VMware vCenter Server Module 4

Introduction to VMware Virtualization Installing VMware ESX and ESXi You Are Here vSphere Environment Operations Introduction to VMware Virtualization Access Control VMware ESX and ESXi Resource Monitoring VMware vCenter Server Data Protection Networking Scalability Storage High Availability Virtual Machines Patch Management Installing VMware ESX and ESXi VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

Importance VMware vCenter™ Server allows you to centrally manage multiple VMware® ESX™/ESXi hosts and their virtual machines. Failure to properly install, configure, and manage vCenter Server could result in reduced administrative efficiency or possible ESX/ESXi host and virtual machine downtime. VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

Module Lessons Lesson 1: Installing vCenter Server Lesson 2: Using vCenter Server VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

Lesson 1: Installing vCenter Server VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

Lesson Objectives Describe the vCenter Server architecture Describe the vCenter Server components Install vCenter Server Install the VMware vSphere™ Client VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

vCenter Server: Management Platform VMware vCenter Server is a service that acts as a central administration point for ESX/ESXi hosts and their virtual machines, connected on a network: Up to 1,000 hosts per vCenter Server instance Up to 10,000 powered-on virtual machines per vCenter Server instance VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

vCenter Architecture VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

vCenter Server Components VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

Additional vCenter Server Modules Optional vCenter Server modules (plug-ins) provide additional features to vCenter Server. Examples: VMware vCenter Update Manager VMware vCenter Converter These modules include a server component and a client component: The client component is a plug-in available for download and installation to the vSphere Client after the server component is installed in vCenter Server. The client component alters the interface by adding items related to the enhanced functionality. VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

vCenter Server: Physical or Virtual Machine When using a physical machine: A dedicated physical server is required. vCenter Server is not susceptible to potential VMware vSphere outage. vCenter Server performance is limited only by the system hardware. When using a virtual machine: A dedicated physical server is not required. vCenter Server is susceptible to potential vSphere outage. The vCenter Server instance can be migrated from one system to another during maintenance activities. vCenter Server must contend for resources with the other virtual machines on the host. VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

vCenter Server Hardware and Software Requirements Hardware requirements (physical or virtual machine): Number of CPUs – Two 64-bit CPUs or one 64-bit dual-core processor Processor – 2.0GHz or higher Intel or AMD processor* Memory – 3GB RAM minimum* Disk storage – 3GB minimum* Networking – Gigabit connection recommended * Higher if database runs on the same machine Software requirements: 64-bit operating system is required. Examples of guest operating systems supported: Windows XP Pro 64-bit, SP2, Windows Server 2003 Enterprise SP2, Windows 2008 R2 64-bit See “vSphere Compatibility Matrixes.” VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

vCenter Database Requirements Each vCenter Server instance must have a connection to a database to organize all the configuration data. Supported databases: Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Microsoft SQL Server 2008 Oracle 10g and 11g IBM DB2 9.5 Default database – Microsoft SQL Server 2005 Express: Bundled with vCenter Server Used for product evaluations and demos Also used for small deployments (up to five hosts and 50 virtual machines) VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

Calculating the Database Size Use the VMware vCenter Server 4.x Database Sizing Calculator: For Microsoft SQL Server and Oracle Or use the what-if calculator built in to vCenter Server. VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

Before Installing vCenter Server Before beginning the vCenter Server installation, make sure that the following prerequisites are met: Ensure that vCenter Server hardware and software requirements are met. Ensure that the vCenter Server system belongs to a domain rather than a workgroup. Create a vCenter Server database, unless you are using the default database. Obtain and assign static IP address and host name to the vCenter Server system. VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

