XenSource v4 Product Family

Overview
The XenSource v4 Product Family enables businesses to deploy high-performance Windows and Linux virtual machines rapidly
and easily, and to manage them and their related storage and networking resources from a single easy-to-use management
console.

The family includes three virtualization products that are fully compatible, with additional capacity and features enabled by
license key. The products include:

- XenExpress: a free starter package for bringing virtualization to every server

- XenServer: high-performance rich-featured server virtualization with multi-server management, with capacity for most
business-critical workloads
- XenEnterprise: a powerful platform managing virtualization as a flexible aggregated pool of compute and storage re
sources, for dynamic managed virtualization environments for the enterprise

(For details about the capacities and features supported by each product, consult the feature comparison on the last page of this
datasheet.)

The foundation of the XenSource Family is the open source Xen™ hypervisor, an open, proven and fully supported engine for
server virtualization.

What is Xen?
The Xen hypervisor is a unique open source technology invented by a team led by Ian Pratt at the University of Cambridge (who subsequently founded XenSource)
and developed cooperatively by the world’s best engineers at over 20 of the most innovative data center solution vendors. With Xen virtualization, a thin software
layer (known as the Xen hypervisor) is installed directly on the hardware, or “bare metal,” and is thereby inserted between the server’s hardware and the operating
system. This provides an abstraction layer that allows each physical server to run one or more “virtual servers,” effectively decoupling the operating system and its
applications from the underlying physical server. Xen’s paravirtualization technology is widely acknowledged as the fastest and most secure virtualization software
in the industry, and is enhanced by taking full advantage of the latest Intel VT and AMD-V hardware virtualization assist capabilities. Xen is exceptionally lean-- less
than 50,000 lines of code – which translates to extremely low overhead and near-native performance for guests.

Introducing XenSource v4 Products

The inventors and lead developers of Xen, with the rest of the What’s New in XenSource v4 Product Family?
XenSource team, take this powerful virtualization engine and • XenMotion: Seamlessly move virtual machines
build out a full managed virtualization platform around it, de- without downtime
signed for efficient management of Windows and Linux virtual • XenCenter: Unified virtualization management
machines. XenSource v4 combines the performance, security, interface, including servers, storage and network
and openness of the Xen technology with XenCenter compre- ing
hensive management -- a platform perfect for rapid adoption • Native 64-bit hypervisor: Scalability and sup
of virtualization for server consolidation, software develop- port for enterprise applications
ment and test, virtual desktops, and business continuity. • ResourcePools: Efficient configuration,
allocation and authentication for virtualization
XenEnterprise v4 is a native 64-bit virtualization platform, resources
with the scalability required by business-critical applications. • XenAPI: Integration with existing management
The highest host and guest CPU and memory limits available, invesments, infrastructure, and processes
coupled with fine-grained resource controls for CPU, network
and disk, enable it to deliver optimal quality of service.

With XenSource v4 virtualization, businesses can increase

server and storage utilization, reducing costs of equipment,
power, cooling, and real estate. By combining servers and
storage into resource pools that can be apportioned to the
applications with the highest business need, IT operations
can be aligned to changing demand and business priorities.
With XenMotion, running virtual machines can be migrated to
new servers with no service interruption, allowing essential
workloads to get needed resources and enable zero-downtime
maintenance.

XenSource v4 products install directly on bare metal serv-

ers, requiring no dedicated host operating system. Open
command-line (CLI) and programming (API) interfaces make
it easy for vendors and enterprises to integrate XenEnterprise
virtualization with existing processes and management tools,
rather than requiring rip-and-replace reimplementation.
XenSource v4 Product Family
Key Features

