KVM

Updated: May 16, 2022 14:21

1 Introduction

The Kemp Virtual LoadMaster is a version of the Kemp LoadMaster that runs as a virtual machine within a hypervisor and can provide all the features and functions of a hardware-based LoadMaster.

This document describes the installation of the Virtual LoadMaster (VLM) within a KVM environment.

There are several different versions of the VLM available. Full details of the currently supported versions are available on our website: www.kemptechnologies.com.

The KVM virtual machine guest environment for the VLM, at minimum, must include:

2 GB RAM

16 GB virtual hard disk capacity (sparse where possible)

There may be maximum configuration limits imposed by KVM such as maximum RAM per VM, Virtual NICs per VM etc. For further details regarding the configuration limits imposed by KVM, please refer to the relevant KVM documentation.

Kemp LoadMaster has been tested with Debian 6.0. For a full list of the compatible Linux distributions, please refer to http://www.linux-kvm.org/page/Main_Page

If you have any issues with the Virtual LoadMaster when using different Linux distributions, then please contact Kemp Support.

2 Installing Virtual LoadMaster (VLM) on a KVM Environment

The following instructions describe how to install a Virtual LoadMaster on a KVM environment.

2.1 Download the KVM Files

The VLM is packaged within a tar.gz file for ease of deployment. This file can be freely downloaded from Kemp for a 30 day evaluation period. To download the VLM please follow the instructions below:

1. Go to http://www.Kemptechnologies.com/try.

2. Click the Download Now button.

3. Within the Select your hypervisor section, select the option for KVM.

4. Select your country from the drop-down list provided.

5. Read the End User License Agreement.

6. To proceed with the download, ensure the I agree to the End User License Agreement terms check box is ticked.

7. Click the Download button.

2.2 Unzip the Disk Image

The Linux disk image has been tar gzipped as a sparse file. It must be unzipped as a sparse file to ensure proper operation. For example:

tar xzSf LoadMaster-VLM.7.1.34.0.12345.RELEASE.tgz

The "S" flag tells tar to handle the file as sparse.

2.3 Deploy the LoadMaster

Kemp recommends using Virtual Machine Manager to deploy the LoadMaster. The steps below were documented using Virtual Machine Manager:

1. Click the Create a new virtual machine button.

2. Enter a Name for the Virtual Machine.

The name cannot contain any spaces.

3. Select Import existing disk image.

4. Click Forward.

5. Click Browse.

6. Browse to and select the disk file.

7. Select Linux as the OS type.

8. In the Version drop-down list, scroll to the bottom and click Show all OS options.

9. Click the Version drop-down list again. Scroll to the bottom and select Generic 2.6.25 or later with virtio.

10. Click Forward.

11. Enter a minimum of 2048 MB in the Memory text box.

12. Enter a minimum of 2 in the CPUs text box.

13. Click Forward.

14. Tick the Customize configuration before install check box.

15. Expand the Advanced options section.

16. Make any amendments to this section, as needed.

17. Click Finish.

18. Click the Disk option on the left.

19. Expand the Advanced Options section.

20. Select IDE as the Disk bus.

21. Click the NIC option on the left.

22. Click Yes to apply the changes.

23. Select virtio as the Device model.

24. Change any other settings as needed.

25. Click Apply.

26. Click Begin Installation.

2.4 Check the Virtual Machine Settings

Please verify that the Virtual Machine settings are configured with the recommended values:

2 x virtual processors

2 GB RAM

16 GB virtual hard disk capacity (sparse where possible)

2.5 LoadMaster IP Address

On initial deployment, DHCPv4 and DHCPv6 both run to attempt to obtain an IP address. If the LoadMaster obtains an IP address using DHCP, take note of it because this is how you will access the LoadMaster.

If the LoadMaster does not obtain an IP address using DHCP the static IP address of 192.168.1.101 is assigned and the LoadMaster must be manually configured using the console.

Refer to the Configuring the LoadMaster Using the Console section for instructions on manually configuring the IP address.

2.6 License and Configure the LoadMaster

The LoadMaster must now be configured to operate within the network configuration.

1. In an internet browser, enter the IP address that was previously noted.

Ensure to enter https:// before the IP address.

2. A warning may appear regarding website security certificates. Please click the continue/ignore option.

3. The LoadMaster End User License Agreement screen appears.

Please read the license agreement and, if you are willing to accept the conditions therein, click on the Agree button to proceed.

4. If using the Online licensing method, fill out the fields and click License Now.

If you are starting with a trial license, there is no need to enter an Order ID. If you are starting with a permanent license, enter the Kemp Order ID# if this was provided to you.

If using the Offline Licensing method, select Offline Licensing, obtain the license text, paste it into the License field and click Apply License.

