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XenCenter
2024 8.2.7
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Installing XenServer VM Tools

June 10, 2024
Contributed by: 
X X

XenServer VM Tools (formerly Citrix VM Tools or XenServer PV Tools) provide high performance I/O services without the overhead of traditional device emulation.

XenServer VM Tools for Windows

XenServer VM Tools for Windows consist of I/O drivers (also known as paravirtualized drivers or PV drivers) and the Management Agent.

The I/O drivers contain storage and network drivers, and low-level management interfaces. These drivers replace the emulated devices and provide high-speed transport between Windows and the XenServer product family software. While installing a Windows operating system, XenServer uses traditional device emulation to present a standard IDE controller and a standard network card to the VM. This emulation allows the Windows installation to use built-in drivers, but with reduced performance due to the overhead inherent in emulating the controller drivers.

The Management Agent, also known as the Guest Agent, is responsible for high-level virtual machine management features and provides a full set of functions to XenCenter

Get the XenServer VM Tools for Windows installer from the XenServer downloads page.

The version of the XenServer VM Tools for Windows is updated independently of the version of XenServer. For more information about the latest version of the tools, see Updates to XenServer VM Tools for Windows.

Install the latest version of XenServer VM Tools for Windows on each Windows VM for that VM to have a fully supported configuration, and to be able to use the xe CLI or XenCenter. A VM functions without the XenServer VM Tools for Windows, but performance is hampered when the I/O drivers are not installed. Install XenServer VM Tools for Windows on Windows VMs to be able to perform the following operations:

  • Cleanly shut down, reboot, or suspend a VM

  • View VM performance data in XenCenter

  • Migrate a running VM (using live migration or storage live migration)

  • Create snapshots with memory (checkpoints) or revert to snapshots

For more information, see Install XenServer VM Tools for Windows.

XenServer VM Tools for Linux

XenServer VM Tools for Linux contain a guest agent that provides extra information about the VM to the host.

Get the XenServer VM Tools for Linux installer from the XenServer downloads page.

Install the XenServer VM Tools for Linux on Linux VMs to be able to perform the following operations:

  • View VM performance data in XenCenter.

    For example, the following memory performance values are visible in XenCenter only when the XenServer VM Tools are installed: “Used Memory”, “Disks”, Network” and “Address”.

  • In XenCenter, view the Linux guest operating system information.

  • In the XenCenter Networking tab, view the IP address of the VM.

  • Launch an SSH Console to the VM from XenCenter.

  • Adjust the number of vCPUs on a running Linux VM.

  • Enable Dynamic Memory Control (DMC).

    Note:

    You cannot use the Dynamic Memory Control (DMC) feature on Red Hat Enterprise Linux 8, Red Hat Enterprise Linux 9, Rocky Linux 8, Rocky Linux 9, or CentOS Stream 9 VMs as these operating systems do not support memory ballooning with the Xen hypervisor.

For more information, see Install XenServer VM Tools for Linux.

Important:

To have a supported configuration when running a VM, ensure that you install XenServer VM Tools. While a Windows VM can function without them, performance is hampered when the I/O drivers are not installed. Run Windows VMs with these drivers to be supported. Some features, such as live relocation across physical hosts, are available only with the I/O drivers installed and active.

Finding out the virtualization state of a VM

XenCenter reports the virtualization state of a VM on the VM’s General tab. You can see whether XenServer VM Tools (I/O drivers and the Management Agent) are installed, and whether the VM can install and receive updates from Windows Update. The following section lists the messages displayed in XenCenter:

I/O optimized (not optimized) - displays whether the I/O drivers are installed on the VM.

Management Agent installed (not installed) - displays whether the latest version of the Management Agent is installed on the VM.

Able to (Not able to) receive updates from Windows Update - specifies whether the VM is able to receive I/O drivers from Windows Update.

Install I/O drivers and Management Agent - indicates that the VM does not have the I/O drivers or the Management Agent installed.

Note:

If you have many VMs on your server or a pool, select the server or pool on the Resources pane and select the Search tab. From the Saved Searches list, select VMs without XenServer VM Tools Installed. This search displays a list of VMs that do not have XenServer VM Tools installed.

Updating XenServer VM Tools

XenServer has a simpler mechanism to automatically update I/O drivers (PV drivers) and the Management Agent for Windows VMs. This mechanism enables customers to install updates as they become available, without having to wait for a hotfix.

The Virtualization state section on a VM’s General tab specifies whether the VM is able to receive updates from Windows Update. The mechanism to receive I/O driver updates from Windows Update is turned on by default. If you do not want to receive I/O driver updates from Windows Update, disable Windows Update on your VM, or specify a group policy.

Important:

  • If you are currently using the 8.2.x.x drivers or earlier and want to use the Management Agent MSI file to update to the latest version of the drivers, you must use Device Manager to uninstall the 8.2.x.x drivers from your VM before installing these drivers. If you do not complete this step, the MSI install process fails.

  • We recommend that you snapshot your VM before installing or updating the XenServer VM Tools.

  • Ensure that all requested VM restarts are completed as part of the update. Multiple restarts might be required. If all requested restarts are not completed, this update might result in unexpected behavior.

Updating the I/O drivers

You can get I/O driver updates automatically from Microsoft Windows Update, provided:

  • You have created a Windows VM using XenCenter issued with XenServer 7.0 or later
  • Windows Update is enabled within the VM
  • You have access to the internet, or are able to connect to a WSUS proxy server

Note:

Customers can also receive I/O driver updates automatically through the automatic Management Agent update mechanism. See Updating the Management Agent for details.

Updating the Management Agent

XenServer enables you to automatically update the Management Agent on both new and existing Windows VMs. By default, XenServer allows the automatic updating of the Management Agent. However, it does not allow the Management Agent to update the I/O drivers automatically. You can customize the Management Agent update settings during XenServer VM Tools installation. For more information, see Install XenServer VM Tools for Windows. The automatic updating of the Management Agent occurs seamlessly, and does not reboot your VM. In scenarios where a VM reboot is required, XenCenter issues notification to users about the required action.

To update the Management Agent automatically:

  • You must have installed XenServer VM Tools issued with XenServer 7.0 or later
  • The Windows VM must be connected to the internet
Installing XenServer VM Tools
June 10, 2024
Contributed by: 
X X
June 10, 2024
Contributed by: 
X X

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