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General |
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Central Management
Details
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=AU20
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Yes (XenCenter), SCVMM (see details)
XenCenter is the central Windows-based multi-server management application (client) for XenServer hosts (including the open source version).
It is different to other management apps (e.g. SCVMM or vCenter) which typically have a management server/management client architecture where the management server holds centralized configuration information (typically in a 3rd party DB). Unlike these management consoles, XenCenter distributes management data across XenServer servers (hosts) in a resource pool to ensure there is no single point of management failure. If a management server (host) should fail, any other server in the pool can take over the management role. XenCenter is essentially only the client.
License administration is done using a separate web interface.
XenServer 6 introduced the ability to manage XenServer hosts and VMs with System Center Virtual Machine Manager (SCVMM) 2012. System Center Operations Manager (SCOM) 2012 will also be able to manage and monitor XenServer hosts and VMs. System Center integration is available with a special supplemental pack from Citrix.
Citrix announced with v 6.2 that several features will not be further developed and will be removed in a later release. These deprecated features function as in XenServer 6.1.0 and will remain supported, providing a period of overlap while third-party products or alternative solutions are established.
WLB has returned to XenServer 6.5 (Enterprise Edition) having been retired with the launch of XenServer 6.2. The deprecation notice for DVSC has also been rescinded within XenServer 6.5.
This initially included: Microsoft System Center Virtual Machine Manager (SCVMM) support
However, Citrix confirmed: Citrix is not deprecating support for SCVMM. However, SCVMM 2012 R2 does not currently support XS 6.2 (this being a Microsoft decision), because XS 6.2 was not released in time for this to happen).
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Virtual and Physical
Details
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=AU21
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No
XenCenter focusses on managing the virtual infrastructure (XenServer host and the associated virtual machines).
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RBAC / AD-Integration
Details
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=AU22
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Yes (hosts/XenCenter)
XenServer 5.6 introduced Role Based Access Control by allowing the mapping of a user (or a group of users) to defined roles (a named set of permissions), which in turn have the ability to perform certain operations. RBAC depends on Active Directory for authentication services. Specifically, XenServer keeps a list of authorized users based on Active Directory user and group accounts. As a result, you must join the pool to the domain and add Active Directory accounts before you can assign roles.
There are 6 default roles: Pool Admin, Pool Operator, VM Power Admin, VM Admin, VM Operator and Read Only - which can be listed and modified using the xe CLI.
Details here: http://bit.ly/1E2HvQ7
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Cross-Vendor Mgmt
Details
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=AU23
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No (native)
Yes (Vendor Add-On: CloudPlatform)
XenCenter only manages Citrix XenServer hosts.
Comments:
- Citrixs Desktop Virtualization product (XenDesktop, fee based add-on) supports multiple hypervisors (ESX, XenServer, Hyper-V)
- Citrixs CloudPlatform supports multiple hypervisors including Citrix XenServer, Xen, KVM, VMware vSphere and Oracle VM (multiple hypervisors within a single cloud)
- The Citrix XenServer Conversion Manager in 6.1 now enables batch import of VMs created with VMware products into a XenServer pool to reduce costs of converting to a XenServer environment).
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Browser Based Mgmt
Details
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=AU24
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No (Web Self Service: retired)
Web Self Service (retired with the launch of XenServer 6.2) was a lightweight portal which allowed individuals to operate their own virtual machines without having administrator credentials to the XenServer host. For large infrastructures, Citrix CloudPlatform is a full orchestration product with far greater capability; for a lightweight alternative, xvpsource.org offers a free open source product.
Related Citrix products have browser based access, examples are Storefront (next generation of Web Interface) and Citrixs (separate) CloudPortal product line that contains CloudPortal Service Manager, a web portal for onboarding, provisioning and customer self-service http://www.citrix.com/English/ps2/products/feature.asp?contentID=2316906
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Adv. Operation Management
Details
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vRealize Operations Edition Standard
This edition includes the vRealize Operations Standard Edition providing:
- Health monitoring and performance analytics help anticipate performance bottlenecks and enable vSphere infrastructure health with patented self-learning analytics
- Capacity management and optimization ensure that capacity consumption is appropriately sized and not overprovisioned to provide the most efficient use of virtualized resources
- Operations dashboards and root-cause analysis provide intuitive operations dashboards and actionable recommendations
Details here: https://www.vmware.com/uk/products/vrealize-suite/features.html
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No
There is no advanced operations management tool included with XenServer.
Additional Info:
XenServers Integration Suite Supplemental Pack allows inter-operation with Microsofts System Center Virtual Machine Manager 2012 (SCVMM) and Systems Center Operations Manager (SCOM). SCOM enables monitoring of host performance when installed on a XenServer host.
Both of these tools can be integrated with your XenServer pool by installing the Integration Suite Supplemental Pack on each of your XenServer hosts.
For virtual desktop environments Citrix EdgeSight is a performance and availability management solution for XenDesktop, XenApp and endpoint systems. EdgeSight monitors applications, devices, sessions, license usage, and the network in real time, allowing users to quickly analyze, resolve, and proactively prevent problems.
System Center and EdgeSight are separate products not included with the XenServer license.
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Updates and Backup |
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Hypervisor Upgrades
Details
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=AU38
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The XenCenter released with XenServer 6.5 allows updates to be applied to all versions of XenServer (commercial and free)
With XenServer 6.5 patching and updating via the XenCenter management console (enabling automated GUI driven patch application and upgrades) is supported with the comercial and free XenServer versions.
XenServer 6 introduced the Rolling Pool Upgrade Wizard. The Wizard simplifies upgrades to XenServer 6.x by performing pre-checks with a step-by-step process that blocks unsupported upgrades. You can choose between automated or semi-automated, where automated can use a network based XenServer update repository (which you have to create) while semi-automated requires local install media. There are still manual steps required for both approaches and no scheduling functionality or online repository is integrated.
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=AU39
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No
There is no integrated update engine for guest OS of the virtual machines
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=AU40
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yes
You can take regular snapshots, application consistent point-in-time snapshots (requires Microsoft VSS) and snapshots with memory of a running or suspended VM. All snapshot activities (take/delete/revert) can be done while VM is online.
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Backup Integration API
Details
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=AU41
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Limited
There is no specific backup framework for integration of 3rd party backup solutions as such however the XenServer API allows for scripting (e.g. utilizing XenServer snapshots) and basic integration with 3rd party backup products and scripting (e.g. utilizing XenServer snapshots) e.g. PHD backup
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Integrated Backup
Details
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=AU42
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No (Retired)
Citrix retired the Virtual Machine Protection and Recovery (VMPR) in XenServer 6.2. VMPR was the method of backing up snapshots as Virtual Appliances.
Alternative backup products are available from Quadric Software, SEP, and PHD Virtual
Background:
With XenServer 6, VM Protection and Recovery (VMPR) became available for Advanced, Enterprise and Platinum Edition customers.
XenServer 5.6 SP1 introduced a basic XenCenter-based backup and restore facility, the VM Protection and Recovery (VMPR) which provides a simple backup and restore utility for your
critical vims. Regular scheduled snapshots are taken automatically and can be used to restore VMs in case of disaster. Scheduled snapshots can also be automatically archived to a remote CIFS or NFS share, providing an additional level of security.
Additionally the XenServer API allows for scripting of snapshots. You can also (manually or script) export and import virtual machines for backup purposes.
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Deployment |
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Automated Host Deployments
Details
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=AU43
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No
There is no integrated host deployment mechanism in XenServer - manual local or network repository based deployments are required.
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