xl

`xl` Command

The xl command is a tool used to manage Xen virtual machines (VMs) and is part of the Xen hypervisor suite. It provides an interface to create, manage, and control virtual machines running on a Xen system. The xl command replaces older tools like xm and is intended to be a simpler, more powerful command-line tool for managing Xen guests.

Key Features of the `xl` Command

VM Management: xl provides commands for creating, starting, stopping, and managing virtual machines on a Xen hypervisor.
Resource Allocation: It allows you to allocate resources like CPU, memory, and disk to virtual machines.
Networking Configuration: You can manage network interfaces and configure how the VM will connect to the network.
Snapshotting and Migration: It supports taking snapshots of virtual machines and migrating VMs between hosts.
VM Monitoring: xl offers commands for monitoring VM status and retrieving information about virtual machines.

Common `xl` Subcommands

Here are some of the most commonly used subcommands of the xl tool:

1. xl create

Creates a new virtual machine from a configuration file.
Syntax: xl create <config_file>
Example:
```
xl create /path/to/vm.cfg
```

2. xl list

Lists all running virtual machines along with their statuses.
Syntax: xl list
Example:
```
xl list
```

Output example:

Name           ID   Mem VCPUs State   Time(s)
vm1            1    2048 2     r-----   123.4
vm2            2    1024 1     -b----   50.7

3. xl start

Starts an existing virtual machine that has been previously created but is not running.
Syntax: xl start <vm_name>
Example:
```
xl start vm1
```

4. xl shutdown

Initiates a clean shutdown of a virtual machine.
Syntax: xl shutdown <vm_name>
Example:
```
xl shutdown vm1
```

5. xl destroy

Forcefully shuts down a virtual machine (equivalent to power off).
Syntax: xl destroy <vm_name>
Example:
```
xl destroy vm1
```

6. xl suspend

Suspends the execution of a virtual machine (pauses it).
Syntax: xl suspend <vm_name>
Example:
```
xl suspend vm1
```

7. xl resume

Resumes a suspended virtual machine.
Syntax: xl resume <vm_name>
Example:
```
xl resume vm1
```

8. xl reboot

Reboots a virtual machine.
Syntax: xl reboot <vm_name>
Example:
```
xl reboot vm1
```

9. xl info

Provides detailed information about the Xen hypervisor, such as memory, CPU, and other statistics.
Syntax: xl info
Example:
```
xl info
```

Output example:

host: example_host
release: 4.12.0
cpu-model: Intel Xeon E5-2690 v4
memory: 32000MB

10. xl migrate

Migrates a virtual machine from one host to another.
Syntax: xl migrate <vm_name> <destination_host>
Example:
```
xl migrate vm1 xen1
```

11. xl console

Connects to the virtual console of a running virtual machine.
Syntax: xl console <vm_name>
Example:
```
xl console vm1
```

12. xl save

Saves the state of a virtual machine, allowing it to be restored later.
Syntax: xl save <vm_name> <save_file>
Example:
```
xl save vm1 /path/to/savefile
```

13. xl restore

Restores the state of a virtual machine from a saved file.
Syntax: xl restore <save_file>
Example:
```
xl restore /path/to/savefile
```

14. xl create

Creates and starts a virtual machine based on a configuration file.
Syntax: xl create <config_file>
Example:
```
xl create /path/to/vm1.cfg
```

Example Workflow Using `xl`

Create a new virtual machine: Define the configuration for a VM in a configuration file (vm1.cfg), and then create it using the xl create command.
```
xl create /path/to/vm1.cfg
```
List all running virtual machines: To see which VMs are currently running and their statuses, use:
```
xl list
```
Start a VM: To start a VM that has been created but is not running, use:
```
xl start vm1
```
Shutdown a VM: When you need to cleanly shut down a running virtual machine:
```
xl shutdown vm1
```
Check Hypervisor Information: To view information about the Xen hypervisor:
```
xl info
```

Conclusion

The xl command is a versatile and essential tool for managing Xen virtual machines. It allows administrators to create, monitor, control, and configure VMs on the Xen hypervisor. Whether you're starting and stopping VMs, allocating resources, or monitoring the system, xl simplifies virtual machine management and provides an efficient interface for interacting with Xen hypervisor features.

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Last updated 7 months ago

xl Command

Key Features of the xl Command

Common xl Subcommands

Example Workflow Using xl

Conclusion

`xl` Command

Key Features of the `xl` Command

Common `xl` Subcommands

Example Workflow Using `xl`