Enterprise Ready Performance and Scalability Flexible Shared Infrastructure

“Bare metal” implementation: XenSource virtualization Pooled server and storage resources (XenEnterprise
runs directly on the hardware, rather than on top of a sepa- only): XenResourcePools allow the IT organization to view
rate host operating system, allowing it to deliver the highest multiple servers and their connected shared storage as unified
levels of performance and scalability. resource pools, enabling flexible deployment of virtual ma-
chines based on their resource needs and business priorities.
Hardware virtualization assist: The latest optimizations
offered by Intel and AMD in their processors are utilized for Live migration via XenMotion (XenEnterprise only):
excellent performance, even when running operating systems Virtual machines can be moved from server to server within a
that are not delivered virtualization-ready. XenResourcePool without service interruption, making zero-
downtime server maintenance possible, and enabling adminis-
XenSource Tools: These I/O enhancements that are a stan- trators to move resource-hungry running applications to take
dard component of the products provide optimized disk and advantage of available compute power.
network performance.
Pool-based configuration (XenEnterprise only): Common
Xen64: The fully native 64-bit guest support enables use of settings for many components, such as physical and virtual
the large memory needed by many essential applications, as NICs and virtual switches, can be set on a pool-wide basis,
well as the ability to run the most recent 64-bit-only releases and are applied automatically to all servers in the pool, simpli-
of popular server software such as Microsoft Exchange and fying reconfiguration.
Microsoft SQL Server.

SMP virtual machines: Support for up to 8 virtual CPUs in

each virtual machine makes it possible to deploy even the
most processor-intensive applications, such as messaging and
database servers, and to take advantage of today’s multi-core
processors.

32GB RAM for virtual machines (XenEnterprise only):

Supporting double the virtual machine memory capacity of
leading competitive products, XenSource delivers support for
the most memory-intensive workloads.

“XenEnterprise is a strategic platform for Burgmann Industries deliver-

ing significant cost efficiencies for our time critical Windows 2003
and Linux based services.” -- Franz Kneissl, Burgmann Industries
XenSource uses a unique architecture to take advantage of the wide range of de-
vices supported by Linux drivers while delivering high-performance I/O.
Simple Deployment and Installation
Flexible product installer: XenSource v4 product instal- On-Demand Deployment of Windows and Linux Virtual
lations can be initiated from a CD, via PXE-based network Machines
boot, or using CD emulation on popular server management
subsystems. Templates: Virtual machines can be converted into tem-
plates, and used for rapid provisioning of multiple like systems
Easy virtual machine deployment: Initial installation of on a server (or, with XenEnterprise, within a resource pool).
Windows and Linux guests can be performed using using CDs With file-backed local or NFS storage repositories, or other
or DVDs, via ISO images on dedicated or shared storage, or storage systems supporting advanced capabilities via the stor-
from network-accessible repositories. Once created, virtual age management API, thin provisioning can make new cloned
machines can be converted to templates which can be used guests available in seconds.
for replicated installation.
Import/export: Virtual machines can be backed up, copied
Broad hardware support: The unique architecture by which or transported into XenSource export format using any man-
Xen can leverage standard Linux device drivers while us- agement interface (XenCenter, “xe” CLI, or XenAPI), copied or
ing them with optimized guest drivers and high-speed data transported to remote locations, archived, used as a basis for
exchange delivers the hardware support benefits of hosted disaster recovery sites, and restored via import. In addition,
products with the I/O performance of “fat” hypervisors. the import operation can be used with a format that is sup-
ported by many virtual appliance vendors and tools.
Rich local storage support: By supporting a wide variety
of local storage (including IDE, SATA, SCSI, SAS and more), Bundled Linux P2V tool: Popular Linux distributions can be
XenSource allows customers to choose their hardware from a migrated from physical systems into XenSource virtual ma-
wider range of server options and price points. chines for consolidation. (Powerful tools for physical-to-virtual
migration of Windows and other Linux systems are available
from XenSource technology partners; see the Partners section
“Moving to XenEnterprise virtualized servers has made a massive of the XenSource website for details.)
difference to our remote hosting environment. Last week our last Virtual Machine Migration Tool: XenSource makes available to
remaining ‘legacy’ server had an irreplaceable hardware failure. We its users an evolving tool that can be used to convert many
were down a few minutes rather than 2 days.” -- Simon Buchanan, VMware and Microsoft virtual machines to XenSource format.
New Media Limited
XenSource v4 Product Family
Key Features

each other and from other physical servers, reducing network

“We have found XenEnterprise easy to use, enabling us to create load, increasing security, and simplifying reconfiguration.
virtual machines in minutes and reduce the number of physical
servers, helping to simplify our data center and allowing us to more
easily manage our virtual environments.” -- Rob de Wit, KBC Clearing

