from virtual appliances (OVF packages, OVA, and XVA) and virtual disks (VHD and VMDK). To convert an OVF package, OVA, XVA, VHD, or VMDK to XenServer, use the new XenCenter Import wizard in Xenserver 6.0.

Known limitations are, XenConvert:

• can only convert volumes from primary partitions on a disk configured as a Windows Basic Disk – not a Windows Dynamic Disk.
• requires a direct connection to a XenServer to communicate using HTTP. This means disabling the use of an HTTP proxy on the XenServer host.
• can only convert from a host machine with a BIOS, not EFI. .
• can only convert a Windows System volume from MBR partitions, not GPT.
• cannot copy a file in use by an application running on Windows XP.
• is not recommended to convert a Domain Controller.
• only supports converting from NTFS.
• can only convert the default data stream of a file and not named streams.
• does not reproduce encryption.

The following versions of XenServer can only be the destination of a conversion:

• 6.0
• 5.6 SP2
• Only 6.0 can import an OVF package created using this version of XenConvert.

The following Provisioning Services can be the destination of a conversion and import a VHD from this version of XenConvert.

• 6.0
• 5.6 SP1

I’m not even half-way through the XenConvert Admin Guide, but I’ll stop there and ask a question using some of the information provided above. Don’t read too much into it, I’m not trying to trick anyone. Don’t think about design, architecture, etc, just imagine it’s all in place and the admin has to do the job.

Question: Using XenConvert to convert a physical Windows Server 2003 machine, which has applications in use, to a XenServer virtual machine (VM) and save it to a storage repository (SR), what is one of the steps an administrator should take?

a. Select ‘OVF package’ as the format.
b. Choose an SR in which to place the VM.
c. End applications on the Win 2003 machine.
c. Run XenConvert on the admin’s user device.
d. Check ‘Create Open Virtual Appliance (OVA)’.

Answer: b.

Explanation: To create a VM from a Windows Server 2003 physical machine that has applications in use, start XenConvert on the Windows Server 2003 machine, choose from ‘This Machine’ to ‘XenServer’ and click ‘Next’. Choose source volumes, resize destination volumes, and resize the virtual disk. Click ‘Next’. Identify the XenServer to receive the workload and the account to use. (Hostname, user name, password, workspace). Click Next. Enter a VM name. Choose a storage repository and click ‘Next’. Check ‘Log names of converted files’ to log the name of each converted file (optional). Click ‘Convert’. The conversion is complete when the progress bar is full and Status contains a message indicating success or failure. Click ‘Log’ to review the details of the results and click ‘Finish’. The options that are incorrect are so because: An OVF package would have to be imported into XenServer after conversion with the Import wizard. OVA would be chosen if converting to an OVF. XenConvert would be run on the Windows 2003 machine that is being converted, not the admin’s user device. Applications running on Windows Server 2003 machines is supported since XenConvert 2.4.

Well, that’s the short lesson and question of the day. I’ll continue to create more of these posts as I’m writing the 1Y0-A26 practice exam.





]]> http://citrixxperience.com/2012/02/20/using-xenconvert-tips-for-xenserver-1y0-a26-exam/feed/ 0 http://citrixxperience.com/2012/02/20/using-xenconvert-tips-for-xenserver-1y0-a26-exam/ http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/CitrixExamPrep/~3/Ldr_F-SSy8M/ http://citrixxperience.com/2012/02/09/citrix-ccee-and-ccia-requirements-in-a-nutshell/#comments Thu, 09 Feb 2012 16:09:56 +0000 Jeff Rohrer http://citrixxperience.com/?p=2349 Citrix Education’s site. I don’t think I do any better explaining it, but in a nutshell here is how to get CCEE and CCIA certified:

To obtain ...]]> I occasional receive an email asking about the CCEE (Citrix Certified Enterprise Engineer) and the biggie, CCIA (Citrix Certified Integration Architect) requirements, although the person has already visited Citrix Education’s site. I don’t think I do any better explaining it, but in a nutshell here is how to get CCEE and CCIA certified:

To obtain CCEE, you must pass:

• The 1Y0-A20 XenApp 6.5 Administration exam (note that in most languages, the 6.0 is retired, but not all.)
• The 1Y0-A26 XenServer 6.0 Administration exam.
• The 1Y0-A19 XenDesktop 5 Administration exam.
• The 1Y0-A22 XenApp Advanced Administration exam.
• The 1Y0-A25 Engineering a Citrix Virtualization Solution (available soon, according to Citrix Education.)

To obtain CCIA:

• Pass all of the CCEE exams (above).
• Citrix Education recommends you have “extensive field experience related to architecting Citrix virtualization-based solutions”.
• Pass the 1Y0-A16 Architecting a Citrix Virtualization Solution exam.
• Agree to the CCIA for Virtualization program agreement in Certification Manager.
• Fill out a online profile questionnaire in Certification Manager.

If I have any of that wrong please contact me. If you have any questions about it, please contact Citrix Education





]]> http://citrixxperience.com/2012/02/09/citrix-ccee-and-ccia-requirements-in-a-nutshell/feed/ 3 http://citrixxperience.com/2012/02/09/citrix-ccee-and-ccia-requirements-in-a-nutshell/ nonadult