Citrix XenCenter client GUI to manage XenServer host
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Recently i have installed Citrix XenServer 5.0.0 on one of the HP proliant servers and find out that similar to VMware ESX host there is no Graphical user interface (GUI) available for host and for Virtual machine (vm’s) administration. In VMware ESX environment you need to purchase and install VMware infrastructure server then you can install VMware infrastructure (VI) client on your local administrative workstation/PC to manage host virtual machines (VM’s).
In Citrix XenServer there is no GUI available on XenServer host and no GUI administration tool exists on host to manage virtual machines. I have downloaded Citrix XenServer 5.0.0 from Citrix download website but find no information on GUI tool for managing XenServer virtual machines.
After reading XenServer 5.0.0 installation Guide i came to know that there is client application called XenCenter which is pretty similar to VI3 client that can be installed on any Windows 2003, Windows XP, Windows vista workstation or laptop to manage XenServer host.
The following system requirement to install XenCenter :
Operating system = Windows XP, Windows Server 2003, or Windows Vista
.NET framework = version 2.0 or above
CPU Speed = 750 MHz minimum, 1 GHz or faster recommended
RAM/Memory = 1 GB minimum, 2 GB or more recommended
Disk space = 100 MB minimum
Network interface card =100Mb or faster NIC
In comparison Citrix XenServer is good for small/medium business because unlike VMware ESX environment you don’t need to purchase Citrix XenCenter. Citrix XenCenter is freely available for downloads.Citrix XenCenter comes with XenServer installer CD. You can download Citrix XenServer 5.0 CD ISO image from Citrix download page ,there is no extra cost for XenCenter unlike VMware environment. You can read here to learn more about XenCenter download information.
For installing Citrix XenCenter you don’t need to install setup separate server like VMware infrastructure, Citrix XenCenter client can be installed on any Windows (XP,Vista and 2003) workstation , Citrix XenServer hosts can be added directly onto XenCenter client.The XenCenter client communicates with the XenServer host using standard TCP/IP protocol, the communication between XenCenter and XenServer host use 128-bit SSL encryption.If you are using XenServer Express edition then you wouldn’t be able to connect to multiple XenServer (express edition ) hosts however with Enterprise version of Xenserver hosts you can connect to server hosts using single XenCenter client. The Citrix XenCenter client by default provide built-in Graphical access to Windows Virtual machine console ,for Linux virtual machines text based built-in console is available.
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