Install VMware vCenter Server 5

 

This is a step by step guide for installing and configuring VMware vCenter Server 5. This guide assumes that all the necessary prerequisites and checks have been taken care of previously before starting with this tutorial.

Prerequisites:

• Install and Configure SQL Server 2008R2
• vCenter Server InstallationRequirements

Setting up the vCenter Server database

First Install supported version of SQL server on a server or on the vCenter server. 

NOTE: It is advised to install the Database on a different machine, however, for a PoC, the Database can reside on the same machine as vCenter Server.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Skip this step if you are planning to use SQL Server Express which comes bundled VMware vCenter.

Login to your Database using SQL Server Management Studio

Create a New SQL Server Database

Name the new database “vcenter5” or any other suitable name and set the required location for the database files on server & click “OK”

The next thing we need to do is create a login associated with our Database. to do that, navigate to Security >> Logins as shown. Right click on Logins and select "New Login"

  
Create a SQL Server user names “vcenteruser” & set password as shown below, Untick “Enforce password policy” and change the default database to “vcenter5”

 Now goto the “User Mapping” section. Tick the “Map” box for “vcenter5” and the "msdb" databases.

Set the default schema to “dbo” and set the role membership to “db_owner” for both the databases.

Click Ok once done.

Creating the Data Source (The DSN must be a 64-bit DSN)

Now open Data Source (ODBC) Go to Start -> Control Panel -> Administrative Tools -> Data Sources (ODBC)

IMPORTANT NOTE: The DSN for vCenter 5 has to be a 64 BIT DSN 

Select "System DSN" tab and click on "Add" as shown

 Select "SQL Server Native Client 10.0" & click on Finish.

Assign name to the new data source (vcenterDB) & select your Sql server as shown:

Enter your SQL server username & password when prompted.

Make sure the default database is selected to that of vCenter that we created in earlier steps

Ignore these settings. Just click Finish

Test the data source connectivity.

Now we are done with our SQL database connectivity.

You should see your System DSN created and ready for use as shown below:

Installing VMware vCenter Server 5.0

First download VMware vCenter Server 5.0  & launch the VMware vCenter Server setup. I downloaded the ISO installer, so I have just mounted it to my Windows 2008 R2 Server and I am running the installation from there itself.

Select “vCenter Server” to begin the install

Choose your language.

Click Next

Click Next to continue

 Read the license agreement and agree. Click Next.

Enter the username, company name and license key (if you haven't got a license key it will install a full evaluation version for 60 days)

Enter the system DSN that your created for the vCenter server database.

NOTE: If using SQL Server 2005 Express select so and continue the installation which will install an instance of SQL Server Express to use as the vCenter Server database

Provide Database username and password. Click Next to continue

Enter the vCenter Server account information and provide the fully qualified domain name of your vCenter Server Windows VM

Click next to continue

Choose “Create a standard VMware vCenter Server Instance”.

Keep the ports unless your are required to specifically change them form their defaults ones.

Keep the ports unless your are required to specifically change them form their defaults ones.

Set your deployment inventory size to correctly size the JVM memory for web services. 

 Click install

The installation is completed and click Finish. 

 That's it !! Your Center Server is now installed and ready for use !!
Stay tuned for more guides and info on VMware and associated products.

What's Next? 

InstallVMware vSphere Client 5

InstallVMware vSphere Web Client 5 (Server)

Install VMware vCenter Update Manager.. (Coming Soon...)