VMware NSX Lab Part 7 vCenter Server Appliance - rharmonson/richtech GitHub Wiki

Table of Contents

January 13, 2016

Repost

Reverted! I deleted the series in December 2015 but at the request of tmitchell5280, I have reposted. YMMV!

(DRAFT)VMware NSX Lab Part 7: vCenter Server Appliance

vCenter is the glue for most of VMware products and provides a number of enhancement for Enterprise users that are absent with the use of only ESXi and the vSphere client. It is, also, a prerequisite for VMware NSX.

DHCP?

If following this guide, DHCP is configured and the deployment should be go smoothly, however, if you did not setup DHCP, advise doing so before moving forward. It can be an absolute nuisance otherwise. Not required but I do not cover the installation of vCSA without DHCP.

Virtual Machine Settings

After the deployment of the OVA and before power-on, you need to change the network adapter from the default to the management virtual network, i.e. "Custom: VMnet1 (host-only)," then power-on the appliance.

Deployment

The URL below provides an excellent tutorial and video for deploying vCenter Server Appliance (vCSA). Prior to deploying, you may want to review the best practices in the second link. It provides details for both vCenter Server and vCenter Server Appliance so not all the information is applicable to the appliance.

Initial Configuration

On connecting with your browser to the vCenter Server Appliance (vCSA) using https://<ip-address:5480, you will login with user: root and password: vmware. Next a EULA is present, accept then select next. At this point wait for the accept EULA process to complete (whirly-circle) then cancel the "vCenter Server Setup" wizard. Otherwise you can continue to "Customer Experience Improvement Program," next, then "Configuration Options" to be presented with the following:

To configure this virtual appliance with a static IP address, you must first configure the hostname. To do this, cancel this wizard, go to the network address settings. and enter the hostname. Once the hostname is configured, relaunch and complete this setup wizard.

If the hostname is already configured, or if you do not want to use a static IP address, select an option below.

Cancel the wizard.

Configure Network Settings

After exiting the wizard, you will be on the "vCenter Server" tab. Note the tab next to it, "Network."

  1. Select "Network" tab
  2. Select "Address" button
  3. Select the "IPv4 Address Type" drop down then select "Static"
  4. From top to bottom, for "Hostname" enter the FQDN vc.vcpnvlab.net
  5. For "IPv4 Default Gateway" enter 172.19.201.254
  6. For "Preferred DNS Server" enter 172.19.201.10 which is our Windows DNS host
  7. For "IPv4 Address" enter 172.19.201.11
  8. For "Netmask" enter 255.255.255.0
  9. For IPv6 Address" accept the default auto
  10. Select "Save" button under "Actions"
  11. Note "Saving Network Settings" in the upper right hand corner. Eventually a dialogue will appear stating it cannot connect. This is a result of changing the IP address of the vCSA
  12. Enter the new URL https://172.19.201.11:5480 to reconnect

Set Administrator Account

The following is a preference not a requirement. Time to update the administrator account password.

  1. Select "Admin" tab
  2. For "Current administrator password" enter vmware
  3. For "New administrator password" enter a password
  4. For "Retype the new password" re-enter password
  5. For "Administrator password expires" select "No" unless you plan to setup a SMTP service
  6. Note the new password then select "Submit"

vCenter Server Setup Wizard

Next, we will be using the wizard to complete the initial configuration.

  1. Select the "vCenter Server" tab and "Summary"
  2. Select the "Launch" button next to "Setup Wizard"
  3. For "Customer Experience Improvement Program" select "Next"
  4. For "Configure Options" select "Set custom configuration" then "Next"
  5. For "Database settings" accept the default "embedded" then "Next"
  6. For "SSO settings" accept the default "embedded" but specify [email protected] password then "Next"
  7. For "Active Directory settings" checkmark "Active Directory Enabled." Provide the domain, vcpnvlab.net and the domain account administrator and password. Select "Next"
  8. If Active Directory was enabled successfully, "Time synchronization" settings will be skipped and set to use "Active Directory synchronization"
  9. For "Review Settings" select "Start"
  10. Once the vCenter Server Setup wizard is complete, select "Close"

Tasks

At this point, I would advise completing several tasks. Not required but advisable.

  1. Connect to https://172.19.201.11:5480, login, select "System" then "Shutdown"
  2. Using VMware Workstation, take a snapshot of the powered-off vCSA then power-on.
  3. Create a DNS record for 'vc' with IP address 172.19.201.11.

