Install XenServer tools in your VM

Install XenServer tools

Next step is to install those tools. Also I’ll give you some tips.

For any VM, go in the console view on your VM, and insert the appropriate ISO:

• xs-tools.iso for XenServer 6 and older
• guest-tools.iso for XenServer 7 and high

Then, each system is a bit different.

For Linux VMs

Debian, Ubuntu (deb based)

For a Debian VM, it’s pretty simple, as root:

• mount /dev/cdrom /mnt
• bash /mnt/Linux/install.sh
• umount /dev/cdrom

In a real example:

root@myVM:~# mount /dev/cdrom /mnt       
mount: block device /dev/xvdd is write-protected, mounting read-only
root@myVM:~# bash /mnt/Linux/install.sh 
Detected `Debian GNU/Linux 7.9 (wheezy)' (debian version 7).

The following changes will be made to this Virtual Machine:
  * update arp_notify sysctl.
  * packages to be installed/upgraded:
    - xe-guest-utilities_7.0.0-24_all.deb

Continue? [y/n] Y

(Reading database ... 37679 files and directories currently installed.)
Preparing to replace xe-guest-utilities 6.2.0-1133 (using .../xe-guest-utilities_7.0.0-24_all.deb) ...
Stopping xe daemon:  OK
Unpacking replacement xe-guest-utilities ...
Setting up xe-guest-utilities (7.0.0-24) ...
Installing new version of config file /etc/init.d/xe-linux-distribution ...
$Detecting Linux distribution version: OK
$Starting xe daemon:  OK

You should now reboot this Virtual Machine.
root@myVM:~# 

That’s all! You can eject the ISO now.

As soon the .deb is installed, tools will report their info: no need to reboot!

CentOS, RHEL (rpm based)

Same principle, almost same procedure than on a Deb based distro:

# mount /dev/cdrom /mnt/
mount: block device /dev/xvdd is write-protected, mounting read-only
[root@localhost ~]# bash /mnt/Linux/install.sh 
Detected `CentOS release 6.6 (Final)' (centos version 6).

The following changes will be made to this Virtual Machine:
  * update arp_notify sysctl.
  * packages to be installed/upgraded:
    - xe-guest-utilities-7.0.0-24.x86_64.rpm
    - xe-guest-utilities-xenstore-7.0.0-24.x86_64.rpm

Continue? [y/n] y


Preparing...                ########################################### [100%]
   1:xe-guest-utilities-xens########################################### [ 50%]
   2:xe-guest-utilities     ########################################### [100%]

You should now reboot this Virtual Machine.
[root@localhost ~]# 

Nope, rebooting is not mandatory.