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 3Creating 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.

1 Simple Install Overview

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:

2 SSO Overview

Click Next:

3 SSO Setup

Accept the terms and click Next:

4 SSO License Agreement

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

5 SSO Check

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

6 SSO Deployment Mode

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

7 SSO Set Password

Enter your site name, click Next:

8 SSO SIte Name

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

9 SSO HTTPS Port

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

10 SSO Install Directory

Review Install Options – Once you are satisfied click Install:

11 SSO Review Install Options

SSO is now installed. Click Finish:

12 SSO Finish

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

13 Web Client Overview

Web Client Install – Click Next:

14 Web Client Setup

Accept the terms and click Next:

15 Web Client License Agreement

Change directories/drives and click Next:

16 Web Client Install Directory

Highly recommend leaving the ports to default, click Next:

17 Web Client HTTP Ports

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

18 Web Client Enter SSO Password

Click Yes to accept the SSO certificate:

19 Web Client Certificate Accept

Click Install Certificates to continue:

20 Web Client Install Certificates

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

The Web Client is now installed. Click Finish:

21 Web Client Finish

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

22 Inventory Service Overview

Click Next:

23 Inventory Service Setup

Accept the terms and click Next:

24 Inventory Service License Agreement

Change directory/drive is needed, click Next:

25 Inventory Service Install Directory

Ensure your FQDN is correct, click Next:

26 Inventory Service FQDN

Highly recommend to use default ports, click Next:

27 Inventory Service Configure Ports

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

28 Inventory Service Inventory Size

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

29 Inventory Service Enter SSO Information

Click Yes to accept the SSL certificate:

30 Inventory Service Certificate

Click Install:

31 Inventory Service Install

Inventory Service is now installed. Click Finish:

32 Inventory Service Finish

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

33 vCenterServer Overview

Click Next:

34 vCenterServer Setup

Accept the terms and click Next:

35 vCenterServer License Agreement

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

36 vCenterServer License Key

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:

37 vCenterServer ODBC Selection

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

38 vCenterServer SQL DB Creds

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

39 vCenterServer Service Account

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

40 vCenterServer User Account Check

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

41 vCenterServer Linked Mode Options

Recommend not changing the ports, click Next:

42 vCenterServer Configure Ports

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:

43 vCenterServer Inventory Size

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

44 vCenterServer SSO Information

Click Yes to accept the SSL certificate:

45 vCenterServer Certificate Accept

Sets administrator account in vCenter. Click Next:

Click Next:

47 vCenterServer Inventory Service URL

Change path/drive letter if needed, click Next:

48 vCenterServer Install Directory

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

49 vCenterServer Install

vCenter is now installed! Click Finish:

50 vCenterServer Finish

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

51 ThickClient Overview

Click Next:

52 ThickClient Setup

Accept the terms and click Next:

53 ThickClient License Agreement

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

54 ThickClient Install Directory

Click Install:

55 ThickClient Install

Thick Client is now installed.

56 ThickClient Finish

Now we are ready to connect and configure vCenter!

Continue to Part 5:
https://boring.wpengine.com/installing-vmware-vsphere-part-5/

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