Powerful Storage Management

Shared iSCSI and NFS NAS storage (XenEnterprise
only): Storage connected to IP networks can be configured as
shared pools, from which disk resources can be allocated to
virtual machines, allowing IT administrators to make the best
use of storage infrastructure.

Dedicated Fibre Channel and iSCSI networked storage:

Central storage resources can be partitioned among servers
with all XenSource products.

XenCenter allows administrators powerful control over shared

Optimized file-backed virtual disks: Virtual machines
and dedicated storage used in their virtualized environment.
stored on dedicated file systems or NFS NAS storage use the
proven Microsoft VHD format, making available transparent XenCenter Management
access to backup snapshots and thin provisioning. Easy to use: XenCenter provides a single point of manage-
ment for all versions of the XenSource product family. Wheth-
Unified server/storage management with Veritas er systems are managed one at a time with XenExpress, as
Storage Foundation by Symantec (XenEnterprise only multiple independent servers with XenServer, or as unified
– coming in Q4/2007): The integration of the most popu- pools of servers and storage with XenEnterprise, the same
lar online storage management tool used by business today tool can be used, protecting training investment.
makes it possible for IT organizations to preserve their invest-
ments in tools and processes while taking advantage of the Full VM lifecycle management: With XenCenter, administra-
data and I/O path availability protection, automated volume tors can create, start, stop, reboot, suspend, resume, migrate,
recovery, and storage provisioning benefits directly from Xen- and uninstall virtual machines, and reboot and shut down
Source management tools, and offering certification for many physical servers, securely from any location.
storage arrays.
Performance monitoring: Administrators can access real-
Backup integration and certification with Symantec Net- time and trended performance information of virtual machine
Backup (XenEnterprise only – coming in Q4/2007): By and server performance metrics for CPU, memory, disk and
running the NetBackup Agent in the server’s control domain, network utilization.
IT organizations can optimize backup and recovery of their
servers and virtual machines using the most popular enter- Resource management (XenEnterprise only): XenCenter
prise backup software. provides easy access to quality-of-service controls that allow
users configure priority and limits for CPU, memory, disk and
Storage Management API: This interface is used by stor- network I/O.
age vendors to make the advanced capabilities of their arrays
and controllers (including cloning, thin provisioning, and Flexible console support: Administrators can connect to
snapshots) directly accessible from XenSource administrative Windows virtual machines either via the built-in graphical
interfaces. interface or the native Windows RDP protocol, and access the
graphical and text consoles of Linux virtual machines, directly
“We are familiar with the virtualization offerings available on the mar- from within XenCenter.
ket today, and selected XenEnterprise because we found it to be a
solid choice for our Windows environment. XenSource is easy to use,
and we were impressed by their solid product roadmap.” -- Robert Interfaces for Management Integration and Scripting
Wicks, Rollins, Inc. XenAPI: The open source XML-RPC interface for Xen man-
agement, extended to include advanced XenSource storage
repository and XenResourcePool management, allows develop-
Efficient, Secure Virtual Networking ers of management software, including system and software
Virtual NICs: Each virtual machine can be configured with vendors and IT organizations, to integrate XenSource virtual-
one or more virtual NICS, each having its own IP and MAC ad- ization management into their tools with the same interface
dresses. Virtual machines appear as if they were independent used by XenCenter.
physical systems on the network.
XenAPI language bindings: Inclusion of C, Python, and C#
Virtual switches: Virtual NICs can be connected to virtual language binding libraries offer flexibility to developers.
switches that offer network isolation. Each virtual switch can
connect to the physical network via a physical NIC, or can be Remotable Command Line Interface: The “xe” com-
configured as a fully virtual network for private guest-to-guest mand line interface may be run on the managed XenSource
traffic at memory speeds. server or on any Windows or Linux system, and, with its more
than 180 supported operations, provides a powerful tool for
VLAN support: As with physical systems, virtual machines character-based administration sessions as well as for script
can be bound to separate VLANs to isolate their traffic from integration.
XenSource v4 Product Family

