xl
xl
Command
xl
CommandThe 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
xl
CommandVM 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
xl
SubcommandsHere 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
xl
Create a new virtual machine: Define the configuration for a VM in a configuration file (
vm1.cfg
), and then create it using thexl 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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