Get Host Power On working with Dell iDrac in Citrix XenServer 6.5

After a couple days messing around in searching how to get my XenServer 6.5 Hosts powered on by iDRAC, here's my little howto:

1. Download and install Dell OpenManage Server Administrator Managed Node for XenServer6.5 , v8.1.1:
   From XenServer host console:
   
   cd /tmp
wget http://downloads.dell.com/FOLDER02994001M/1/OM-SrvAdmin-Dell-Web-LX-8.1.1-1583.XenServer65_A00.iso
mount -o loop /tmp/OM-SrvAdmin-Dell-Web-LX-8.1.1-1583.XenServer65_A00.iso /mnt
cd /mnt
./install.sh
cd ..
umount /mnt

2. From iDrac web interface, create a user named xenserver (or whatever), with a password not containing complex chars. The user must be created with Administrator privileges.
   
3. In XenCenter go to Host->Properties->Power On, select Remote Access Controller (DRAC) , enter the ip address of the iDrac and credential of iDrac user created.
   
4. Ta-Daaah! Host Power On is enabled!

xenbackup-ng, for backing up your xenserver VMs with quiescent snapshot

Starting from Filippo Zanardo's Xenbackup, I wrote a modified version of his scripts, now tested and running on Citrix Xenserver 5.6 fp1 and Citrix Xenserver 6.0.2.

The script has the purpose to backup a Citrix Xenserver Guests Virtual Machines and it can be configured for doing it in different ways. 

Besides the Filippo's original version, I included some features:

• Split configuration files: one for strings, one for operational parameters.
• Added the Job feature: it is possible to create a job file in the job dir where general options can be overridden.
• Selective VM backup: it is possible to declare a list of VMs that will be backed up.
• Quiesce Snapshot on Windows VM: only with Xen VSS Provider installed on guest.
• Preserve VM power state: in case of normal backup (Shutdown->Backup->Start) the original vm state will be preserved. So, if a VM is initially powered off it will not powered on after backup.
• Improved email notifications: now is possible to receive a mail with a summary of operations executed or a verbose log of backup process. 

You can download the script direct from here or from my GitHub.

Dont't forget to change the mail address where you receive notification!