Daniel

Installing VMware vSphere 5.5 Series:

In this series I will be installing ESXi and vCenter using Microsoft Server 2012 R2 virtual machines.

Part 1: Introduction and ESXi Installation
Part 2: Microsoft SQL 2012 Installation
Part 3: Creating the vCenter Database & ODBC Setup
Part 4: vCenter 5.5 Installation
Part 5: Initial Setup (Accessing vCenter, Configure Basic Permissions, Add Host)
Downloading ESXi: If you will be running ESXi from a physical server you will want to use the ESXi image provider by the hardware manufacture such as Dell, HP, Cisco. Their ESXi image has the drivers and software specific for the hardware. If you will be running ESXi in a nested environment, then the ESXi image from VMware is what you want. Here are the download links for each manufacturer:
HP: http://h18004.www1.hp.com/products/servers/software/vmware/esxi-image.html
Dell: http://www.dell.com/support/home/us/en/19/Drivers/DriversDetails?driverid=5YC4T
Cisco: http://www.cisco.com/c/en/us/td/docs/unified_computing/ucs/release/notes/OL_26617.html
VMware: http://www.vmware.com/go/download-vspherehypervisor

ESXi Installation: First boot your server from the ESXi ISO. Depending on your hardware you should mount the ISO using iLo/iDRAC/etc. Another nice way is to boot it from a USB thumb drive. You can make your USB bootable by using this tool: http://rufus.akeo.ie/ . Of course you can do it the old fashion way and burn the ISO to a disc. The first screen that pops up should look like this. It has a timer that will count down and automatically take you into the installer unless you hit a button on your keyboard.

ESXi Installer Load Screen:

Welcome to the ESXi 5.5 Installation. Hit Enter:

Accept the license agreement and hit F11:

Here you select where you want to install ESXi. You will have already configured your hard drives with a RAID if applicable (if not go do that and start over). The installation of ESXi is very small, you could use a thumb drive and install to it. Once you select your install location hit Enter:

Pick your keyboard layout and hit Enter:

Enter a password for the root account. Hit Enter:

ESXi is ready to begin the installation. Hit F11:

ESXi Install Progress Screen:

Installation is complete. Hit Enter to reboot:

Here is what the ESXi screen looks like after booting. Lets do some basic configuration such as setting a static IP, naming this host and ensuring the correct uplinks are selected. Hit F2 to bring up the login menu:

Enter the password that was set during the install, hit Enter:

Scroll down to Configure Management Network, hit Enter:

Go to Network Adapters and hit Enter:

This is where you can select what uplinks the management network has. This screen might be different depending on your environment. Hit space bar on the vmnics that you want to use, when finished hit Enter:

Now scroll down to IP Configuration, hit Enter:

In my lab I want to set a static IP address, once finished hit Enter:

If you are not using IPv6, go to IPv6 Configuration and disable it:

Now go to DNS Configuration and hit Enter:

Set your DNS information and host name, hit Enter:

Now hit ESC to exit, you will be prompted to reboot thehost for the changed to take affect. Hit Y to reboot:

Now your ESXi host is ready for use:

Continue to Part 2: https://www.virtuallyboring.com/installing-vmware-esxi-and-vcenter-5-5-part-2/

Installing VMware vSphere 5.5 Series:
Part 1: Introduction and ESXi Installation
Part 2: Microsoft SQL 2012 Installation
Part 3: Creating the vCenter Database & ODBC Setup
Part 4: vCenter 5.5 Installation
Part 5: Initial Setup (Accessing vCenter, Configure Basic Permissions, Add Host)

I am installing Microsoft SQL 2012 on a Microsoft Server 2012 R2 virtual machine. In this walk through I am installing SQL and vCenter on separate virtual machines.

