nav[aria-label="Primary Navigation"] { padding: 0; & ul { list-style: none; width: 100%; display: flex; flex-direction: row; justify-content: start; align-items: start; gap: 30px; padding: 0; & li { margin: 0; } & ul li { list-style: none; } } }

vCenter Installation

watermelonss

Hi everyone,

I've been studying for VCP-550, and I want to install vCenter. Is the correct way to create a Windows server VMachine and run the vCenter Installer on the Windows Server OS?

I've been looking at my book and its a little to confusing, that's why I ask.

Thanks!

Find more posts tagged with

SAVE $250 on Your Boot Camp — Use Code "EXAM26"

Exclusively for TechExams members for Infosec Boot Camps starting before April 30, 2026

View Boot Camps

Comments

Mow

There are two flavors of vCenter, the one that installs on Windows and the virtual appliance.

watermelonss

^Thanks. I have my ESXI as a virtual machine in VMware Workstation 10. I just created a Windows Server 2012 virtual machine within ESXI. Going to put vCenter in Windows Server 2012. Is this about right?

Also, will it work if I put vCenter on a Windows Server 2012 that is not running in ESXI but running beside ESXI in VMware Workstation 10? Will those two be able to communicate?

Thanks!

Mow

I'm far from a VMWare expert, but I believe it is best practice to keep your vCenter server as a VM on ESXI.

watermelonss

^Np Thanks Mow!

scott28tt

In an entirely virtual lab, I'd either run the vCenter appliance on Workstation, or your Windows VM with vCenter on Workstation - there's no point in nesting it within the virtual ESXi instance.

shezy77

I am with Scott on this.. Install/Deploy vCenter (either appliance or windows based) directly on Workstation.

watermelonss

^Okay, great. I'm gonna do that now. In summary, I'll be having two VMs running on my workstation: the ESXI, and Windows Server 2012 w/ vCenter Appliance. Does this sound about right?

Thanks!

watermelonss

What's the difference between vCenter Orchestrater Client vs. vCenter Appliance?

scott28tt

watermelonss wrote: »

^Okay, great. I'm gonna do that now. In summary, I'll be having two VMs running on my workstation: the ESXI, and Windows Server 2012 w/ vCenter Appliance. Does this sound about right?

Thanks!

That's a starting point. You'll need at least one more ESXi host and some form of shared storage (iSCSI target or NFS share, also run up as a VM) to start having fun with vMotion/HA/DRS...

Deathmage

I'd personally just install the vCenter over a Windows Installation, but the Appliance will do just as-well. But you'll need an existing ESXi host in order to deploy the vCenter .ova Appliance.

Might be helpful in the nested cluster to have a DNS server and AD w/ domain.

watermelonss

^I have vCenter Appliance running as a VM in ESXI. However, as I'm going through the Brian Atkinson VCP-550 Sybex book, I can't seem to follow along when he explains vCenter labs. Is this because the appliance is missing features compared to vCenter on Server 2012?

TheNewITGuy

vCenter isnt overly complex - the appliance is a bit different as far as management goes; for the labs I'd do a Windows installation if you wish to do things like VUM (Update Manager) as it will need to be installed on Windows anyway.