vCenter Virtual Appliance Install 6.2 U2 – lab 1.0
Trying to get a blog up and running has taken me ages to get round to. Partly this was due to not knowing what to write about as well as just not having time to do it. So, in the first of my “real” posts I am starting fairly simple in order to get the hang of how to layout posts as well as practice putting up clear information. Below is a simple guide to installing VMware vCenter Virtual Appliance 6.2 u2. I will correct any mistakes and omissions if I discover or I am alerted to them.
I have finally got myself some simple home lab equipment in order to install, play, break and fix software for learning purposes. As you can imagine this environment gets regularly trashed and rebuilt.
Here are the steps:
Download from myvmware.com
Open the downloaded ISO and open the vcsa-setup.html file.
Install Client integration if needed
Click the Install button
Accept the EULA
Specify the ESXi host that you are deploying too along with the login information for that host.
The certificate thumbprint from the host will be shown. If this matches the certificate for the host where you intend to deploy the VCSA to then click ‘Yes’.
There will be some short validating before you are required to specify a name for the soon to be deployed Appliance. On this screen you will also be required to set up a root password.
Select the type of deploment – Embedded or External PSC. In the screenshot below I am deploying an embedded appliance.
You can deploy an external PSC later and repoint the VCSA to it. Details can be found here (I will post these instructions at a later date)
You can deploy an external PSC later and repoint the VCSA to it. Details can be found here (I will post these instructions at a later date)
Now we need to create a new or join an existing SSO domain. In this case I am creating a new SSO domain (vsphere.local) and a new site (Stockholm).
Next you need to select an Appliance size. As I am deploying into a lab I can safely pick the ‘Tiny’ size. Select the size appropriate for your environment.
Select the datastore that you want to use on defined host. In the below screenshot I only have a local datastore. I have also selected ‘Enable Thin Disk Mode’ as this is a lab environment.
Configure whether you want to use the embedded Postgres DB or an external Oracle DB.
Setup up the network settings such as the IP for the vAPP, DNS, NTP and whether you want SSH enabled.
Ensure that you have valid DNS A and PTR records set up for the vAPP prior to deploying.
Ensure that you have valid DNS A and PTR records set up for the vAPP prior to deploying.
Join customer improvement if you would like to take part.
A short summary of all the choices you made will be displayed on the Ready to Complete dialogue. If you are happy click Next
The appliance will now deploy. You can monitor its progress in the next screen.
The appliance will now deploy. You can monitor its progress in the next screen.
Once the installation is complete you will be shown a link to the newly deployed vCenter’s webclient.
In future posts I will show how to deploy an external PSC, Set Machine SSL certificates and how to set up the newly deployed environment.