Microsoft SQL 2012 Installation:

1. Go to the Installation tab and click on the New SQL Server stand-alone installation:

2. Setup Support Rules – It will run a quick preinstall scan. Click Next:

3. Product Key – You can proceed with an 180 day Evaluation, Express or enter your product key, click Next with your selection:

4. License Terms – Check the box to accept the license terms, check the box if you want to send usage data to Microsoft (who wouldn’t? 🙂 ) now click Next:

5. Product Updates – Go ahead and install the updates, click Next:

6. Setup Support Rules – It will run another test, click Next:

7. Setup Role – Ensure SQL Server Feature Installation is selected, click Next:

8. Feature Selection – Check the following options:
     a. Database Engine Services
     b. Client Tools Connectivity
     c. Integration Services
     d. Management Tools – Basic
     e. Management Tools – Complete

Also on this screen you can change the install directory to a different drive. In this case I am installing it in my lab so I am leaving it to default. Click Next:

9. Installation Rules – It will run another check, if everything looks good click Next:

10. Instance Configuration – Here you can change the instance ID and instance root directory. Again in this instance I am leaving default. Click Next:

11. Disk Space Requirements – This is checking to ensure you have enough disk space. Click Next:

12. Server Configuration – Change the Account Name to the service account you created. Also change the Startup Type to Automatic. Click Next:

13. Database Engine Configuration – Here you can set the authentication mode. Lock it down to suit your environment. Since this is my lab I am going to use Mixed Mode and add the service account and domain admins to make administration simplistic. Click Next:

14. Error Reporting – If you want to send error report to Microsoft check the box. Click Next:

15. Installation Configuration Rules – It will run another test to ensure everything will go smoothly, click Next:

16. Ready to Install – Here is a summary of the install, click Install to let the installation commence!

17. Installation Progress – Grab some coffee, this will take around about 20 minutes on average:

18. Complete – SQL 2012 is now installed! Now we are ready to setup the vCenter database in Part 3.

Continue to Part 3:
https://www.virtuallyboring.com/installing-vmware-esxi-and-vcenter-5-5-part-3/

Installing VMware vSphere 5.5 Series:
Part 1: Introduction and ESXi Installation
Part 2: Microsoft SQL 2012 Installation
Part 3: Creating the vCenter Database & ODBC Setup
Part 4: vCenter 5.5 Installation
Part 5: Initial Setup (Accessing vCenter, Configure Basic Permissions, Add Host)

Now that we have SQL installed its time to setup the vCenter database and ODBC connections.

Creating the vCenter Database

If you are experienced in SQL you can set the database up manually or use the provided schema SQL script from VMware vCenter installation media. In this install i’ll be using the VMware provided DB schema. This can be obtained in the \\vCenter Installation Media\vCenter-Server\dbschema\DB_and_schema_creation_scripts_MSSQL.txt  To make it easier below is a copy/paste of the script. You will have to change the database name, username, password and database location to match your setup.

use [master]
go
CREATE DATABASE [VCDB] ON PRIMARY
(NAME = N'vcdb', FILENAME = N'C:\VCDB.mdf' , SIZE = 3000KB , FILEGROWTH = 10% )
LOG ON
(NAME = N'vcdb_log', FILENAME = N'C:\VCDB.ldf' , SIZE = 1000KB , FILEGROWTH = 10%)
COLLATE SQL_Latin1_General_CP1_CI_AS
go
use VCDB
go
sp_addlogin @loginame=[vpxuser], @passwd=N'vpxuser', @defdb='VCDB', @deflanguage='us_english'
go
ALTER LOGIN [vpxuser] WITH CHECK_POLICY = OFF
go
CREATE USER [vpxuser] for LOGIN [vpxuser]
go
CREATE SCHEMA [VMW]
go
ALTER USER [vpxuser] WITH DEFAULT_SCHEMA =[VMW]
go

Open SQL Server Management Studio and login using an account that has access:

Now click on “New Query” and enter the database script from above. You will need to change the following:

• Add the location of your SQL data directory. I used defaulted install so below is my path./
• Change the initial size of the MDF to 4096KB, if you leave it at the default 3000KB you will get an error when you execute.
• This script will create a user and give it  DBO permissions, rename the vpxuser with your own username. Make sure it matches all the way through the script.

