We can enter an IP address or FQDN, then the user credentials needed to connect to the host.
This prompts us to fill in connection information to connect to our host ESXi server which will be the host where the appliance VM is actually provisioned. The next configuration screen we have is the Connect to target server configuration screen. Simply check the box in the “I accept the terms of the license agreement” message and click Next. The first thing we encounter is the EULA.
#VCENTER DOWNLOAD LINUX INSTALL#
We are choosing to Install a new appliance so once this is chosen, the VMware vCenter Server Appliance Deployment wizard begins in the browser session.
#VCENTER DOWNLOAD LINUX UPGRADE#
Once the web page opens, we will see a page where we can choose to kick off either the Install or Upgrade of an existing appliance.
To do that, you can simply right-click on the file and choose the open with dialog if we want to be able to select a web browser if we have multiples installed. We want to launch the vcsa-setup.html file in our web browser of choice. We need to mount this ISO image to a Windows machine and deploy it with a web browser.Īs you can see, we have mounted the ISO image and we can now view its contents. The first thing we need to do is download the VCSA appliance which is in the form of an ISO and not an OVA file. Let’s take a look at deploying a typical vCenter Server Virtual Appliance VCSA in our virtual environment. vCenter Server Virtual Appliance Deployment In fact, it has been noted that VMware exclusively uses the VCSA appliance internally for managing their virtual machine resources.Īlso, keep in mind that since VMware seems to be leaning toward the appliance for future releases of vCenter, this may weigh in your decision to go that direction now so it will be less painful later if the Windows version goes end of life. However, as time has moved on and development on the virtual appliance has taken off, now VMware is taking the stance of saying the VCSA appliance is just as robust as the Windows appliance. In the early days of vCenter, it was preferred to install it on a Windows server as this was at the time the better performing platform for vCenter. The appliance is known as the vCenter Server virtual appliance or VCSA as it is referred to in short most commonly. It can be installed on a Windows Server either physical or virtual, or can be deployed by way of OVA Linux appliance inside the virtual environment itself. There are two options for deploying a vCenter server. Most, if not all other add-on products from VMware, require vCenter.
While you can certainly spin up virtual machines with the free ESXi product, as you can see to gain access to the true enterprise features that most will want to utilize in their mission critical environments, the vCenter server is a requirement.