VMware VirtualCenter 1.1 Support Documentation

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Installing and Upgrading the VirtualCenter Product

This section describes how to upgrade or install your VirtualCenter product. This includes performing a fresh installation, adding a component to an existing installation, and upgrading existing components to the latest VirtualCenter version. The topics are described in the following sections:

VMware VirtualCenter installs the following components:

VirtualCenter client — A user interface that runs locally on a Windows host with network access to the VirtualCenter server.
VirtualCenter server — A service that acts as a central administrator for VMware servers connected on a network, to direct actions upon the virtual machines and the virtual machine hosts. VirtualCenter server is the central working core of VirtualCenter.
Note: A host can only be registered with one VirtualCenter server. If you try to register an host that it is already registered with a different VirtualCenter server, an error message appears and you are prevented from adding the host to the additional VirtualCenter server.
VirtualCenter database — A database dedicated to the VirtualCenter processes. It is installed when the VirtualCenter server is installed.
VirtualCenter agent — An agent installed on each host to be under VirtualCenter control. It coordinates the actions received from the VirtualCenter server.
VMware Web Service — A component of the VMware SDK. It is installed by default with the VirtualCenter server. It cannot be installed without the VirtualCenter server.

Note: Install and use only one VirtualCenter server to control all, or specific groups of, hosts. Do not have multiple VirtualCenter servers controlling the same host. Instead, install multiple copies of the VirtualCenter client. From each VirtualCenter client, you can access any networked VirtualCenter server.

Note: The VirtualCenter client does not store any persistent information on your local machine.

Starting the VirtualCenter Installer for an Upgrade Installation

When you upgrade your VirtualCenter version, you must upgrade all the components, this includes your VirtualCenter server and VirtualCenter client.

To upgrade your VirtualCenter components on each machine that has a client or server:

Backup your VirtualCenter database.
It is recommended that your database administrator (DBA) perform this task.
If you are using an Oracle database: prior to upgrading, make sure that shared_pool_size parameter is set to no less than 100MB.
This ensures that the upgrade to performs reasonably.
The shared_pool_size parameter is in the init.ora file. Have your Oracle database administrator check and set this.
Download the VirtualCenter installer file from the VMware secure Web site to a local drive.
www.vmware.com
Contact your VMware representative for information on the location of the secure Web site.
Run the installer.
Double-click the VMware installation icon or select Start > Run and enter the location of the installer in the Run window.
The VirtualCenter installer prepares to install the components.
Verify you are upgrading the VirtualCenter product. Click Next.
Accept the upgrade wizard. Click Next.
The VirtualCenter installer checks the local machine to identify what VirtualCenter components are installed.
If the VirtualCenter server is installed: declare whether to install the VMware Web Service.

Note: The VMware Web Service must be installed on the same machine as the VirtualCenter server.
To install the Web service, click the Install VirtualCenter Web service checkbox. Then click Next.
If VirtualCenter server is not already installed or an older version is installed, the current version of VirtualCenter server is installed or upgraded, as needed.
Proceed to the section appropriate to the component(s) you selected.
If you are installing the Web service, proceed to the section, Installing the VirtualCenter Server.
If you are upgrading the VirtualCenter server or VirtualCenter client, proceed to the section, Completing the Installation.

Starting the VirtualCenter Installer for a First Time Installation

To install a VirtualCenter component on your client, server, or host:

Download the VirtualCenter installer file from the VMware secure Web site to a local drive.
Contact your VMware representative for information on the location of the secure Web site.
Run the installer.
Double-click the VMware installation icon or select Start > Run and enter the location of the installer in the Run window.
The VirtualCenter installer prepares to install the components.
If you do not have Microsoft .NET Framework version 1.1 on your machine, then a prompt is displayed to ask if you wish to install it.
If you click Yes, then the installer automatically installs this package. If you have installed an older version, then the installer automatically upgrades your version to version 1.1.
For more information on .NET Framework 1.1, see msdn.microsoft.com/netframework/technologyinfo/">msdn.microsoft.com/netframework/technologyinfo/.
Verify you are installing the VirtualCenter product. Click Next.
Accept the VMware license terms.
Click the Accept button, then click Next.
Enter your customer identification information.

Enter your user name, company name, and select the appropriate user application status radio button. Then click Next to continue the installation.
Proceed to the next section.

Selecting the Components to Install

Select the type of installation setup.

The choices are:
- Client — Installs the VirtualCenter client and VirtualCenter database components on the local machine.
- Server — Installs the VirtualCenter server and the Web service component on the local machine.
  Web service — Installed by default with the VirtualCenter server. It is a programmatic interface that allows customer-written or third-party applications to access services provided by VirtualCenter. This is not a user interface for configuring VirtualCenter.
  You must install the VirtualCenter server to install the Web service. For information about writing programs that use the VirtualCenter Web service, refer to the VMware SDK documentation available at:
  www.vmware.com/support/developer/vc-sdk
- Custom — Allows you to select which items to install and where, within the network, they are to be installed.
  Click the appropriate radio button. Then click Next to continue the installation.
- If you selected Client only, skip to Completing the Installation.
- If you selected Server only, skip to Installing the VirtualCenter Server. The default is to install the Web service with the Server option.
- If you selected Custom, proceed with the next step.
Select the VirtualCenter component(s) to install.

Click the down arrow next to the appropriate component and select from the drop-down menu.
If you unselect an item, its icon changes to an X. The Space and Change buttons are grayed, if a component is not selected.
Make adjustments for available disk space.

