Installing VMware ESXi and vCenter 5.5 [Part 5]

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)

Here is how you access your vCenter using the web client or install the thick client. I will show you how to access the web client but will continue configuration of vCenter using the thick client.

Accessing and Configuring vCenter:

To access your web client, go to the following address in your browser:

In the bottom left corner there will be a “Download the Client Integration Plug-In”, go ahead and click that link and install. The plugin enabled certain functions such as mounting OVA files and viewing VM consoles.

To login enter the username and password we created during the install, click Login:

To access vCenter using the thick client, enter the vCenter server name and the username/password we created during the install, click Login:

First we will set permissions do you can log in with a domain account or local user. Click on Hosts and Clusters:

Now click on the permissions tab, right click in the white and click Add Permission:

You can add users from domain if available and the local users of the vCenter server. I have a domain and created a group for VMware Admins. Once you add your users/groups click Ok:

I want this group to have administrator privileges, on the drop down menu click Administrator then Ok. Now you can log into vCenter using a user account in the Vmware Admin group. Click Ok:

Last thing we will cover is adding a host. First we will need to create a datacenter. Right click your vCenter name and click New Datacenter:

Name your datacenter:

Now right click your Datacenter and click Add Host:

Enter the IP address or DNS name of your ESXi host, enter the login information and click Next:

Click Yes to accept the certification:

It will give you a summary of your host showing all virtual machines that will be added to vCenter, click Next:

[Note: My host is running 5.1, it is the same concept for hosts running 5.5]

You can enter a license key or proceed with an evaluation trial period, click Next:

Here you can enable lockdown mode. Since this is a home lab I am not going to enable that, click Next:

Click Next:

Click Finish:

Now you have configured the basics and can start deploying virtual machines!