What is Citrix XenServer & Import XVA into XenServer
Know About What is Citrix XenServer & their File Formats
What is Citrix XenServer – It is a rapidly growing virtual management system, which is optimized for developing an infrastructure of desktop, application, and the server virtualization. This is a desktop-based application, which contributes a lot to the development of an organization. It is based on the Xen hypervisor that enables IT admins to deploy, host, and manage virtual machines from a single device. This article describes about What is Citrix XenServer & How to Import XVA into XenServer.
What is Citrix XenServer Virtualization
Server Virtualization is an organized concept, which provides functioning of several virtual machines from a single physical server. In this process, all virtual systems will be isolated from each other and are dissociated from a primary host, via a thin layer named as a Hypervisor. It allow users to run multiple operating systems (or programs) on a single machine. A client can easily switch from one physical host server to another, even when they are in ON mode (this is termed as Live Migration). Such advanced strategies are making vast changes in IT sector, and also upgrading technology to an another level i.e., virtual computing.
There are multiple features of the XenServer program and some of them are highlighted below:
- Heterogeneous Resource Pool
- Recovery from Site
- Live VM Migration
- Multiple server Management
- Core Platform
Technical Information About Citrix XenServer
| Developer | Linux Organization |
|---|---|
| Release Date | 2nd October 2003 |
| Application Type | Hypervisor |
| Latest Version | 4.7 |
Citrix XenServer File Format
After Understanding What is Citrix XenServer, you need to understand its associated File Formats. There are several Citrix Xenserver file format, which are created or are related to a Citrix XenServer Virtual Machine and they are described below:
Open Virtualization Format: It is Citrix Xenserver file format, which provides a way to describe attributes of a virtual system. It is XML-based file, which is having permission to extend its size to a certain limit. This file format comprises of entire information about virtual disk image file format and has a brief knowledge about virtual hardware components, which are used for executing programs involved in a disk image.
- Open Virtual Appliance File: A package of multiple OVF files with all corresponding system files is addressed as an Open Virtual Appliance (or, OVA) file. With help of OVF specifications, one can get to know all of the requirements for a valid package of OVA. Moreover, due to such concept, few computer users consider OVA and OVF files as the same format.
- XenServer Virtual Appliance File: It archives entire data for one particular Virtual Appliance, which is actually a virtual machine that comprises of pre-defined operating systems and programs. Basically, it is an administrative means for virtualization of the Citrix XenServer. This Citrix Xenserver file format involves descriptive details of virtual appliances configuration and disk images, used in a virtual machine.
- XenServer Version 1(ova.xml): This is a format that is used for combining a single virtual machine as a file set, which includes multiple disk images and a descriptor (ova.xml). The descriptor indicates the hardware of a single virtual machine. In addition, the basename of each file comprises of chunk number (in decimals).
- Virtual Hard Disk Files: The VHD file is used to archive complete information about hard disk drive. Since VHD is used as a hard disk of the virtual machine, therefore, one can consider this file as a one, which is representing a virtual hard disk drive. These VHD files are used to store information related to virtual servers and the Hyper-V hypervisors. A VHD file might also comprise of a physical HDD like file systems, files, folders, etc.
- VMware Virtual Machine Disk File: A VMDK file includes information related to the virtual machine. This file is totally independent and had complete data related to a virtual machine. However, this file format was initiated by VMware machines but with a change in technology, VMDK file now became an open file format.
Ways to Use Citrix XenServer File : OVF or OVA file
Sometimes after understanding What is Citrix XenServer, users get confused that how should they use Citrix XenServer file format OVF or OVA files. Therefore, following points will them help in clearing their doubts:
- One can use the file for saving more than one virtual machine.
- In order to secure virtual machines and programs from corruption, users can make use this file.
- These files are very much useful when clients need to share XenServer VMs with others.
- The file provides an ease in managing multiple OVF files by combining all files in a OVA package & understanding What is Citrix XenServer more clearly
Procedure to Import XVA Into XenServer
Go through following set of instructions to Import XVA into XenServerr application:
Note: Remember that when users are importing file in the server, they are creating a new VM in it.
- Launch Citrix XenServer application on your machine.
- Go to File >> Import to open import wizard to Import XVA into XenServer.
- Click on Browse button for selecting an XVA file.
- Navigate towards the location where file with .xva extension is saved and then select it.
- Now go through further procedure to Import XVA into XenServer and after completion, restart the application
Conclusion
This article is an effort to describe What is Citrix XenServer, Import XVA into XenServer & How XenServer can be considered as a comprehensive virtualized server, which comprises of many enterprise level features within it. These features help in handling different workload on the server, combined operating systems, and storage or networking configuration. Features like advanced virtual interface with help of NVIDIA and Intel, and the modern security measures with Direct Inspect APIs, make this Citrix XenServer application beneficial for enterprise users.