Installing VMware vCenter Server 6.7 with an embedded Platform Services Controller guide – Siva Sankar Blogs

One of the major changes in vCenter Server Appliance 6.7 is simplifying the architecture by running all vCenter Server services on a single instance. Support for vCenter Server with Embedded PSC with Enhanced Linked Mode. The major benefits of vCenter server appliance with Embedded PSC are..

This post will cover the installation of vCenter Server Appliance 6.7 with聽an embedded Platform Services Controller. The basic

pre-requisites for vCenter server appliance 6.7 are.

Contents of the Post

Step 1:Download the vCenter ISO media, Mount it on Desktop or laptop, Start聽 the installer as shown below.

Step 2:Select Install

Step 3:Click Next

Step 4:Accept EULA and Click Next

Step 5: Select Embedded PSC as shown below and Next

Step 6:Provide the ESXi or vCenter details over which we need to deploy this vCenter appliance.聽

Step 7: Accept warning – click yes

Step 8: Provide the vCenter server VM name, Root password for the vCenter appliance, confirm it – > Next

Step 9: Select the Deployment size, as my lab is of small size will go for tiny. Based on your environment select the size.

Step 10: Select DataStore and click next

Step 11: Provide below details for the vCenter server

leave other defaults and next

Step 12: Review the settings and click Finish

Step 13: With this Stage 1 is completed, Click Continue to start stage 2. Some times stage 2 will fail if you click continue due to the DNS records not present for vCenter or the DNS lookup for vCenter url is not working from the machine from which you are running installer.

Note: if by chance this window is closed stage2 can be done anytime later using https://fqdn-of-vcenter-server:5480 url.

Note:Take a snapshot of the vCenter VM before moving to Stage 2. If it fails we need to just revert to snapshot and start again.

Step 14: In this stage will configure the SSO and complete vCenter installation. Click Next

Step 15: Provide NTP Details as shown below. NTP server is very important, there are chances that vCenter installation will fail if NTP is not working.

Step 16: Provide the sso domain name and password.

Step 17: review and next

Step 18: Finish to start the configuration.

Step 19: Click Ok to start configuration, this step cannot be interrupted.

Step 20: Once installation is finished, login to console using fqdn as shown below.

Once the installation is finished few basic post installation steps will help improve the way we use the vcenter server. they are listed below.

Step 21: Login to vCenter web client using https://fqdn/vsphere-client

Step 22: Right Click – create new data Center.

Step 23: Right Click and Create New Cluster.

Step 24: Turn on HA and DRS as per your requirement.

Step 25: Add host and provide host details to add.

Step 26: provide hostip

Step 27: provide esxi host login credentials.

Step 28: Review and Next

Step 29: verify license and next Step 30: Lock Down Mode: Disable and next

Step 31: Review and Finish

The default SSO administrator will expire after 90 days. Most of the time we forget to reset it on site. So its better to remove expiry and allow domain users to manage vcenter.

Step 32:聽 Home – administration

Step 33: Click on Configuration ( under SSO) – Select Policies – Select Password Policy – Edit

Step 34: Select 0 at Password must be changed every — days – then click ok. Restart the vCenter appliance.

Its a good idea to manage the vCenter server with domain users, below steps will help to achieve that.

Step 35: Under Administration – Configuration – Identity sources – Green + sign to add.

Step 36: Select Active Directory as an LDAP server.

Step 37: provide ldap information as shown below.

Or Domain Controller can be specified as LDAP server as shown below

ldap://dcip:389

Step 38: review and finish to add ldap server.

Step 39: review that its added

Step 40: Under Administration – Access control – Global permissions – Manage – Press green + Sign

Step 41: Select Domain Name at domain – search group name – click add – ok

Step 42: now domain admins are added as vcenter admins

Step 43: As you are aware from vCenter 6.5 Update manager is built into vCenter appliance. Select Home – Update Manager

Step 44: Manage – settings – download schedule – edit and schedule for auto download.

Step 45: provide proxy server details for internet access.

Step 46 : Click on manage – Settings – download settings – select download now.

With this vCenter 6.7 with Embedded PSC installation and configuration is completed.

Hope this post is useful, Leave your comments and feedback..