Complete vCenter Configuration

I will be using the vSphere thick client for it is my personal preference.

Install vSphere Client

  1. Connect to https:\\172.19.201.11
  2. Select to "Download vSphere Client"
  3. After download, complete the installation

After installation, run the client and provide 172.19.201.11, root, and password. You will be immediately be confronted with "VMware Evaluation Notice" and "Your evaluation license will expire within 60 days!" Select "OK" to close the dialogue.

Licenses

In theory, you will be using the evaluation licenses. If not, use the instructions below to install.

  1. Select "Home" in the upper-left
  2. Under "Administration" select "Licensing"
  3. Select "Manage vSphere Licenses..." upper-left
  4. Enter each key then a return
  5. Select "Add License Keys"

Create Datacenter

Create a datacenter called "vcpnvlab datacenter."

  1. Connect using the vSphere client
  2. Default view should be "Hosts & Clusters," otherwise, under "Inventory" select "Hosts & Clusters"
  3. Right-mouse click the vCSA host in the upper left corner
  4. Select "New Datacenter"
  5. Enter vcpnvlab datacenter

Done!

Create Management Cluster

Create clusters "Management Cluster" and "Compute Cluster."

  1. Connect using the vSphere client
  2. Under "Inventory" select "Hosts & Clusters"
  3. Right-mouse click "vcpnvlab datacenter" in the upper left corner
  4. Select "New Cluster"
  5. Enter management cluster
  6. For "Cluster Features" accept the default then select "Next"
  7. For "VMware EVC" accept the default then select "Next"
  8. For "Virtual Machine Swapfile Location" accept the default then select "Next"
  9. For "Ready to Complete" review your setting then select "Finish"

Done!

Create Compute Cluster

  1. Connect using the vSphere client
  2. Under "Inventory" select "Hosts & Clusters"
  3. Right-mouse click "vcpnvlab datacenter" in the upper left corner
  4. Select "New Cluster"
  5. Enter compute cluster
  6. For "Cluster Features" enable "Turn on vSphere DRS" then select "Next"
  7. For "vSphere DRS" accept the default "Fully automated" and select "Next"
  8. For "Power Management" accept the default "Off" and select "Next"
  9. For "VMware EVC" accept the default then select "Next"
  10. For "Virtual Machine Swapfile Location" accept the default then select "Next"
  11. For "Ready to Complete" review your setting then select "Finish"

Done!

Note if you were using multiple physical ESXi hosts with varying architectures, you would need to enable EVC for Intel or AMD processors for vSphere DRS to successfully migrate guests.

Add ESXi Hosts

It is time to add the ESXi hosts to the clusters.

Management Cluster

  1. Connect using the vSphere client
  2. Under "Inventory" select "Hosts & Clusters"
  3. Right-mouse click "management cluster" in the upper left corner
  4. Select "Add Host"
  5. For "Connection Settings", enter 172.19.201.101, root, and password then select "Next"
  6. A "Security Alert" will be display, select "Yes" to accept the SHA1 thumbprint of the host's certificate
  7. For "Host Summary" select "Next"
  8. For "Assign License" accept the 'Evalution Mode: No LicenseKey' and select "Next"
  9. For "Configure Lockdown Mode" accept the default and select "Next"
  10. For "Choose the Destination Resource Pool" accept the default and select "Next"
  11. For "Ready to Complete" select "Finish"

Monitor the task under "Recent Tasks" in the bottom pane. It should complete without errors.

Compute Cluster

  1. Connect using the vSphere client
  2. Under "Inventory" select "Hosts & Clusters"
  3. Right-mouse click "compute cluster" in the upper left corner
  4. Select "Add Host"
  5. For "Connection Settings", enter 172.19.201.111, root, and password then select "Next"
  6. A "Security Alert" will be display, select "Yes" to accept the SHA1 thumbprint of the host's certificate
  7. For "Host Summary" select "Next"
  8. For "Assign License" accept the 'Evalution Mode: No LicenseKey' and select "Next"
  9. For "Configure Lockdown Mode" accept the default and select "Next"
  10. For "Choose the Destination Resource Pool" accept the default and select "Next"
  11. For "Ready to Complete" select "Finish"

Repeat for ESXi hosts 172.19.201.121 and 172.19.201.131

Done!