Installing virtualization tools in a virtual machine (VM) is a fine idea, needless of the hypervisor or VM operating system. Within these devices one will find virtualization-boosted network drivers, disk controller drivers and a management agent planned give superior integration with the operating system or hypervisor. The agent in return gives heartbeat feedback and performance response to the hypervisor.
Though installation of the virtualization tools is an easy job to perform, it is mandatory to reboot the Virtual Machine after installing to make sure that the some network drivers and disk controller drivers can’t be hot removed and replaced. Thus this rebooting enables the VM to utilize the new drivers from the start.
For all Windows 8 or Windows Server 2012 users, normal installation of the XenServer Tools will fail since a message will show that XenServer Tools do not sustain the operating system. To install successfully the XenServer Tools, first the xs-tools.iso file has to be mounted into the virtual DVD drive of the Virtual Machine, open the Windows Explorer in the virtual machine , open Computer and go to the CD image (right click -> Open), then right click on the xensetup.exe file and Properties option is be selected.
Select Compatibility tab and click the “Run this program in compatibility mode for.” Checkbox to select Windows 7 from the menu (dropdown). Select “Windows 7” for Windows Server 2012 or Windows 8. Click OK and run xensetup.exe to finish the installation. After reboot it can be seen that new device drivers for the network interface and disk controller has been installed. Also a new agent running as Citrix Tools for Virtual Machines is now there.