Click Execute. You should receive a message saying “Command(s) completed successfully. You will now have a VCDB DB under Databases.

Next right click on your VCDB database and go to Properties:

Go to the Options page and change the Recovery model to Simple. Click Ok:

Before we leave SQL Management Studio as a best practice right click your SQL server name and go to Properties:

On the Memory page we will want to limit the amount of memory SQL can use. I am running this in my home lab on a VM with 4 GB of RAM. I will give SQL 2 GB which leaves 2 GB for the OS. Click Ok:

Skip this part if vCenter and SQL are running on the same box: You will need to modify the TCP/IP settings for SQL. Open the SQL Server Configuration Manager, go to SQL Server Network Configuration, then Protocols for MSSQLSERVER. Right click on TCP/IP and click Properties. Make sure to change Enabled to Yes and TCP Dynamic Ports to 0 (zero). Click OK:

It is a good time to reboot your SQL server for the settings to take effect.

ODBC Setup:

Next parts are to be done on your vCenter server. Now we get to setup the ODBC connection for vCenter to use.

Go to Start -> Administrative Tools -> and open ODBC Data Sources (64 Bit):

Click on the System DSN tab and click Add:

Click on SQL Server Native Client 11.0 and click Finish. Note: You will not have this option if SQL was installed on a separate server. To install it proceed to the next step:

Skip this if you had the SQL Server Native Client as an option: The easiest way to install this is by downloading it from the Microsoft website. Under “Install Instructions” find the section that is shown in the screenshot below. Download and install the x64 version. It’s a straight forward install. Now perform the step above.

http://www.microsoft.com/en-us/download/details.aspx?id=29065&fa43d42b-25b5-4a42-fe9b-1634f450f5ee=True

Direct Link to X64 Package: http://go.microsoft.com/fwlink/?LinkID=239648&clcid=0x409

 

Now you will want to name this connection, give it a description and enter your SQL server name. If you are going to run vCenter and SQL on the same server use localhost. Otherwise use the FQDN. Click Next:

Enter the username and password you created during the database setup, click Next:

Change the default database to your created vCenter DB. Click Next:

Change your language to your preference. Now click Finish:

Click on Test Data Source. You should get test completed successfully. Click Ok:

 

You now have your ODBC connection setup for vCenter:

Now it is time to install vCenter!

Continue to Part 4:
https://www.virtuallyboring.com/installing-vmware-esxi-and-vcenter-5-5-part-4/

Installing VMware vSphere 5.5 Series:
Part 1: Introduction and ESXi Installation
Part 2: Microsoft SQL 2012 Installation
Part 3: Creating the vCenter Database & ODBC Setup
Part 4: vCenter 5.5 Installation
Part 5: Initial Setup (Accessing vCenter, Configure Basic Permissions, Add Host)

Now we are ready to start installing vCenter!

VMware vCenter 5.5 Installation:

A simple install will install all components on the same box. On our install we will have everything running on the same box however we will run through each component manually just to see the full install process.

There is a specific order in which vCenter needs to be installed. The order is as follows:

• Single Sign-On
• Web Client
• Inventory Service
• vCenter Server

First we will start out with Single Sign-On (SSO), click Install:

Click Next:

Accept the terms and click Next:

This will perform a check, if the server is on a domain check the box, click Next:

Since this is our first vCenter installation, use the first option and click Next:

Enter a password for the SSO admin account. Make sure you don’t lose this password! Click Next:

Enter your site name, click Next:

Port 7444 will need to be open on the Windows Firewall, click Next:

Change directories/drive if you need to, click Next:

Review Install Options – Once you are satisfied click Install:

SSO is now installed. Click Finish:

Next we will install the Web Client, take note of the prerequisites, click Install:

Web Client Install – Click Next:

Accept the terms and click Next:

Change directories/drives and click Next:

Highly recommend leaving the ports to default, click Next:

Enter the SSO password you set during the SSO install, click Next:

Click Yes to accept the SSO certificate:

Click Install Certificates to continue:

Ready to Install – Click Install to start the web client install process.

