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Citrix has announced XenServer 6.5, their newest release of the company’s commercial virtualization platform based on the open-source Xen Project hypervisor. With the update, XenServer now offers a full 64-bit kernel architecture, which allows customers to leverage the latest hardware and OS platforms, and supports enterprise-grade networking, storage and workload management.

As of today all UK Servers customers can opt to have XenServer 6.5 pre-installed on their dedicated server, the new 64-bit kernel architecture features significant improvements in networking and storage performance, providing customers with a virtualization platform for running new and existing workloads in their workspace and datacenter environments. The new release also re-introduces enterprise-class features for workload balancing (WLB) and distributed virtual switch controllers (DVSC).

Official update notes are as follows:

XenServer 6.5 introduces many architectural improvements which aim to improve overall performance and removes a number of scalability limitations in XenServer 6.2.

• 64-bit Control Domain Linux Kernel
  • The new 64-bit Control Domain (Dom0) enables XenServer to accommodate many more PCI devices per host (NICs, GPUs, and so on), and allows the use of devices that are 64-bit only (including many Solid State Drive solutions).
• New Xen Project Hypervisor v4.4
  • XenServer 6.5 includes the latest Xen Project hypervisor available; v4.4 delivers many improvements. It vastly increases the number of virtual event channels available for Dom0, from 1023 to 131071, which translates into a correspondingly larger number of attached virtual devices.
• Re-introduction and Improvements to Workload Balancing
  • XenServer 6.5 sees the return of the WorkLoad Balancing (WLB) virtual appliance. WLB gives system administrators deep insight into system performance, allowing infrastructure optimization.
• Distribute Virtual Switch Controller – new version included and deprecation rescinded
  • The Distributed Virtual Switch Controller (DVSC) is fully supported within XenServer 6.5 and the deprecation notice issued at 6.2 is rescinded.
• Newly Supported Guests
  • Support is added for the following new guests:
  • Ubuntu 14.04
  • SLES 11 SP3 and SLES 12
  • CentOS 5.10, 5.11, 6.5, and 7.0
  • RedHat 5.10, 5.11, 6.5, and 7.0
  • Oracle Linux 5.10, 5.11, 6.5, and 7.0
  • Oracle UEK 6.x

XenServer 6.5 Full Release Notes

XenServer 6.5 Product Page

We have today re-launched an updated and improved version of our online dedicated server ordering quote tool.  When ordering dedicated servers customers can now fully customise a server to their specification with the ability to customise hard disks, RAID cards, memory and operating system.

The customised quote tool can provide upto 4,000 different server configurations however if you have a hardware requirement in mind that is not listed then please don’t hesitate to contact us and I am sure we will be able to help out!  To customise any server simply click the order now button on any of our product pages and continue to configure

From 1st January 2015 inline with EU legislation the rate of VAT charged to all of our EU consumers will change to reflect the current VAT rate of their member state.

This change only affects:
– Customers of UK Servers that are private individuals and are non UK EU residents.

This change does not affect:
– Any UK customers
– Any EU business customers that have provided UK Servers with a valid EU VAT ID.
– Any customers outside the EU region.

All customers affected by this change will have invoices generated from January 1st displaying the VAT rate of their member state.  All customers with recurring billing enabled will have the credit/debit cards automatically charged at the new rate however we ask any customers paying by standing order to ensure that they update their payments to reflect the change.

More details regarding this change and how it may affect your business can be found here: http://www.thecourier.co.uk/business/money-2.174/money-matters-digital-services-vat-changes-gather-no-moss-1.749000

It has been bought to our attention that unsolicited telephone calls are being made to the general public requesting personal contact information including national insurance numbers and birth dates.  The persons making these calls claim to be representing UK Servers.  These calls appear to be being made at random and are not targeting our customer database, please note we will never call you to request this information and we would urge anyone who receives a call of this nature not to disclose any information requested and instead report it to us so we can pass it onto the police who are already looking into the matter.

Christmas Opening Hours

During the Christmas period our NOC will be staffed and the usual 24/7 support will be provided via telephone support and ticketing system.

Our sales and accounting departments will be working the following hours:
Wednesday 24th December: 08:00 – 19:00
Thursday 25th December: Closed – Support Only
Friday 26th December: Closed – Support Only
Monday 29th December: 08:00 – 19:00
Tuesday 30th December: 08:00 – 19:00
Wednesday 1st January: Closed – Support Only
Thursday 25th December: 08:00 – 19:00

We will also be implementing a network change freeze from 22nd December – 31st January. Meaning all circuits involving network or system changes will not be handed with the exception of emergencies. We are however still able to deploy new dedicated servers during this period.