Click the Space button from the Custom Setup screen. In the Disk Space Requirements screen, click and drag column headers to view all columns as needed.
If a volume line is highlighted, click OK, return to the previous screen, and select to install either the client or the server, as both do not fit in the available disk space.
Click OK to return to the Custom Setup screen.
Change location, as needed.

Click the Custom button from the Custom Setup screen. In the Change Current Destination Folders screen.
Browse to find the appropriate location. Click OK to return to the Custom Setup screen.
After your selections are made, click OK to return to the Custom Setup screen.
Complete the Custom Setup screen. Click Next.
Proceed to the section appropriate to the component(s) you selected.
If you selected Client only, skip to Completing the Installation.
If you selected Server, proceed to the next section, Installing the VirtualCenter Server.

Installing the VirtualCenter Server

Set up or confirm the type of VirtualCenter database you wish to use.

Select whether to have the VirtualCenter create a database, or to create either a custom SQL Server or Oracle database, or if you are upgrading, need to specify the previous database used. The options are:
- Use Access database — VirtualCenter automatically creates a Microsoft Access database.
  This is a file in Microsoft Access format.
- Use a custom SQL Server database connection — VirtualCenter prompts for DSN information then configures the database.
  Supported versions are: SQL Server 7, or SQL Server 2000
- Use a custom Oracle database connection — VirtualCenter prompts for DSN information, a username, and a password, then configures the database.
  Supported versions are: Oracle 8i and Oracle 9i
  The VirtualCenter database can be remote to the VirtualCenter server. The VirtualCenter database user is configured as the initial Administrative user.
  You must already have installed and configured the database application. Refer to Preparing for the VirtualCenter Database for additional information.
If you have an existing database: Click Yes at the prompt.
If you are performing an upgrade to the VirtualCenter server or adding the VirtualCenter Web service, you might see this prompt.
To create a Microsoft Access database: click the Use Access database button, then click Next.
To create an Oracle or SQL Server database connection: perform the following:
1. Click Use custom SQL or Oracle database connection, then click Next.
2. Manually create a new System DSN. Click Add. Set the name to VMware VirtualCenter.
3. Provide a username and a password.
4. If an existing custom connection is already present, click Cancel to quit the ODBC Data Source Administrator.
  VirtualCenter checks that the connection is valid before it allows the installation to continue.
  For an Oracle database, connect through an Oracle driver. You must upgrade the Oracle driver to version 8.1.7 for the Oracle 8.1.5 database. If you have not already done so, refer to Preparing for the VirtualCenter Database and perform the preparation steps before proceeding.
  VirtualCenter then stores the VirtualCenter database information in the registry.
  For additional information on creating an ODBC data source, refer to your Windows documentation.
Proceed to the appropriate section.
- If you are not installing the Web service, skip to Completing the Installation.
- If you are installing the Web service, proceed to the next section, Installing the VMware Web Service.

Installing the VMware Web Service

You can install the Web service on any machine that also has the VirtualCenter server.The VMware SDK package is not installed through the VirtualCenter installer. For information about writing programs that use the VirtualCenter Web service, refer to the VMware SDK documentation available at:

www.vmware.com/support/developer/vc-sdk

To install the Web service, continue with the VirtualCenter installer.

Enter the information to enable the Web service to connect to the VirtualCenter server.
- VMware VirtualCenter server hostname — Typically, this is the same machine on which you are installing the VirtualCenter, or localhost.
- VMware VirtualCenter server port number — Port number for the VirtualCenter server. The default port number is 905.
- VMware Web Service port — Specifies the Virtual Machine Agent server port number. Use the default port number of 8443, unless this port is already in use.
- VMware VirtualCenter user name — This user must have VirtualCenter Administrator privileges.
- VMware VirtualCenter password — The password for the user name you previously entered.
  The Web service uses this username and password to connect to the VirtualCenter server, and has the privileges assigned to this administrator user. Refer to the VirtualCenter documentation for information on the various users and groups.
Select whether to accept the default VMware certificates or use your own certificates.
1. To accept the VMware certificates: leave all the fields unchanged and click Next.
2. To specify your own certificates: enter the path to your own certificates, then click Next.
  You can always update or modify the digital certificates at a later time. Refer to Updating VMware SDK Digital Certificates.
  The following files are required for digital certification.
  server Certificate: stored in vmaConfig.xml as <sslCert> server CA Chain: stored in vmaConfig.xml as <sslCAChain> server private Key: Stored in the registry under HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Vmware, Inc.\VMWare SDK\CertInfo
Proceed to the next section.

Completing the Installation

Verify that you are ready to proceed with installation. Click Install to continue the installation.
Progress messages appear while the installation proceeds. The VirtualCenter installer, as specified, installs the VirtualCenter server, starts the VirtualCenter database, performs a default access setup of the open database connectivity (ODBC), registers and activates the VirtualCenter server, and installs the VirtualCenter client.
Note: If you are upgrading your VirtualCenter server, the VirtualCenter database is also upgraded. This can take a long time, from several minutes to hours, depending up on the size of your database. Do not click Cancel. Be patient.
Close the installation wizard and, if prompted, restart your computer. Click Finish.
The selected VirtualCenter components are installed on your Windows machine.
Appropriate services are started, including the VirtualCenter server and the ProtectedStorage service, as appropriate to the VirtualCenter components installed on the machine.

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