Installing vCenter Server and Its Components Use the VMware vCenter Installer to install vCenter Server and its components. Install vCenter Server. Install additional modules, such as Update Manager and vCenter Converter. Install the vSphere Client. VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

vCenter Server Installation Wizard The vCenter Server Installation wizard asks for the following data. Parameter Description User name and organization User identification License key Evaluation or valid license key Database information Default database or remote database connection information SYSTEM account information User for running the vCenter Server service Destination folder Software location Standalone or join a Linked Mode group Standalone instance (vCenter Linked Mode is discussed in a later module.) Ports Ports used for communicating with client interfaces and managed hosts JVM memory JVM memory configuration for the vCenter Server Web service VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

vCenter Server Services vCenter Server is installed on a Windows system. After it is installed, vCenter Server services can be managed from the Windows Control Panel (Administrative Tools > Services). VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

Installing the vSphere Client The vSphere Client is an interface used to connect remotely to vCenter Server from a Windows system. Two ways to install the vSphere Client: Use the VMware vCenter Installer. Download the client from the main Web page of the vCenter Server system. Point to the vCenter Server. Download the vSphere Client to a supported Windows system. VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

Logging In to the vSphere Client To log in to the vSphere Client, enter: Host name or IP address of the vCenter Server system Windows user and password (Optional) Use your Windows session credentials. VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

Default vCenter Server Plug-Ins vCenter Server is installed with a set of default plug-ins. To install a new plug-in, use the Plug-in Manager in the vSphere Client. VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

Lab 2 In this lab, you will install vCenter Server components. Access your vCenter Server system. Configure a SQL Server ODBC connection to a remote database. Install vCenter Server. Install the vSphere Client on the vCenter Server system. VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A 22

Lesson Summary Describe the vCenter Server architecture Describe the vCenter Server components Install vCenter Server Install the vSphere Client VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

Lesson 2: Using vCenter Server VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

Lesson Objectives Create and organize vCenter Server inventory objects Navigate using the vSphere Client Add license keys to vCenter Server View vCenter Server logs and events Create a vCenter Server administrator VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

Datacenter Object VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

Organizing Inventory Objects into Folders VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

Navigating the vSphere Client Home page search box navigation bar VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

vCenter Server Views: Hosts and Clusters, VMs and Templates Hosts and Clusters inventory view VMs and Templates inventory view VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

vCenter Server Views: Datastores and Networks Datastores inventory view Networking inventory view VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

Adding a Host to the vCenter Server Inventory To add an ESX/ESXi host to the vCenter Server inventory, use the Add Host wizard. Specify: Fully qualified domain name User name and password (ESXi hosts only) Lockdown mode enabled VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

ESX/ESXi and vCenter Server Communication VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

vCenter License Overview Licenses are managed and monitored from vCenter Server. Licensing consists of: Product – License to use a vSphere software component or feature License key – 25-character string that corresponds to a product Asset – Machine on which a product is installed product license key assets VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

details of selected event vCenter Server Events event search details of selected event VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

vCenter Server System Logs log search VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

Creating a vCenter Server Administrator Avoid using the Windows Administrator user to run vCenter Server after it has been installed. By default, the Windows local Administrators group is given the vCenter Server role named Administrator. Use a nonadministrative Windows account to run vCenter Server. Group vSphereAdmins and user Rawlinson are assigned the vCenter Server Administrator role. Remove the Windows Administrators group from the list. VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

Lab 3 In this lab, you will perform basic vCenter Server inventory operations. Log in to the vCenter Server system from your desktop virtual machine. Add your ESXi host to the vCenter Server inventory. Create folder objects. Manage vSphere license keys. VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A 37

Lesson Summary Create and organize vCenter Server inventory objects Navigate using the vSphere Client Add license keys to vCenter Server View vCenter Server logs and events Create a vCenter Server administrator VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A

Key Points The vCenter architecture consists of vCenter Server, the vCenter Server database, Active Directory, and managed ESX/ESXi hosts. Use the inventory views to organize inventory objects in a meaningful way. It is a good practice to assign the vCenter Server Administrator role to a normal Windows user account and to remove this role from the Windows Administrator group. VMware vSphere 4.1: Install, Configure, Manage – Revision A