Join Active Director y domain for XenServer [Citrix Guide]

XenServer is one of well-known Type-I hypervisor in the world. In the new release of 5.6 and 5.6 FP1, you can use Active directory for authentication and permission authorization.  This time, I will show you how to join a domain for XenServer by command line. XenServer must join domain in order to delegate permission.

Firstly, log on your XenServer by SSH or console(like HP iLO ) as root

Like joining a domain for a windows machine, please configure the DNS server for your all XenServers in your pool.

e.g. if your DNS server is 192.168.0.20, type following:

In this example, my domain name is "demo.gx"

Forget all netbios domain name as XenServer does not know what it is.

Type following:

 

The CLi syntax is :
 
xe pool-enable-external-auth auth-type=AD service-name=
config:user= config:pass=

Now you have joined a domain for a XenServer pool.

You can see something like following if you logon XenCenter

Friendly reminder: after joining domain , you can still access XenServer using root account.

PS: Don't ask me why not use XenCenter to do all jobs. you will feel how shit XenCenter is if you use it for administration. ^.^

Next time, I will show you how to assign permission of XenServer to Active Directory users/groups.

Installing XenServer 5.6 Feature Pack 1 [Guide]

Citrix just released a new update version of XenServer --- XenServer 5.6 Feature Pack 1. You can find the new feature here.

XenServer installation media consists of 2 disks: installation CD and Linux support CD.

Now I will show go through the installation with you. Ready ? let's go...

Boot your server  with installation CD,

 Press enter.

Select Keyboard type 

Press F9 if needed, Then select OK

Select "Accept EULA"

You may see this box if your Server has Intel VT/ AMD-V disabled. You can enable it after installation. Select OK to continue first.

Select the disk for installation and select OK

 Select the installation type. Select "local media" if you install from CD

Select Yes to install Linux Support CD

Select "Skip verification" and OK

Fill in root password

Select the management interface. you can change it after installtion

Define IP address configuration. You are highly recommended to assign a fixed IP.

Define hostname and DNS server. You must fill in at least 1 DNS server before continue.

Select Time Zone and OK

 Select your City and OK

Select Time source. Select NTP server is recommended.

Fill in NTP server

Select "Install XenServer" to start installation

Installation in progress...

Insert Linux Support CD and select OK to continue. 

 

 Select "Use"

 Select "Skip"

when installation complete, remove any CD select OK.

 When reboot complete, you will see this console screen.
Now, XenServer is ready to use.

In order to use a graphic interface(GUI) to manage XenServer, you need a tiny software --- XenCenter (get it here) Install XenCenter on your Windows PC now...