XenServer Host Pool

A resource pool consists of multiple XenServer host installations that bind together to form a managed entity.

Resource pools allow you to treat multiple servers and their connected shared storage as a single unified resource, and support the flexibility to deploy virtual machines based on their resource requirements and business priorities. A pool can contain up to 16 servers running the same version of XenServer software, with the same patch level and broadly compatible hardware.

One server in the pool is designated as the pool master and serves as a single point of contact for all servers in the pool, while routing traffic to other members of the pool as needed. If required, each member of the resource pool will contain all the information required to assume the primary server role. The pool master server is the first host listed in the XenCenter Resources pane for a pool. You can find the IP address of the pool master server by selecting the pool master and clicking the Search tab.

When used in conjunction with shared storage, the pool allows VMs to be started on any XenServer host with sufficient memory in the pool and then dynamically move between hosts at runtime (xenmotion), minimizing downtime. If a single XenServer host has a hardware failure, you can restart the failed VM on another host in the same pool.

If the High Availability feature (HA) is enabled, protected VMs will be moved automatically in the event of a host failure. In a high availability-enabled pool, if the primary server is down, a new pool master is automatically specified.

XenServer Host Pool