Create ISO file from any Folder in Linux / Windows

In Windows, u can use Folder2ISO program.. damn good freeware :)

http://www.trustfm.net/divx/SoftwareFolder2Iso.php

In Linux, just use mkisofs command, very powerful...

syntax is easy..

mkisofs -o [outputfilename.iso] -J -R [foldername]

-o = output

-J = enable Joliet function

-R = enable Rock Ridge function

e.g.

dindon@dindon-laptop:~/Desktop$ mkisofs -o amir.iso -J -R amir-cv

I: -input-charset not specified, using utf-8 (detected in locale settings)

Using AMIR_000.DOC;1 for /Amir Irman App Letter.docx (Amir_Irman_Bahruddin.doc)

Total translation table size: 0

Total rockridge attributes bytes: 363

Total directory bytes: 0

Path table size(bytes): 10

Max brk space used 0

262 extents written (0 MB)

Citrix XenServer - Export VM

taken from Citrix XenCenter 5.6 :)

You can export VMs, snapshots and templates using the Export as Backup dialog box. If the VM you want to export is running, you must shut it down before attempting to export it.

When you export a VM, a complete copy of the VM (including disk images) is stored as a single file on your local machine, with a .xva file extension. The VM export/import feature can be used in a number of different ways:

As a convenient backup facility for your VMs. An exported VM file can be used to recover an entire VM in the event of disaster.

As a way of quickly copying a VM, for example, a special-purpose server configuration that you use many times. You simply configure the VM the way you want it, export it, and then import it to create copies of your original VM.

As a simple method for moving a VM to another server.

Note: It may not always be possible to run an imported VM that was exported from another server with a different CPU type. For example, a Windows VM created on a server with an Intel® VT Enabled CPU, then exported, may not run when imported to a server with an AMD-VTM CPU.

Procedure
In the Resources pane, select the VM, right-click, and then click Export as Backup on the shortcut menu. Alternatively, on the VM menu, click Export as Backup.

Enter a name for the export file and specify the folder where you want it to be saved.

To have the export file verified, select the Verify export on completion check box at the bottom of the dialog box. Be aware that verification may take some time.

Click Save to begin exporting the file.

The export progress is displayed in the status bar at the bottom of the XenCenter window and on the Logs tab.

To cancel an export in progress, click on the Logs tab, find the export in the list of events, and click the Cancel button.

Exporting a VM may take some time, depending on its size and the speed and bandwidth of the network connection between the server and XenCenter.

Snapshot in Citrix XenServer

Taken from Citrix XenCenter 5.6 :)

A virtual machine (VM) snapshot is a record of a running virtual machine at a point in time. When you take a snapshot of a VM, its storage information (the data on the hard drive) and metadata (configuration information) is also saved. Where necessary, I/O is temporarily halted while the snapshot is being taken to ensure that a self-consistent disk image can be captured.

Unlike VM exports, snapshots can be created without first shutting down the VM. A snapshot is similar to a normal VM template but it contains all the storage and configuration information for the original VM, including networking information. Snapshots provide a fast way of creating templates that can be exported for backup purposes and then restored, or that can be used to quickly create new VMs.

Snapshots are supported on all storage types, though for LVM-based storage types (XenServer version 5.5 onwards) the storage repository must have been upgraded if it was created on an older version of XenServer, and the volume must be in the default format; see Upgrade an SR.

Types of snapshot
Three types of VM snapshots are supported: regular, quiesced, and snapshot with memory.

1. Regular Snapshots. Regular snapshots are crash-consistent and can be performed on all VM types, including Linux VMs.

2. Quiesced Snapshots. Quiesced snapshots take advantage of the Windows Volume Shadow Copy Service (VSS) to generate application-consistent point-in-time snapshots. The VSS framework helps VSS-aware applications (for example Microsoft Exchange or Microsoft SQL Server) flush data to disk and prepare for the snapshot before it is taken. Quiesced snapshots are therefore safer to restore, but can have a greater performance impact on a system while they are being taken. They may also fail under load, so more than one attempt to take the snapshot may be required. XenServer supports quiesced snapshots on Windows Server 2003 and Windows Server 2008 for both 32-bit and 64-bit variants. Windows 2000, Windows XP and Windows Vista are not supported. For further detail on quiesced snapshots, refer to the Advanced Notes for Quiesced Snapshots section later in this chapter.

3. Snapshots with memory. In addition to saving the VM's memory (storage) and metadata, snapshots with memory also save the VM's state (RAM). This can be useful if you are upgrading or patching software, or want to test a new application, but also want the option to be able to get back to the current, pre-change state (RAM) of the VM. Reverting back to a snapshot with memory, does not require a reboot of the VM. You can take a snapshot with memory of a running or suspended VM.

Accessing orphaned snapshots
Note that if you take snapshots of a VM and subsequently delete the original VM, you can still access those snapshots: in Folder View in the Resources pane, click to expand the Types group and then expand the Snapshots group to see all available snapshots.