The Web Client is now installed. Click Finish:

Next we will install the Web Client, take note of the prerequisites, click Install:

Click Next:

Accept the terms and click Next:

Change directory/drive is needed, click Next:

Ensure your FQDN is correct, click Next:

Highly recommend to use default ports, click Next:

Pick a option that fits your environment. Since this is my home lab a small inventory size will work. Click Next:

Enter the SSO password you entered during the SSO install, click Next:

Click Yes to accept the SSL certificate:

Click Install:

Inventory Service is now installed. Click Finish:

Now to install vCenter Server. Take note of the prerequisites and click Install:

Click Next:

Accept the terms and click Next:

Can enter a license now or click  Next to continue with evaluation mode:

We will be using the SQL database we created earlier instead of SQL Express, on the drop down should be your ODBC connection we created earlier, select it and click Next:

Enter your SQL database password we created earlier and click Next:

Change the user account to the one we created earlier and make sure the FQDN is correct, click Next:

If you get the following error, just add your service account into local admin group:

Since this is our first vCenter installation, select the standalone and click Next:

Recommend not changing the ports, click Next:

Since this is being installed in my home lab, a small inventory size will be selected. Pick an option for your environment and click Next:

Enter the SSO password we created in a earlier step and click Next:

Click Yes to accept the SSL certificate:

Sets administrator account in vCenter. Click Next:

Click Next:

Change path/drive letter if needed, click Next:

Now we are ready to install vCenter Server. Click Install:

vCenter is now installed! Click Finish:

Lastly in this walk through we will install the VMware vSphere “Thick” Client, click Install:

Click Next:

Accept the terms and click Next:

Change the directory/drive letter if needed and click Next:

Click Install:

Thick Client is now installed.

Now we are ready to connect and configure vCenter!

Continue to Part 5:
https://www.virtuallyboring.com/installing-vmware-vsphere-part-5/

Installing VMware vSphere 5.5 Series:
Part 1: Introduction and ESXi Installation
Part 2: Microsoft SQL 2012 Installation
Part 3: Creating the vCenter Database & ODBC Setup
Part 4: vCenter 5.5 Installation
Part 5: Initial Setup (Accessing vCenter, Configure Basic Permissions, Add Host)

Here is how you access your vCenter using the web client or install the thick client. I will show you how to access the web client but will continue configuration of vCenter using the thick client.

Accessing and Configuring vCenter:

To access your web client, go to the following address in your browser:

https://[vCenterServerNameorIPAddress]:9443

In the bottom left corner there will be a “Download the Client Integration Plug-In”, go ahead and click that link and install. The plugin enabled certain functions such as mounting OVA files and viewing VM consoles.

To login enter the username and password we created during the install, click Login:

To access vCenter using the thick client, enter the vCenter server name and the username/password we created during the install, click Login:

First we will set permissions do you can log in with a domain account or local user. Click on Hosts and Clusters:

Now click on the permissions tab, right click in the white and click Add Permission:

You can add users from domain if available and the local users of the vCenter server. I have a domain and created a group for VMware Admins. Once you add your users/groups click Ok:

I want this group to have administrator privileges, on the drop down menu click Administrator then Ok. Now you can log into vCenter using a user account in the Vmware Admin group. Click Ok:

Last thing we will cover is adding a host. First we will need to create a datacenter. Right click your vCenter name and click New Datacenter:

Name your datacenter:

Now right click your Datacenter and click Add Host:

Enter the IP address or DNS name of your ESXi host, enter the login information and click Next:

Click Yes to accept the certification:

It will give you a summary of your host showing all virtual machines that will be added to vCenter, click Next:

[Note: My host is running 5.1, it is the same concept for hosts running 5.5]

You can enter a license key or proceed with an evaluation trial period, click Next:

Here you can enable lockdown mode. Since this is a home lab I am not going to enable that, click Next:

Click Next:

Click Finish:

Now you have configured the basics and can start deploying virtual machines!