With the release of XenServer 5.6 Feature Pack 1 it was due time to upgrade my Homelab to the latest version. So eagerly I started to burn the downloaded iso files for the install and linux supplement pack CDs and burned the ISO files to CDs. With a quick scan through the Admin Guide, I figured I understood the process and made my first mistake.
I performed the upgrade in the wrong order, so had to do some troubleshooting.
One of the create extra features on most NICs nowadays is the support for Wake On LAN. An option to wake up your system by sending a signal to your Network Interface Card (NIC). This signal can be a so called Magic Packet.
All you need for this option is a Motherboard that supports Wake-On-LAN (WOL) or Power Management Events (PME); which has to be enabled in the BIOS. And a NIC that also supports WOL. Even though WOL is Operation System independent, it’s behavior is usually configured from within the OS.
I want to be able to use WOL as a startup method for my XenServer systems, Therefore I looked at the options Linux has to offer to enable a NIC to listen for special WOL packets and boot up the system.
This post offers instructions to enable the WOL support with XenServer 5.5.
As I’m discovering the CLI options I can revert to for scripting automated jobs for the XenServer 5.5 environment, I wanted to check out the new PowerShell Snapin provided by Citrix. After downloading and installing the XS-PS Windows installer I discovered that the PowerShell cmdlets were only installed for the PowerShell (X86) console and were not installed for the 64-bits console.
Fortunately for me a solution is mentioned on the XenServer SDK download page
In order to use the cmdlets in the 64-bits PowerShell Console, all you need to do is run the following command after the msi install in a command box:
C:\Windows\Microsoft.NET\Framework64\v2.0.50727>InstallUtil.exe "c:\Program File
s (x86)\Citrix\XenServerPSSnapIn\XenServerPSSnapIn.dll"
The only NAS experience I’ve had so far has been with a Linksys NAS, providing nothing more than SMB protocol fileshares. The SMB fileshare protocol makes the Linksys sufficient enough for file sharing in a home network but definately not a NAS device suitable for a Virtualization environment.
Obviously I needed more Storage protocol options, like NFS and iSCSI to run some real simulations. And even though I’ve read about different Virtual Storage solutions, like the Celerra VSA, I still wanted to buy new NAS hardware. Hence I decided to buy the Iomega x2-200d StorCenter, which provides iSCSI and NFS protocols as well as the (traditional) CIFS. And along with a fair price and official XenServer and VMware certified status it makes up for a great homelab NAS.
Eager to try out the many options, I started to play with the StorCenter, without setting up my entire network first (no VLANs configured so far). First up was a try-out of the NFS and iSCSI options the StorCenter has to offer.
Feb 28
A couple of weeks ago I started my first IT Quest. Reading on numerous blogs about the homelabs most of the Virtualization Experts have installed I figured it was the first big step for me to take as well. After all a XenServer certification isn’t worth much in my opinion if you don’t get the hands on experience to really know what you are consulting about. And I’d rather not be depended on the test facilities at the clients I’m consulting.
So to keep my knowledge up-to-date and learn even more new tips and tricks, I’ve bought two whiteboxes, a NAS and a 8-port Managed Switch. All the ingredients for my First Homelab experience. (Thankfully collected from the Expert blogs I’ve read.
I decided to use my savings for the new motorcycle (didn’t hear a complaint from my partner on that one) to buy the good stuff right away. So here’s the specs for the hardware that from now on will be known as my first Homelab.
The configuration of each whitebox is:
Additional Hardware:
So I’m all good to go for the next IT Quests to come …
The following sources have be read prior to ordering my own homelab configuration:
Gabes Virtual World » My new whitebox ESX home lab
NTPRO » A VMware High-Availability Cluster at Home
Yellow Bricks » My homelab