HOW TO: Deploy and Install the VMWARE vCenter Server Appliance 6.0 (VCSA 6.0)

In my previous Experts Exchange Articles, most have featured Basic and Intermediate VMware and Virtualisation Topics.

If you would like to read my Basic VMware articles, they are listed at the end of this article for your convenience.

This article will show you HOW TO: Deploy and Install the VMWARE vCenter Server Appliance 6.0, also known as the vCenter Linux Appliance, or VCSA 6.0.

You cannot trial the VMWARE vCenter Server Appliance 6.0, you must have a license for VMware vSphere vCenter Server 6.0 to download the appliance from VMware. Previous versions of the  VMWARE vCenter Server Appliance were supplied as a ready made OVF for download, this procedure has now changed in version 6.0, and a ISO (DVD image) now has to be downloaded.

Download the VMware-VCSA-all-x.y.z-abcdefg.iso (DVD image) from VMware. The filename used in this tutorial is called VMware-VCSA-all-6.0.0-2175370.iso, the build number and filename are likely to change when generally available.

Burn or Mount the VMware-VCSA-all-6.0.0-2175370.iso (DVD image) on your Administration workstation.

In the VCSA folder on the DVD, install the VMware-ClientIntegrationPlugin-6.0.0.exe before you begin. (You will need to close your browser).

1. Install the VMware-ClientIntegrationPlugin-6.0.0.exe application

Double click the VMware-ClientIntegrationPlugin-6.0.0.exe application.

vcsa1.jpgClick Next to start the installation.
vcsa2.jpgAccept the End User License Agreement, and Click Next to continue.

vcsa3.jpgYou can change the program location if required, click Next to continue.

vcsa4.jpgClick Install to start the installation

vcsa5.jpg
Click Finish to complete the installation.

vcsa6.jpg

2. Installing the VMWARE vCenter Server Appliance 6.0.

Double Click the index.html file in the root of the DVD.

vcsa7.jpgEnsure pop up blockers to no block the Client Integration Plugin.

vcsa8.jpgSelect Allow, so the VMware Client Integration Plug-In can access the operating system.

vcsa9.jpgSelect and Click Install

vcsa10.jpg
Accept the End User License Agreement, and Click Next to continue.

2015-01-03-17-12-52-vCenter-Server-AppliEnter the FQDN or IP Address of an VMware vSphere ESXi Host Server.

2015-01-03-17-15-30-vCenter-Server-AppliClick OK, if a certificate warning is displayed. (this is likely if your certificate does not match your FQDN).

2015-01-03-17-17-11-vCenter-Server-AppliEnter the name for the VMWARE vCenter Server Appliance 6.0 or accept the defaults. Enter and remember the password for the appliance.

2015-01-03-17-19-02-vCenter-Server-AppliSelect and use an Embedded Platform Services Controller. Click Next to continue.

2015-01-03-17-21-06-vCenter-Server-AppliSetup and Configure Single-Sign-On. (Remember the password!). Enter a password, for Single Sign-On, Domain Name, and Site Name, I would recommend, using vsphere.local for the domain name, and remembering the password! Click Next to continue.

2015-01-03-17-23-24-vCenter-Server-AppliSelect the appliance size.

  • Embedded-Tiny (up to 20 hosts, 400 VMs) – 2 vCPU and 8GB of memory
  • Embedded-Small (up to 150 hosts, 3,000 VMs) – 4 vCPU and 16GB of memory
  • Embedded-Medium (up to 300 hosts, 6,000 VMs) – 8 vCPU and 24GB of memory
  • Embedded-Large (up to 1000 hosts, 10,000 VMs) – 16 vCPU and 32GB of memory

In this tutorial, we are going to deploy a tiny appliance, but make sure you have 2 vCPU and 8GB of memory in the ESXi host server.

2015-01-03-17-25-14-vCenter-Server-Appli
Select a datastore to install the appliance, and select Next to continue.

2015-01-03-17-29-55-vCenter-Server-AppliIt will check the datastore for storage space

2015-01-03-17-30-37-vCenter-Server-AppliSelect and use an Embedded vPostgres database

2015-01-03-17-31-46-vCenter-Server-AppliEnter network settings for the appliance, we have specified a static IP Address, and a FQDN of vcsa6.cyrus-consultants.co.uk.  We also selected an external NTP server for time synchronisation, and enabled SSH.

2015-01-03-17-33-56-vCenter-Server-Appli
Review the settings, and click Finish to start the installation and deployment of VMWARE vCenter Server Appliance 6.0.

2015-01-03-18-40-40-vCenter-Server-AppliThe appliance is deployed

2015-01-03-18-40-58-vCenter-Server-Appli2015-01-03-18-41-10-vCenter-Server-Appli2015-01-03-18-42-39-vCenter-Server-AppliPackages are deployed

2015-01-03-18-43-24-vCenter-Server-Appli2015-01-03-18-43-29-vCenter-Server-Appli2015-01-03-18-43-33-vCenter-Server-Applithe appliance is configured

2015-01-03-18-44-20-vCenter-Server-AppliStarting Services

2015-01-03-18-51-29-vCenter-Server-Appli2015-01-03-18-55-39-vCenter-Server-Appli2015-01-03-19-00-51-vCenter-Server-AppliInstallation Completed. Click the link provided to connect to vCenter Server Appliance via your browser.

2015-01-03-19-01-26-vCenter-Server-AppliEnter your Administrator@vsphere.local username and password.

vcsa11.jpgYou are connected to vCenter Server

vcsa12.jpgCongratulations you have successfully deployed and installed the VMWARE vCenter Server Appliance 6.0.

Basic VMware Articles Series:

During this series of articles VMware released VMware vSphere 5.5 and VMware vSphere Hypervisor ESXi 5.5. These articles are also applicable to VMware vSphere Hypervisor ESXi 5.0 and 5.5. For consistency, I have used VMware vSphere Hypervisor ESXi 5.1 throughout this series.

Post to Twitter

Tags: , , ,