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Chapter 3. Installing XenServer and
XenCenter
This chapter steps through installing the XenServer host software on physical servers, installing XenCenter on
Windows workstations and connecting them to form the infrastructure for creating and running virtual machines
(VMs).
After guiding you through installation, this chapter describes a selection of common installation and deployment
scenarios.
3.1. Installation Media and Methods
The XenServer host consists of a Xen-enabled Linux operating system, a management agent, VM templates, and a
local storage repository reserved for VMs. The XenServer host must be installed on a dedicated 64-bit x86 server.
Note:
Do not install any other operating system in a dual-boot configuration with the XenServer
host; this is an unsupported configuration.
Installation Media
Installers for both the XenServer host and XenCenter are located on the installation media. The installation media
also includes the Readme First, which provides descriptions of and links to helpful resources, including product
documentation for XenServer and XenServer components.
Installation Methods
There are three methods by which to install the XenServer host:
• From a CD
You can download the installer (ISO file format) and burn it to a CD. To download the installer, visit
www.citrix.com/xenserver.
The main XenServer installation file contains the basic packages required to set up XenServer on your host and
install XenCenter on your Windows computer, in conjunction with the desired Windows installation media.
• Set up a network-accessible TFTP server to boot using PXE
For details about setting up an TFTP server for PXE-booting the installer, see Appendix C, PXE Boot Installations.
• Install XenServer to a remote disk on a SAN to enable boot from SAN
For details, see Appendix B, Boot From SAN Environments.
Supplemental Packs
You can install any required supplemental pack after installing XenServer. To do so, mount the appropriate
installation media on the XenServer host, and then run the script install.sh, located in the root directory of the CD.
Upgrades
The installer presents the option to upgrade if it detects a previously installed version of XenServer. The upgrade
process follows the first-time installation process, but several setup steps are bypassed. The existing settings are
retained, including networking configuration, system time and so on.
Important: