SMB Storage

SMB servers are a common form of Windows shared filesystem infrastructure, and can be used as a storage repository substrate for virtual disks. Virtual Machine images in SMB servers are stored as thinly provisioned VHD files on an SMB target. As SMB servers are shared storage repositories, VMs with their virtual disks in SMB servers can be started on any server in a resource pool and can be readily migrated between the servers.

Note: SMB storage is available for XenServer Enterprise Edition customers, or those who have access to XenServer through their Citrix Virtual Apps and Desktops entitlement. To learn more about XenServer licensing, see About XenServer Licensing.

To configure an SMB SR

1. Open the New Storage Repository wizard: click New Storage on the toolbar.
2. Select SMB/CIFS as the physical storage type, then click Next.
3. On the Name page, enter the name of the new SR. By default, a description of the SR will be generated automatically by the wizard, including a summary of the configuration options you select as you progress through the wizard. To enter your own description, clear the Auto-generate description based on SR settings check box and type in the Description box. Click Next to continue.
4. On the Location page, specify the details of the storage target:

   • Share Name The IP address or DNS name of the server and the path. For example, \\server\path where server is the DNS name or IP address of the server computer, and path is a folder or file name.

     The SMB server should be configured to export the specified path to all servers in the pool.

   • User name and Password (Optional) If you would like to connect to an SMB server using a different user name, enter your login user name and password.

5. Click Scan to have the wizard scan for existing SMB SRs in the location you specified.
6. The New Storage Repository wizard lists any existing SRs which are not already attached. You can select an SR from the list and attach it as the new storage repository. Click Reattach an existing SR and select the SR from the list, then click Finish.
7. If no existing SRs are found, simply click Finish to complete the new SR configuration and close the wizard.