VDI-LAB-2018 - Part 3 - Deploying and configuring VCSA 6.5

Summary:

In this part, we are going to deploy and install vCenter Server Appliance 6.5 from our Client PC. Then we will add the ESXi host to this VCSA previously configured in part 1 of this series. Yes, this is possible and is the great part of virtualization, being able to create a VM from an ESXi host and then use this VM to control the ESXi host, Siiiick!

This is part 3 out of 12 of the VDI LAB series. Check out the introduction first.

The ultimate VDI deployment guide (from scratch) with VMware vSphere 6.5 and Horizon View 7.3 – 2018. 😉

1. Prerequisites

1. Client PC with network access to ESXi host (previous configured).
2. Download VCSA 6.5 ISO file on your Client PC

2. Deploy vCenter Server Appliance 6.5

@Client PC

1. Go to the folder where you downloaded VCSA ISO.
2. Go to vcsa-ui-installer / win32 and double click on Installer.exe.

3. From the installation wizard, four options will show up, select Install.

Stage 1: Deploy VCSA

1. First, we will see the introduction, explaining that is a two-steps-installation, first Deploy appliance and then Set up the appliance. Click Next.

2. Check the box for the terms of the license and click Next.

3. Select the option of vCenter Server with an Embedded Platform Services Controller. Click Next.

4. Input the IP address of the ESXi configured in Part 1 of this series (actually, only the network was), 10.0.0.55 in my case. Also input username and password. Click Next.

5. Type the desired name to be used for the VM deployment and password. Click Next.

6. Select deployment size based on your environment. For LAB, Tiny will do. I am selecting Small. Then, click Next.

7. Select an existing datastore into the ESXi host, tick the box for Enable Thin Disk Mode and click Next.

8. Fill out network information (this is the network that the VM for VCSA will get), I am using 10.0.0.3 as the default IP address, leave System name blank and click Next.

NOTE: At this stage, there are not DNS server configured yet. For my lab, I will configure 10.0.0.10 and 10.0.0.1. For now, use google DNS 8.8.8.8. If DNS is not used or are the ones typed are not configured yet, the installation will fail.

9. Review all settings and click Finish.

10. This will be the end of stage 1, click Continue.

Stage 2: Set Up VCSA

1. Again form the introduction page, will indicate that we are now in stage 2, for setting up VCSA. Click Next.

2. Select the option of Synchronize time with NTP servers, input NTP servers pool according to the area, Enable SSH and click Next.

3. Leave vsphere.local as SSO domain and enter a password for it. Click Next.

4. Tick whether you want to join VMware’s CEIP. Click Next.

5. Review your settings, click Finish and then OK to start the installation.

6. The installation will take some time depending on the connection between your ESXi host and Client PC.

NOTE: If setup progress takes over 20 minutes, almost for sure the installation will fail. This could be due to wrongs DNS, NTP servers or network issues, VCSA installation is highly sensitive to the network configuration.

7. Finally, from our Client PC, we will be able to access VCSA using VMware vCenter Single Sign-On credentials.

3. Add ESXi host to VCSA

@VCSA: vSphere Web Client

1. First, from vSphere Web Client, go to Hosts and Clusters and right click on VCSA (10.0.0.3) and click New Datacenter… as an example, I created VMlab datacenter.
2. Right-click on the new datacenter created, VMlab, and select Add Host…

3. Enter the IP address of the ESXi host (10.0.0.55) and click Next.

4. Input ESXi host credentials and click Next.

5. Review Host summary. Click Next.

6. Assign license or use Evaluation License. Click Next.

7. Check Disable lockdown mode and click Next.

8. Select VM location, leave as default and click Next.

9. Review the configuration and click Finish.

10. Under ESXi host, now we should have two VMs, vRouter pfsense created in part 2 of these series and our new VCSA.