Creating Windows Instances¶

System install¶

Copy installer ISO /stuff/cdimages¶

hЗ. Add new instance

gnt-instance add -t drbd --disk=0:size=20g --net=0:link=xen-lan -H xen-hvm:cdrom_image_path=/stuff/cdimages/ru_win_srv_2008_r2_sp2.iso,boot_order=cd,disk_type=ioemu,use_localtime=true -o windows+default -B memory=8g --no-ip-check --no-name-check -n gnt1:gnt2 w2k8

Connect to instance vnc console and install the system¶

You should use vncviewer to connect vnc console(e.g. from xtightvncviewer package).
address and port:

# gnt-instance info INSTANCE|grep vnc

On windows we recommend to use ultravnc:
http://www.uvnc.com/downloads/ultravnc/100-download-ultravnc-10962.html

GPLPV Driver install¶

After install you should add this drivers in system: http://wiki.univention.de/index.php?title=Installing-signed-GPLPV-drivers
There is no additional actions after install.
You must reboot twice and check that disks in device manager your disk drives have disk type consist XEN word.

After install you may detach distribution iso:

# gnt-instance modify -H boot_order=c cdrom_image_path='' INSTANCE

Disable TaskOffload and TX Offloas¶

Without it there will be lags in rdp and in other tasks.
http://social.technet.microsoft.com/Forums/en/windowsserver2008r2management/thread/77397541-608f-4d1c-9856-1593f2186f5b
http://support.cloudcentral.com.au/KB/a32/fix-slow-stuttering-intermittent-windows-server-2008.aspx
http://support.microsoft.com/kb/888750

1. Load the Windows Registry editor - regedit.
2. Add a new DWORD key named DisableTaskOffload with a value of 1 to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SYSTEM\CurrentControlSet\Services\Tcpip\Parameters
3. Restart server.

TX Offload May be disabled in NIC settings.

Set Time¶

• Set "use_localtime=true" in the hypervisor parameters (as in the "instance add" example)
• Set timezone in Windows
• Set proper local time in Windows (via standard clock tool)
  this will set the time shift which will be saved upon shutdown
• Reboot to verify that time shift is saved and taken in effect

Notes¶

RDP-6 in 32bpp generate less traffic than 24bpp and sometimes not more than 16bpp.
http://ericomguy.blogspot.com/2008/06/rdp6-performance-improvements-and-how.html

Default bpp policy setup:
http://blog.dhampir.no/content/remote-desktop-does-not-support-colour-depth-24-falling-back-to-16

Performance Tuning Guidelines for Windows Server 2008 R2
http://msdn.microsoft.com/en-us/library/windows/hardware/gg463392.aspx