My first step was to download all iso files and XenCenter 5.5, the I began with and upgrade of XenCenter, and the problem I had once everything was install, that didn’t work… The XenCenter console disn’t show up, the I choose to uninstall everything and delete the folder in “c:\program files\Citrix\XenCenter” and proceed the setup again. It did the trick.

Then I was able to use this console to shutdown all the virtual computers, and then you can watch this quikc video to check what’s happen during an upgrade of XenServer, it’s quite simple but if you don’t have the opportunity to see it at least you’ll know how it looks like.

(Please open the article to see the flash file or player.)

 

You can watch bellow the video filmed during the Synergy 2009 in Las Vegas :

(Please open the article to see the flash file or player.)

And of course with your MyCitrix account you can download the Technical Preview here : http://www.citrix.com/site/SS/downloads/details.asp?downloadId=1689982&productId=186&c1=sot1349740#top 

Soon I will release a test of this new toy but I have to finish first my XenDesktop how to and after I would like to put online my test with Netscaler VPX Tech Preview.

Here it is ! Full of promizes, and full of new options we are all waiting for. Let me tell you first, this is BETA release from Citrix, so don’t complain to me or to Citrix if you crash your production servers, you have to run test and wait for the final new release.

You can access the whole stuff from your MyCitrix account in Tech/Beta preview of XenServer. You have to download the two isos files, the proper license file and XenCenter (there is a new 5.5 version).

To perfom this update just boot on the CD you just download and follow the instruction on the screen, this is what I did in the next video :

(Please open the article to see the flash file or player.)

Once it’s done, just reboot and you did it !

Now let’s me show you some of the new things I saw, I will come back later on it with a full report, it’s sunday and I’m suppose to stop to geeking around during the week end

Edit : later in the afternoon…

First issue : The network didn’t work at all on the new XenServer 5.5 Beta 1. I wasn’t able to ping it and wasn’t able to ping from it. Weird behave, it looks like the system doesn’t have the parameters showing in the console recorded in the network configuration file. First try was the good, just reconfigure the network management card with the same parameters as before, so the configuration will be record again in the filesystem.
BUT I DIDN’T LAST….
I had to browse a bit Citrix’s support to find out I had to edit a file :

/etc/sysconfig/network-scripts/ifcfg-eth0 and add : ETHTOOL_OPTS=”speed 100 duplex full”

I think it finaly did the trick… I will wait for tomorow to tell you it was good.

Click on continue reading to watch the video :

(Please open the article to see the flash file or player.)

Once the setup is done, as I’m in nlb mode, I have to upload new templates and reports on both machines, so I change the nlb name with the two servers name and updating everything.

Don’t forget to update you XenApp Edgesight Client and you Endpoint Edgesight client as well.