A XenSource v4 Choice for Every Server

Symantec Storage
Foundation (Q4/07)

XenMotion

XenResourcePools

System Requirements
Basic Support
For the XenSource server:
- 64-bit x86 server-class system
Multi-Server Management
- CPU: 1.5 GHz minimum, 2 GHz or
XenCenter Unified Virtualization Management Console
faster multicore recommended
o Intel VT or AMD-V required
XenAPI Management and Control Scripting Interface
or support of Windows guests
o All systems in resource pool
Windows and Linux Guests
must have identical CPUs and
network configuration (Xen
Xen Hypervisor with Xen64 Enterprise only)
- 1GB-128GB physical memory
- 100Mb/s or faster NIC
XenExpress XenServer XenEnterprise
- Local or Fibre Channel boot disk
with16GB of space minimum, 60GB
Administrative Single server Multiple Multiple or more recommended
model servers servers/pools
For the XenCenter management inter-
Physical Memory 1 GB - 4 GB 1 GB - 128 GB 1 GB - 128 GB face:
CPU Sockets 2 2 Unlimited - x86-based system running
Simultaneously Windows 2000, Windows XP,
4 Unlimited Unlimited
Active Guests Windows Server 2003, or Windows
RAM per VM 4 GB 32 GB 32 GB Vista
- .NET Framework 2.0 or above
Resource Pools Cannot add to Cannot add to
resource pools resource pools
- CPU Speed 750 MHz minimum, 1
GHz or faster recommended
Shared Storage - RAM 1 GB minimum, 2 GB or more
Live Relocation recommended
VLAN configuration - Disk space 100 MB minimum
Resource QoS
- Network interface card
(CPU, disk, network)

XenEnterprise v4 supports the following operating systems:

Microsoft Windows Linux

(supported only on systems equipped with Intel VT-enabled or AMD-V CPUs) - 32-bit:
- 64-bit: - Red Hat Enterprise Linux (and derivatives): 3.5, 3.6, 3.7,
o Windows Server 2003 Standard, Enterprise, Datacenter Edition SP2 4.1, 4.2, 4.3, 4.4, 5
o Windows Small Business Server 2003 SP2 - Novell SUSE Linux Enterprise Server: 9SP2, 9SP3, 10SP1
- 32-bit : - Debian: Sarge (3.1), Etch (4.0)
o Windows Server 2003 Web, Standard, Enterprise, Datacenter SP0/ SP1/SP2/R2
o Windows Small Business Server 2003 SP0/SP1/SP2/R2
o Windows XP SP2
o Windows 2000 SP4

About XenSource
XenSource, Inc. develops the leading enterprise grade platform virtualization solution, XenEnterprise™, based on
the industry’s highest-performance virtualization technology, the open source Xen™ hypervisor. Founded and run
by the Xen development team, XenSource products allow enterprises to realize the TCO savings that result from
server consolidation, increased utilization, and reduced complexity in the datacenter. 2300 Geng Road Suite 250
Palo Alto, California 94303 USA
650 798-5900 [email protected]
© 2005-2007, XenSource, Inc. All rights reserved. Xen, XenSource and XenEnterprise are either
registered trademarks or trademarks of XenSource Inc. in the United States and/or other countries. www.xensource.com