How do I create a USB Storage Repository in XenServer

 

Identify the device

1. There are several ways to determine a USB device name.  I found tail to be the most efficient and fun means to determine the device name.  “tail –f /var/log/messages”.   This will show you the last ten log messages and stay open to show you additional messages real-time.  
2. Plug in your USB HDD and watch the messages fly by.  Your device name should show up somewhere in the messages.  “Ctrl-C” will return you to the command line.  You should see something along the lines of /dev/sdb or /dev/sdc

Format the device

1. Enter “fdisk /dev/<device>” where <device> is replaced by the information you obtained in Step 2 above. You should be placed in the Fdisk command line with a prompt of “Command (m for help):”
2. Enter “p” to see the partition table of the drive.  The first line of output will also tell you the size of the drive.  Double-check your size to verify that you are working on the correct drive.
3. If there are any partitions on the drive they will be listed as numbered sequences (i.e. /dev/sdb1, /dev/sdb2).  To delete these partitions enter “d”.  Then the number of the partition you want to delete.
4. Once you have deleted all existing partitions on the drive you are ready to create a new one encompassing the entire drive space available.  Enter “n” then “p” to create a primary partition.  Enter “1” for the partition number.  If you keep the defaults for the start and end cylinder it will use the entire drive.
5. You can use the “p” command again to verify your settings.  Enter “Exit” to leave the FDisk utility.
6. Enter “mkfs.ext3 –m 0 –v /dev/<device partition>” where <device partition> is replaced by the partition you created in Step 6.  (i.e. /dev/sdb1)

Create the Storage Repository

1. Enter “xe sr-create type=lvm name-label=USBSR device-config:device=/dev/<device> shared=false content-type=user” where <device> is replaced by the information you obtained in Step 2.