Creating backups of running VMs in XenServer

First look for the uuid of the VMs to backup. We don’t want to backup the control domain itself, so we add is-control-domain=false to the vm-list command and we also don’t want backups of snapshots so we add is-a-snapshot=false:

xe vm-list is-control-domain=false is-a-snapshot=false

Now we create a snapshot of the VMs we want to backup, replacing the uuid one by one with the ones we found with the previous command. Also replace the name of the snapshot if desired:

xe vm-snapshot uuid=d61bfc1a-33b2-5406-7ea5-76e4f7113220 new-name-label=snapshotname

This command has a return value: the uuid of the created snapshot. Then we transform the snapshot into a VM to be able to save it to a file, replacing uuid with the return value of the previous command:

xe template-param-set is-a-template=false ha-always-run=false uuid=b759625c-eab5-4e0f-be5e-a05bcbad869a

In the next step we save the snapshot to a file, replacing uuid with the snapshot uuid and providing a meaningful filename:

xe vm-export vm=b759625c-eab5-4e0f-be5e-a05bcbad869a filename=filename.xva

In the final step we delete the snapshot:

xe vm-uninstall uuid=b759625c-eab5-4e0f-be5e-a05bcbad869a force=true

http://www.jansipke.nl/creating-backups-of-running-vms-in-xenserver/

SAS HBA is not Recognized by the Storage Manager in XenServer

This type of HBA makes use of the mpt2sas driver, and models of this HBA are manufactured by various manufacturers, including HP and Dell. 

Other LSI HBAs are unaffected.

1. Use the xe CLI command on the XenServer host:

Find the Universally Unique Identifier (UUID) of the XenServer host by running the following command: 

# xe host-list | grep uuid 

2. Run the following command to display a list of all disks that are recognized by XenServer and identify the disk(s) presented by the storage array: 

# fdisk -l 

(This example assumes that the storage array’s disk is /dev/sdb)

3. To find the SCSI ID of the disk /dev/sdb, enter the following command:

# scsi_id -g -u -s /block/sdb 

This returns a 49 character hex string, known in the next step as <scsi-id-hex-string> .

4. To create a storage repository on /dev/sdb run the following command: 

# xe sr-create host-uuid=<host-uuid> content-type=user \ 

        name-label="Shared storage on SAS Array" shared=true \ 

        device-config:SCSIid=<scsi-id-hex-string> type=lvmohba 

5. To verify that /dev/sdb was added as a storage repsitory, run the following command :

# xe sr-list

XenCenter should now display an entry for this storage repository.

*** Enable multipathing***

http://support.citrix.com/article/CTX125812

CD/DVD TSST Corp TS-H653H ATA Not Recognised

The problem you are experiencing is not a hardware problem, it is a Windows software issue.  The manual instructions for Windows 7 ............

1. Click Start, and then click All Programs. 
2. Click Accessories, and then click Run. 
3. Type regedit, and then click OK.  If you are prompted for an administrator password or for a confirmation, type the password, or click Allow. 
4. In the navigation pane, locate and then click the following registry subkey:

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Control\Class\{4D36E965-E325-11CE-BFC1-08002BE10318}

5. In the right pane, click UpperFilters.

Note You may also see an UpperFilters.bak registry entry. You do not have to remove that entry. Click UpperFilters only. If you do not see the UpperFilters registry entry, you still might have to remove the LowerFilters registry entry. To do this, go to step 8.

6. On the Edit menu, click Delete. 
7. When you are prompted to confirm the deletion, click Yes. 
8. In the right pane, click LowerFilters.

Note If you do not see the LowerFilters registry entry, unfortunately this content cannot help you any further. Go to the "Next Steps" section for information about how you can find more solutions or more help on the Microsoft Web site.

9. On the Edit menu, click Delete. 
10. When you are prompted to confirm the deletion, click Yes. 
11.Exit Registry Editor.
12.Restart the computer.


http://en.community.dell.com/support-forums/disk-drives/f/3534/p/19459610/20153719.aspx

Change Local Admin Password Through Group Policy

Administrator account is disabled by default on Windows 7.

go to: Computer configuration -> Policies -> Windows Settings -> Security Settings -> Security Options. On Right Pane click on Accounts: Administrator account status and change the settings to Enabled.

go to: Computer configuration -> Preferences -> Control Panel Settings ->  Policies ->  and right
click on Local Users and Groups. Choose: New -> Local User. From Drop-down
menu on User name choose: Administrator (built-in).
Put the password and confirm it.

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/winserverGP/thread/1b8b6521-1e78-420c-b9f4-935c5d2e2eaa/

How to Enable or Disable Internet Explorer First Run Set Up Welcome Screen

1. In the left pane, click on to expand User Configuration, Administrative Templates, Windows Components, and Internet Explorer. (see screenshot below)

2. In the right pane, right click on Prevent performance of First Run Customize settings and click on Edit. (see screenshot above)

3. To Enable IE8 & IE9 First Run Set Up
A) Select (dot) Not Configured or Disabled. (see screenshot below step 6)
NOTE: Not Configured is the default setting.
B) Go to step 6.
4. To Disable IE8 & IE9 First Run Set Up, and have IE Open to the "Welcome to Internet Explorer" Web Page
A) Select (dot) Enabled. (see screenshot below step 6)
B) Under Options, click on the drop down menu and select Go directly to "Welcome to IE" page. (see screenshot below step 6)

C) Go to step 6.
5. To Disable IE8 & IE9 First Run Set Up, and have IE Open to the Users Home Page
A) Select (dot) Disabled. (see screenshot below step 6)

B) Under Options, click on the drop down menu and select Go directly to home page. (see screenshot below step 7)
6. Click on OK. (see screenshot below)

7. Close the Local Group Policy Editor window.


http://www.sevenforums.com/tutorials/113672-internet-explorer-8-9-enable-disable-first-run-set-up-pop-up.html

Enable the WMI entry in the firewall configuration using GPO

1. Expand the Computer Config > Policies > Windows Settings > Security Settings > Windows Firewall with Advanced Security > Windows Firewall with Advanced Security > Inbound Rules node.
2. Right-click in the working area and choose New Rule...
3. Choose the Predefined option, and select Windows Management Instrumentation (WMI) from the drop-down list, Next.
4. There are a number of options here, but I tend to just select one: the (WMI-In) option with the Domain profile value. If you aren't sure what you need, then just remember you can come back and add the others later. Next button.
5. Allow the connection > Finish.

http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en-US/winserverGP/thread/84c78946-eb05-4068-877d-489153419d13/

Adding a second hard drive on Xenserver

 xe sr-create content-type=user device-config:device=/dev/sdb name-label="Local Storage2" shared=false type=lvm