VMware vCenter Server

Module 4

2012 VMware Inc. All rights reserved

You Are Here

Course Introduction
Introduction to Virtualization Creating Virtual Machines VMware vCenter Server Configuring and Managing Virtual Networks Configuring and Managing vSphere Storage Virtual Machine Management

Data Protection Access and Authentication Control Resource Management and Monitoring High Availability and Fault Tolerance Host Scalability Patch Management Installing VMware vSphere Components

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Importance
VMware vCenter Server allows you to centrally manage multiple VMware vSphere ESXi hosts and their virtual machines. Failure to properly install, configure, and manage vCenter Server could result in reduced administrative efficiency or possible ESXi host and virtual machine downtime.

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Module Lessons

Lesson 1: Lesson 2:

vCenter Server Architecture Managing vCenter Server Inventory

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Lesson 1: vCenter Server Architecture

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Learner Objectives

After this lesson, you should be able to do the following: Describe the architecture of vCenter Server. Discuss how ESXi hosts communicate with vCenter Server. Identify additional vCenter Server components and modules. Describe single sign-on components.

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vCenter Server: Management Platform

vCenter Server is a service that acts as a central administration point for ESXi hosts and their virtual machines, connected on a network:

vCenter Server

Manage

Up to 1,000 hosts per vCenter Server instance Up to 10,000 powered-on virtual machines per vCenter Server instance
VMware vSphere VMware vSphere VMware vSphere

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vCenter Architecture

ESXi host

ESXi host

ESXi host

* NIS also supported

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ESXi and vCenter Server Communication

vCenter Server

hostd ESXi host

vpxa

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vCenter Server Components

Active Directory/ NIS Services

distributed services
Additional Services:

database server

Update Manager Orchestrator

user access VMware control vSphere API

core services
ESXi management

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Additional vCenter Server Modules

Optional vCenter Server modules (plug-ins) provide additional features to vCenter Server. Examples: VMware vSphere Update Manager VMware vCenter Site Recovery Manager Plug-In These modules include a server component and a client component: The client component is a plug-in available for download and installation to the VMware 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.

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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. Web client

Windows client

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vCenter Single Sign On

Mgmt App

vCD

VMware vCenter

Directory Server (AD)

Benefits of Single Sign On:

Features of Single Sign On:

Faster operations and less complexity Support for multiple or non AD user repositories

Auto discovery of vCenter 5.1 servers in vSphere environment. The vCenter 5 servers require one-time manual registration. User gets to see all vCenter instances. Linked mode no longer required for unified views of vCenter.

Trust between components

Better Architecture Support of an open standard

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Single Sign-On Server

vCenter

vCO

Inventory Service

VMware vSphere Web Client

vSphere Solutions

Authorization

Authentication (Single Sign On)

Auditing

vSphere Platform Services

Customer Identity Sources

Active Directory

Open LDAP

NIS

Local OS Users

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Single Sign On: Components Installed

Security Token Service (STS)

SSO Administrative Server

SSO

RSA SSPI service

Lookup Service

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About Identity Sources

An identity source is a collection of user and group data. The user and group data is stored in a repository, such as Active Directory, LDAP, or a database that is local to SSO or to an operating system.

vCenter Server 5.1 supports the following types of user repositories as identity sources: OpenLDAP versions 2.4 and later Active Directory versions 2003 and later Local operating system users
You can attach multiple identity sources from each type to a single sign-on server.

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Adding Identity Sources

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Inventory Object: Tagging

Ability to create custom tags on inventory objects Associate an arbitrary set of objects of the same type using a tag: Search for objects by that tag Enable a business case where customers want to create arbitrary groups of VMS, clusters, and datastores for ease of management

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Review of Learner Objectives

You should be able to do the following: Describe the architecture of vCenter Server. Discuss how ESXi hosts communicate with vCenter Server. Identify additional vCenter Server components and modules. Describe single sign-on components.

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Lesson 2: Managing vCenter Server Inventory

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Learner Objectives

After this lesson, you should be able to do the following: Create and organize vCenter Server inventory objects. Navigate using the vSphere Client. Add license keys to vCenter Server. View vCenter Server logs and events.

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Datacenter Object

vCenter Server

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Organizing Inventory Objects into Folders

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Navigating the vSphere Client

Home page search box

navigation bar

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vCenter Server Views: Hosts and Clusters, VMs, and Templates

VMS and Templates inventory view

Hosts and Clusters inventory view

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vCenter Server Views: Datastores and Networks

Datastores and datastore clusters inventory view

Networking inventory view

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Adding a Host to the vCenter Server Inventory

To add an ESXi host to the vCenter Server inventory, use the Add Host wizard and specify: Fully qualified domain name User name and password Lockdown mode setting

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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

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vCenter Server Events

event search

details of selected event

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vCenter Server System Logs

log search

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Lab 4

In this lab, you will perform basic vCenter Server inventory operations. 1. Configure the VCVA for first use. 2. Install vSphere license keys. 3. Create a vCenter Server inventory datacenter object. 4. Create vCenter Server inventory folder objects. 5. Add your ESXi host to the vCenter Server inventory. 6. Use the web console to configure the VMware vCenter Server Appliance to use Directory Services. 7. Use the vSphere Web Client to log in to the vCenter Server Appliance.

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Review of Learner Objectives

You should be able to do the following: Create and organize vCenter Server inventory objects. Navigate using the vSphere Client. Add license keys to vCenter Server. View vCenter Server logs and events.

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Key Points

The vCenter Server architecture consists of the following:

vCenter Server The vCenter Server database Active Directory Managed ESXi hosts

Use the inventory views to organize inventory objects in a meaningful way.

Questions?

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