Getting Started with Citrix Xen

The Virtual Server Agent (VSA) for Xen allows you to analyze, back up and recover virtual machines on one or more XenServers. The agent is installed on a proxy computer that can communicate with all the virtual machines in a Xen pool or standalone XenServer. This proxy computer is always a virtual machine residing on a XenServer and is reserved specifically for data protection operations.

If your environment includes a shared storage repository, install the VSA on a VM that has access to shared storage. To deploy additional VSA proxies, you can install the Virtual Server Agent on additional VMs. If your environment includes local storage, you must deploy proxies that can access the local storage.

Step 1: Before You Begin

• This page assumes you have already installed CommServe software. If not, refer to the CommCell Quick Start Guide.

• Review possible deployment scenarios.

• Refer to the following information to learn more about the requirements and capabilities of the Virtual Server Agent for Red Hat Enterprise Virtualization:

  • System Requirements

  • License Requirements

  • Supported Features

Step 2: Install the Virtual Server Agent

Review each of the following topics to get started with the installation:

• Prepare the Installation on Windows Computers

  Review general guidelines to prepare for the installation, which include configurations that your computer might need before the installation.

• Preinstallation Checklist for the Virtual Server Agent

  Review agent specific guidelines to prepare for the installation, such as gathering the information that you must provide during the installation.

• Installation Methods

  Select the installation method that is most appropriate for your environment.

Installing the Virtual Server Agent creates a client computer entry for the VSA in the CommCell Console.

Step 3: Prepare for Your First Backup and Restore

1. Open the CommCell Console.

2. Configure a storage device.

3. Optional: Configure a Storage Policy. See Storage Policy - Getting Started.

4. Create a Xen Virtualization Client.

   The Xen instance, Defaultbackupset, and Default subclient are automatically created for the virtualization client.

5. Add a user-defined subclient.

6. Optional: Decide whether to add the following functionality:

   • To be notified of events that require attention, see Alerts and Notifications - Overview.

   • To report and analyze critical data about your CommCell operations, see Reports Overview.

   • To manage security, see User Account and Password Management - Getting Started.

Step 4: Run Your First Backup and Restore

1. Back up the subclient.

2. Restore virtual machines to a different XenServer.

Step 5: Where to Go from Here

• For additional configuration options, see Configuration for Citrix Xen.

• To configure data retention and data aging for this agent, see Data Aging - Getting Started.