For detailed instructions on how to register for a Kemp ID and license the LoadMaster, refer to the Licensing, Feature Description on the Kemp Documentation Page.

5. If you entered an Order ID, a screen appears that provides a list of available licenses for that order ID, in addition to any licenses registered for the Kemp ID based on the LoadMaster platform type. Select the license type you want to apply to this LoadMaster.

If the license type you want is not displayed, please contact your Kemp representative.

6. Click Continue.

7. The login screen appears, enter the bal user name and the password.

8. In the screen informing you that the password has changed, press the Continue button.

9. If your machine has shipped with a temporary license you should get a warning informing you that a temporary license has been installed on your machine and for how long the license is valid.

10. Click OK .

11. You should now connect to the Home screen of the LoadMaster.

12. Go to System Configuration > Network Setup in the main menu.

13. Click the eth0 menu option within the Interfaces section.

14. In the Network Interface 0 screen, enter the IP address of the eth0 interface, the network facing interface of the LoadMaster, in the Interface Address input field.

15. Click the Set Address button.

16. Click the eth1 menu option within the Interfaces section.

17. In the Network Interface 1 screen, enter the IP address of the eth1 interface, the farm-side interface of the LoadMaster, in the Interface Address input field.

18. Click on the Set Address button.

This interface is optional, depending on the network configuration.

19. Click on the Local DNS Configuration > Hostname Configuration menu option.

20. In the Hostname configuration screen, enter the hostname into the Current Hostname input field.

21. Click the Set Hostname button.

22. Click the Local DNS Configuration > DNS Configuration menu option.

23. In the DNS configuration screen, enter the IP address(es) of the DNS Server(s) which is used to resolve names locally on the LoadMaster into the DNS NameServer input field.

24. Click the Add button.

25. Enter the domain name that is to be prepended to requests to the DNS nameserver into the DNS NameServer input field.

26. Click the Add button.

27. Click the System Configuration > Network Setup > Default Gateway menu option.

28. In the DNS configuration screen, enter the IP address of the default gateway into the IPv4 Default Gateway Address input field.

If you have an IPv6 Default Gateway, please enter the value in the IPv6 Default Gateway Address input field.

29. Click the Set IPv4 Default Gateway button.

The LoadMaster is now fully installed and ready to be used. For further information on how to configure and implement the Virtual LoadMaster, please refer to the LoadMaster documentation which can be downloaded from the http://kemptechnologies.com/documentation page.

3 Troubleshooting and Notes

3.1 Configuring the LoadMaster Using the Console

If the LoadMaster does not automatically obtain an IP address using DHCP, or if you would prefer to configure the LoadMaster using the console, then the following configuration steps must be completed before starting the LoadMaster.

1. Login into the LoadMaster using the console with the following settings:

- lb100 login: bal

- Password: 1fourall

2. Enter the IP address of the eth0 interface, the network facing interface of the LoadMaster, in the input field within the Network Side Interface Address dialog box.

3. Press OK.

4. Enter the IP address of the default gateway in the input field of the Default Gateway dialog box.

5. Press OK.

6. Once these are set, a prompt will appear asking to connect to the web interface at the newly configured IP address. In an internet browser enter the IP address of the eth0 entered in Step 2.

Ensure to enter https:// before the IP address.

7. A warning may appear regarding website security certificates. Please click the continue/ignore option.

8. The LoadMaster End User License Agreement screen appears.

9. Please read the license agreement and, if willing to accept the conditions therein, click on the Agree button to proceed.

10. If the machine has shipped with a temporary license, a warning will appear informing that a temporary license has been installed on the machine and for how long the license is valid.

11. Click OK.

12. The home screen of the LoadMaster should appear.

The LoadMaster is now fully installed and ready to be used. For further information on how to configure and implement the Virtual LoadMaster, please refer to the LoadMaster documentation which can be found here: https://kemptechnologies.com/documentation.

3.2 Common KVM Commands

The following list describes some commonly used KVM commands.

Connect to VM using local console:
virsh console <NAME OF KVM / ID>

Shutdown VM:
virsh shutdown <NAME OF KVM / ID>

List running VMs:
virsh list

Delete a VM:
virsh destroy <NAME OF KVM / ID>

Note that proper permissions are required to run these commands.

3.3 Factory Reset

If you perform a factory reset on your VLM, all configuration data, including the VLM's IP address is deleted. During the subsequent reboot the VLM attempts to obtain an IP address using DHCP. If the VLM is on a different subnet to the DHCP server then an IP address will not be obtained and the IP address is set to the default 192.168.1.101.

The VLM may not be accessible using this address. If this is the case then you must run through the quick setup using the console as described in the section.

References

Unless otherwise specified, the below documents can be found at http://kemptechnologies.com/documentation

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KVM

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