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FlexPod

VMware vCenter Server 6.7U2 installation procedure

Contributors Noah-Hardy kaminis85
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This section provides detailed procedures for installing VMware vCenter Server 6.7 in a FlexPod Express configuration.

Note FlexPod Express uses the VMware vCenter Server Appliance (VCSA).

Download the VMware vCenter Server Appliance

To download the VMware vCenter Server Appliance (VCSA), complete the following steps:

  1. Download the VCSA. Access the download link by clicking the Get vCenter Server icon when managing the ESXi host.

  2. Download the VCSA from the VMware site.

  3. Although the Microsoft Windows vCenter Server installable is supported, VMware recommends the VCSA for new deployments.

  4. Mount the ISO image.

  5. Navigate to the vcsa- ui-installer > win32 directory. Double-click installer.exe.

  6. Click Install.

  7. Click Next on the Introduction page.

    A screenshot of the vCenter Server Appliance Installer End User License Agreement page with acceptance selected

  8. Select Embedded Platform Services Controller as the deployment type.

    A screenshot of the vCenter Server Appliance Installer deployment type page with Embedded Platform Services Controller selected

    Note If required, the External Platform Services Controller deployment is also supported as part of the FlexPod Express solution.

  9. In the Appliance Deployment Target, enter the IP address of an ESXi host that you have deployed, the root user name, and the root password.

    A screenshot of the vCenter Server Appliance Installer Appliance deployment target form with ESXi host credentials

  10. Set the appliance VM by entering VCSA as the VM name and the root password that you would like to use for the VCSA.

    A screenshot of the vCenter Server Appliance Installer Set up appliance VM page with VM name and root password fields

  11. Select the deployment size that best fits your environment. Click Next.

    A screenshot of the vCenter Server Appliance Installer Select deployment size page with Tiny selected

  12. Select the infra_datastore datastore. Click Next.

  13. Enter the following information in the Configure network settings page and click Next.

    1. Select MGMT-Network for Network.

    2. Enter the FQDN or IP to be used for the VCSA.

    3. Enter the IP address to be used.

    4. Enter the subnet mask to be used.

    5. Enter the default gateway.

    6. Enter the DNS server.

  14. On the Ready to Complete Stage 1 page, verify that the settings you have entered are correct. Click Finish.

    A screenshot of the vCenter Server Appliance Installer Configure network settings page with MGMT-Network selected

  15. Review your settings on stage 1 before starting the appliance deployment.

    A screenshot of the vCenter Server Appliance Installer Ready to complete stage 1 settings review page

    The VCSA installs now. This process takes several minutes.

  16. After stage 1 completes, a message appears stating that it has completed. Click Continue to begin stage 2 configuration.

  17. On the Stage 2 Introduction page, click Next.

    A screenshot of the vCenter Server Appliance Installer Stage 2 Introduction page with a Next button

  18. Enter <<var_ntp_id>> for the NTP server address. You can enter multiple NTP IP addresses.

  19. If you plan to use vCenter Server high availability (HA), make sure that SSH access is enabled.

  20. Configure the SSO domain name, password, and site name. Click Next.

    A screenshot of vCenter Server Appliance Installer Stage 2 SSO configuration with a new SSO domain selected

    Note Record these values for your reference, especially if you deviate from the vsphere.local domain name.

  21. Join the VMware Customer Experience Program if desired. Click Next.

    A screenshot of the vCenter Server Appliance Installer Configure CEIP page with the CEIP option selected

  22. View the summary of your settings. Click Finish or use the back button to edit settings.

  23. A message appears stating that you will not be able to pause or stop the installation from completing after it has started. Click OK to continue.

    A screenshot of a vCenter Server Appliance Installer warning that installation cannot be paused or stopped, with Cancel and OK buttons

    The appliance setup continues. This takes several minutes.

    A message appears indicating that the setup was successful.

  24. The links that the installer provides to access vCenter Server are clickable.

Next: VMware vCenter Server 6.7U2 and vSphere clustering configuration.