Tutorials Archives - Page 4 of 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/

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: