Installing VMware vSphere 5.5 Series:
Part 1: Introduction and ESXi Installation
Part 2: Microsoft SQL 2012 Installation
Part 3: Creating 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.
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:
Click Next:
Accept the terms and click Next:
This will perform a check, if the server is on a domain check the box, click Next:
Since this is our first vCenter installation, use the first option and click Next:
Enter a password for the SSO admin account. Make sure you don’t lose this password! Click Next:
Enter your site name, click Next:
Port 7444 will need to be open on the Windows Firewall, click Next:
Change directories/drive if you need to, click Next:
Review Install Options – Once you are satisfied click Install:
SSO is now installed. Click Finish:
Next we will install the Web Client, take note of the prerequisites, click Install:
Web Client Install – Click Next:
Accept the terms and click Next:
Change directories/drives and click Next:
Highly recommend leaving the ports to default, click Next:
Enter the SSO password you set during the SSO install, click Next:
Click Yes to accept the SSO certificate:
Click Install Certificates to continue:
Ready to Install – Click Install to start the web client install process.
The Web Client is now installed. Click Finish:
Next we will install the Web Client, take note of the prerequisites, click Install:
Click Next:
Accept the terms and click Next:
Change directory/drive is needed, click Next:
Ensure your FQDN is correct, click Next:
Highly recommend to use default ports, click Next:
Pick a option that fits your environment. Since this is my home lab a small inventory size will work. Click Next:
Enter the SSO password you entered during the SSO install, click Next:
Click Yes to accept the SSL certificate:
Click Install:
Inventory Service is now installed. Click Finish:
Now to install vCenter Server. Take note of the prerequisites and click Install:
Click Next:
Accept the terms and click Next:
Can enter a license now or click Next to continue with evaluation mode:
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:
Enter your SQL database password we created earlier and click Next:
Change the user account to the one we created earlier and make sure the FQDN is correct, click Next:
If you get the following error, just add your service account into local admin group:
Since this is our first vCenter installation, select the standalone and click Next:
Recommend not changing the ports, click Next:
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:
Enter the SSO password we created in a earlier step and click Next:
Click Yes to accept the SSL certificate:
Sets administrator account in vCenter. Click Next:
Click Next:
Change path/drive letter if needed, click Next:
Now we are ready to install vCenter Server. Click Install:
vCenter is now installed! Click Finish:
Lastly in this walk through we will install the VMware vSphere “Thick” Client, click Install:
Click Next:
Accept the terms and click Next:
Change the directory/drive letter if needed and click Next:
Click Install:
Thick Client is now installed.
Now we are ready to connect and configure vCenter!
Continue to Part 5:
https://boring.wpengine.com/installing-vmware-vsphere-part-5/