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Chapter 5. Creating Linux VMs
This chapter discusses how to create Linux VMs, either by installing them or cloning them. This chapter also
contains vendor-specific installation instructions.
When you want to create a new VM, you must create the VM using a template for the operating system you
want to run on the VM. You can use a template Citrix provides for your operating system, or one that you created
previously. You can create the VM from either XenCenter or the CLI. This chapter will focus on using the CLI.
You will need to install the XenServer Tools immediately after installing the operating system. For some operating
systems, the XenServer Tools includes a XenServer specific kernel, which replaces the kernel provided by the
vendor. Other operating systems, such as RHEL 5.x require you to install a specific version of a vendor provided
kernel.
Warning:
Running a VM without installing the XenServer Tools is not a supported configuration, so Citrix
recommends that you install the tools immediately after Operating System installation. For
more information, see Section 2.3, “XenServer Tools”.
The overview for creating a Linux VM is as following:
1. Create the VM for your target operating system using XenCenter or the CLI.
2. Install the operating system using vendor installation media.
3. Install the XenServer Tools.
4. Configure the correct time and time zone on the VM and VNC as you would in a normal non-virtual
environment.
XenServer supports the installation of many Linux distributions as VMs. There are three installation mechanisms:
1. Installing from an internet repository
2. Installing from a physical CD
3. Installing from an ISO library
Warning:
The Other install media template is meant for advanced users who want to attempt to install
VMs running unsupported operating systems. XenServer has been tested running only the
supported distributions and specific versions covered by the standard supplied templates,
and any VMs installed using the Other install media template are not supported.
Note that VMs created using the Other install media template will be created as HVM guests,
which means that the Linux VMs created using this template will not be able to use the native
high-performance drivers (PV drivers) included in modern kernels.
For information regarding specific Linux distributions, see Section 5.6, “Additional Installation Notes for Linux
Distributions”.
