Create vCenter Cluster with VMWare Workstation (5): Setup vCenter

Read part 5 of my guide to learn how to install vCenter Server Appliance 8, configure LDAP over AD, create directories in the datastore, configure the network and create a vCenter cluster.

Step 1: Install vCenter 8 Appliance

To install vCenter 8 Appliance, you require a Windows, Linux, or Mac computer where you run the installer. The computer must meet the System Requirements for the vCenter Server Appliance Installer.

For my lab, I will use the PC that I installed VMWare Workstation (Windows 11 PC) to run the vCenter Server Appliance Installer.

In addition to meeting the requirements for the installer computer, the ESXi host you will be deploying the vCenter appliance VM must meet the System Requirements for the New vCenter Server Appliance.

I have written a comprehensive guide, How to Install vCenter Server 8 Appliance. The guide includes how to check if your ESXi host meets the requirements and how to install the vCenter Appliance.

Follow the steps in the guide – How to Install vCenter Server 8 Appliance – to install vCenter 8. When you’re done, proceed to step 2 below.

Step 2: Create a vCenter Cluster

Follow the steps in my guide – How to Create a vCenter Cluster – to create a vCenter Cluster.

Step 3: Configure Networking in vCenter

In a lab environment, the tasks in this section are optional. However, in production infrastructure, it is essential.

I created a comprehensive guide with the steps to set up a distributed swich in vCenter. Use the steps in the guide – How to Create and Configure Virtual Distributed Switch in vCenter – to complete this section of your lab.

Step 5: Upload ISO Images to vCenter

Before uploading ISO images to vCenter, creating folders is a good idea. At a minimum, you will require a folder for storing VMs, VM Templates, and ISO Images.

To create these folders, follow my guide, How to Delete, Create, or Rename a Folder in a vCenter Datastore.

After creating folders in the 600 GB datastore, follow these steps to upload ISO images to the ISO Images folder.

1. After signing in to vCenter, click the datastore node. Then, on the node menu, select the datastore with the folder. The datastore name will be selected on the details pane.

2. On the details pane of the datastore items list, check the checkbox next to the folder. Then, click UPLOAD FILES, browse to the folder on your computer where the file is saved, and click and open it – vCenter will start uploading the file.

3. To see the uploaded file, click the folder under the datastore. If the folder is not in the folder, the upload may still be in progress, or the upload has failed.

If the upload fails, vCenter will display an error message. Click on the details to see the error details. As shown in my screenshot my upload failed.

Here is why it failed and the recommended fix: copy the vCenter server’s URL to a new tab on the same browser, ignore the certificate error and re-try the upload. /ima

4. The vCenter login page will load, return to the previous vCenter page, and re-upload the file. The file should start uploading and the progress bar displayed at the bottom.

Repeat the above steps for all ISO files you need to upload.

Step 6: Add Active Directory over LDAP in vCenter

It is best practice to integrate vCenter with Active Directory. Once integrated, instead of creating and managing users in vCenter, you can assign AD users access to vCenter.

VMWare vCenter offers two options to integrate vCenter with AD – by joining vCenter to an Active Directory domain or adding Active Directory over LDAP. VMWare recommends the last option.

I have a guide, How to Configure Active Directory Over LDAP in vCenter, follow the steps in the guide to complete this optional task.

Integrating vCenter and AD is optional but in a prod environment, I strongly recommend it.

Step 7: Create VM Templates in vCenter

A VM template provides a consistent and fast way to deploy VMs in vCenter. Creating a template is a 2-step process.

The first step is to create a VM and install the Operating System you wish to deploy with the template and all apps you want in the template.

As best practice, I also like to install OS updates.

After all that, the second step is converting the VM into a VM template.

Follow the steps in my guide, How to Create VM Templates in VMWare vCenter, to create templates in your lab or prod vCenter server.

Step 8: Create VMs from Templates

To create VMs with VM templates, read this guide, How to Create VMs from VM Templates in vCenter (2 Methods).

Conclusion