4 4 3:Citrix XenServer Requirements and Configuration

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Overview

This article describes requirements and configuration steps for SEP sesam integration with Citrix XenServer. Note that the procedures introduced in this article are the required configuration steps to set up Citrix XenServer SEP sesam integration. For details on Citrix XenServer integration key features and backup configuration, see Citrix XenServer Backup.

Requirements

  • Check the SEP sesam OS and Database Support Matrix for the list of supported Citrix XenServer versions.
  • SEP sesam Server . Citrix XenServer backup client is already included in all SEP sesam packages.
  • Each XenServer must have a dedicated management interface.
  • In a cluster configuration where more XenServers are organized in a pool, the pool master XenServer must be configured as a SEP sesam Client.
Information sign.png Note
The backup traffic always goes over the management interface of the XenServer. Make sure you get good network performance, for example 2x 10 Gbit network interfaces as a bond on the XenServer as well as on the backup server.

SEP sesam data mover for Citrix XenServer (SDM-CX)

A data mover for VMware vSphere is required to run a SEP sesam backup and restore in a Citrix XenServer environment. SEP sesam data mover is a functional role allowing access to a third-party software API. It tells the SEP sesam Server that the original client can only be reached by sending the request to the data mover. A data mover role for VMware vSphere can be combined either with a SEP sesam Server, SEP sesam Remote Device Server or a SEP sesam Client.

  • Supported operating systems are Windows and Linux. For details on supported versions, check the support matrix.
  • Any of the following SEP sesam components must be installed: SEP sesam Server, RDS or client.
  • A regular path backup has to work. For details on typical backup configuration, see Standard Backup Procedure.

Configuring XenServer as a SEP sesam Client

To protect your virtual machines, you must configure your XenServer as a SEP sesam Client. Make sure that the prerequisites are met before starting with configuration. The options for configuring XenServer may differ slightly depending on your SEP sesam version.

  1. From Main Selection -> Components -> Topology, select the relevant location and click the New client button. The New client window opens.
  2. In the New client window, enter the management interface DNS name of the pool master. If you fail to enter the correct DNS name of the pool master, browsing XenServer environment will not work.
  3. Under Operating system drop-down list, select the Citrix XenServer.
  4. As of SEP sesam v. 4.4.3, the only supported access mode is PROXY, which is set by default when the Citrix XenServer operating system is selected.
  5. Information sign.png Note
    If you are using SEP sesam version ≥ 4.4.3, make sure that the PROXY access mode is selected. If the access mode CTRL is used, an error occurs when SEP sesam Server checks the connection to the SEP sesam XenServer client.
    Add client XenServer.png


  6. Click the tab Citrix XenServer and enter root/admin credentials for XenServer.
  7. Select a data mover. The data mover must be the hostname of the SEP sesam Server or a non-Citrix Xen client. For details on requirements, see SEP sesam DataMover for Citrix XenServer (SDM-CX).
  8. Add client-account XenServer.png


  9. Click OK to add the new client.

Selecting https instead of http connection

SEP sesam uses the http protocol as a default connection to ensure better performance when transferring data from XenServer to SEP sesam Server. Backups over https can cause up to 98% CPU load on XenServer.

However, you can change the protocol to the secure https (secure with SSL) connection by specifying the https protocol under Backup task -> Properties -> Options as follows:

 -a http=https

Known issues

If you have problems with Citrix XenServer, check the Troubleshooting Guide.

See also

Citrix XenServer BackupCitrix XenServer Restore