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Join an existing VMware vSphere deployment

Contributors netapp-pcarriga netapp-yvonneo netapp-dbagwell
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You can configure NetApp HCI to take advantage of an existing vSphere deployment by providing the vCenter Server network information and credentials.

What you'll need

  • If you are joining an existing vSphere 6.7 deployment, make sure vCenter Server is running version 6.7 Update 1.

  • If you are joining an existing vSphere 6.5 deployment, make sure vCenter Server is running version 6.5 Update 2 or later.

  • Obtain the network details and administrator credentials for your existing vSphere deployment.

  • If the NetApp Element Plug-in for vCenter Server is registered to the existing vCenter instance, you need to unregister it before continuing. The plug-in is re-registered after NetApp HCI deployment is complete.

About this task

If you join multiple vCenter Server systems that are connected using vCenter Linked Mode, NetApp HCI only recognizes one of the vCenter Server systems.

Note

  • Beginning with Element Plug-in for vCenter Server 5.0, to use vCenter Linked Mode, you register the Element Plug-in from a separate management node for each vCenter Server that manages NetApp SolidFire storage clusters (recommended).

  • Using Element Plug-in for vCenter Server 4.10 and earlier to manage cluster resources from other vCenter Servers using vCenter Linked Mode is limited to local storage clusters only.
Steps

  1. Click Join and extend an existing vSphere deployment.

  2. Enter the domain name or IP address in the vCenter Server Domain Name or IP address field.
    If you enter a domain name, you also need to enter the IP address of an active DNS server in the DNS Server IP Address field that appears.

  3. Enter the credentials of a vSphere administrator in the User Name and Password fields.

  4. Click Continue.

Note If the NetApp Element Plug-in for vCenter Server was registered during this step, an error message appears requiring that you unregister the plug-in. Do so before continuing NetApp HCI deployment. The plug-in is re-registered after deployment is complete.

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