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virtualization:xenserver:xenserver_add_host_to_pool

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XenServer - Add a Host to a Pool

:!: Be sure to (at least) rename networks to the names used in the pool before joining the new host!

When you add a host to a pool, most things are taken care of for you. However, you will need to configure 'management' interfaces (interfaces with IP addresses) ahead of time or the pool join operations will not work as expected.

On Pool Master

For reference:

ifconfig

xe network-list

On Host to Be Joined

Configure the same labels as on the pool master changing the MTU if necessary for your storage networks:

xe network-list

xe network-param-set name-label=Management uuid=<UUID-xenbr0>
xe network-param-set name-label=GuestPublic uuid=<UUID-xenbr1>
xe network-param-set name-label=BlockStorage MTU=9000 uuid=<UUID-xenbr2> 
xe network-param-set name-label=FileStorage MTU=9000 uuid=<UUID-xenbr3>

:!: The Management interface is configured during XenServer installation, usually eth0.

:!: NICs for VM traffic don't get IP addresses (are not 'management' networks).

Configure IP addresses and storage network parameters for other 'management' networks:

xe pif-list host-name-label=<New XS Host Name>
xe pif-reconfigure-ip IP=<ip-on-storage-net> mode=static netmask=<subnet-mask-of-storage-net> uuid=<storage-nic-uuid>
xe pif-param-set disallow-unplug=true other-config:management_purpose="Storage" uuid=<storage-nic-uuid>

Then join the new host using XenCenter.

Heterogeneous Pools

http://support.citrix.com/article/CTX127059

:!: If you are joining a newer, more capable host to an older, less capable pool, XenCenter will automatically offer to apply the appropriate mask to the new host when it is added.

:!: If you are joining an older, less capable host to a newer, more capable pool, you will have to apply a feature mask to the existing pool before you can join the host to the pool. You will have to reboot the pool member servers after applying the mask.

When hardware differs, and it can differ easily even with CPUs from the same vendor, you must use a technique called CPU masking.

On each host, dump the contents of this command into a text file:

xe host-cpu-info > server1.txt

You'll want both server1.txt and server2.txt on the same XenServer host.

Then download a comparison tool to the same XenServer host that will tell you if the hosts are compatible and output the feature mask you will need to use:

wget http://www.citrix.com/static/ready/downloads/XenServer_Heterogeneous_CPU_Pool_self-test_kit_Oct19.zip
unzip XenServer_Heterogeneous*
chmod +x compare-cpu

Now we run the script against the two text files:

compare-cpu -v server1.txt server2.txt

Then, if compatibility is determined and a mask given, we apply the mask on the pool (master first):

xe host-set-cpu-features features=<mask> uuid=<host_uuid>

reboot

Once the mask is applied and the member servers rebooted, you can use XenCenter to add the new host and it will offer to apply the appropriate mask to the new server.

virtualization/xenserver/xenserver_add_host_to_pool.1425393841.txt.gz · Last modified: 2015/03/03 07:44 by gcooper