vcenter 5 appliance: When, why (and why not)?

[TedH256]

How do I evaluate where and when I should or should not choose to deploy vcenter 5 using the appliance?

I'm guessing there must  be a bunch of caveats - what other products do not work or integrate with the appliance?

Is there a knowledgebase article or some other resource that lays out the pros and cons of either approach - it does not appear that the documentation covers this at all, unless I just am missing it?

Ted

[MauroBonder]

Hello,

vCVA have some limitations. Check if with those limitations works for you.

The link that i posted have wrong information. Removed .

sorry.

Please, don't forget the awarding points for "helpful" and/or "correct" answers.

Mauro Bonder - Moderator

LinkedIn

Message was edited by: MauroBonder

[TedH256]

That is very helpful, thank you!

I find it courious that there are no official vmware docs that discuss the choices and limitations. At any rate, it does not appear at first glance that I will be using this with even my smaller customers - not being able to use VUM is a deal-breaker ...

[RParker]

Well not sure where the confusion comes in, it's still vCenter.  It's just HOSTED on Linux, hence the appliance.  It is a new product, but most things are integrated with vCenter (command line, autodeploy, web).  Some plug-ins are "missing" for now, but that will change VERY soon, so the appliance is more of a introductory appliance to get people to use "linux" instead.

You aren't dead by any means you can always install vCenter 5 will all of it's features on Windows.  We are using the appliance as it is faster and more robust.  I haven't found much that it DOESN'T support.. I use the client (on Windows), update manager (on Windows) everything is working fine..

I think you are abandoning it a tad too quickly, because Linux *IS* the future for VM Ware products (all of them).  They may support both, but my guess is once all the linux bugs are worked out, Windows will be antiquated platform.

Also you didn't look very hard..

VM ware / DOCUMENTATION / vCenter Server and Host Management Guide

CLEARLY illustrates pro's, con's setup and configuration for the appliance AND Self install, so not sure what you mean byL

I find it courious that there are no official vmware docs that discuss the choices and limitations.

Because it's not true.

[RParker]

MauroBonder wrote:

Hello,

vCSA have some limitations. Check if with those limitations works for you.

http://www.yellow-bricks.com/2011/08/10/vcenter-appliance/

Please, don't forget the awarding points for "helpful" and/or "correct" answers.

Mauro Bonder - Moderator

LinkedIn

Those limitations are bogus for one:

vCenter supports 100 hosts / 1000 VM's on the appliance this is in the VM Ware documentation.. so I am not trusting what any non-VM Ware site has to say about it, because it's OBVIOUSLY outdated.

[a_p_]

I agree with you, the absence of VUM might be a show stopper. However, this is version 1.0 and I'm almost sure we will see additional features soon. But even with the current limitations, I think it is interesting for a couple of customers. Think of e.g. "Windows" free companies. I think they rather run the updates manually (or scripted) instead of setting up a Windows Server system with all of the maintenance needed. Not even regarding the cost. Also for small installations the cost of an additional Windows server could be a reason to go with the vCenter appliance

André

[MauroBonder]

Sorry Guys,

If those link had inconsistent informations, i removed how "safety".

I read installation guide and i dont found any information about limitation of DB.

[TedH256]

OK RParker - you have an interesting take.

I think you are saying that you use VUM from a windows server - even while using the linux based vcenter appliance? That's good to know ...

What about SRM? What about converter? What about plugins for storage providers (netapp, etc)? What about Orchestrator and vCloud Director, etc ... ?

Are all of these supported when vcenter is the linux appliance? Or is there a public road-map as to when they will be? What about 3rd party products like vRanger or the virtual server extensions of BackupExec?

I am eager for an all-linux solution, and have for years been amazed at VMwares tight reliance on Windows - but I also need things to "just work" and not find (too many) show stoppers or items that force re-architecting solutions.

I have looked in the docs, and did not find the kind of detailed discussion that I was looking for - I did see setup guides, and requirements, etc .. but info scattered about in multiple places, no single "these are the design considerations and trade-offs when considering which vcenter platform to choose" ...

If you have a link, please share it.

In the meantime, I'll look some more, and will perhaps be a bit more open to experimenting, at least in the lab....

Thnx

Ted

[RParker]

MauroBonder wrote:

Sorry Guys,

If those link had inconsistent informations, i removed how "safety".

I read installation guide and i dont found any information about limitation of DB.

...you're welcome :smileycry:

[reidcc]

I think you are abandoning it a tad too quickly, because Linux *IS* the future for VM Ware products (all of them).  They may support both, but my guess is once all the linux bugs are worked out, Windows will be antiquated platform.

I see good reason for people to be cynical.  This was first released as a demo, what, over 2 years ago?  VMware's near silence on Linux and OS X matters has been a little less than kind to customers.

If I was waiting for a feature to be added to the Linux vCenter Appliance, well, let me say I wouldn't be holding my breath.

Our all-Unix environment now has 2 copies of Windows Server, because of VMware.  Our large Mac user base all have to license Fusion and Windows to run... the vSphere client.  This has been the story of many many many companies for many many many years.  I'm not saying VMware won't eventually get there, I'm just saying VMware's earned the cynicism it gets.

But I, for one, am looking forward to tilting up a new Oracle DB next week to give the vCenter Appliance a proper trial.  Kudos for the work they have done.

[depping]

RParker wrote:

MauroBonder wrote:

Hello,

vCSA have some limitations. Check if with those limitations works for you.

http://www.yellow-bricks.com/2011/08/10/vcenter-appliance/

Please, don't forget the awarding points for "helpful" and/or "correct" answers.

Mauro Bonder - Moderator

LinkedIn

Those limitations are bogus for one:

vCenter supports 100 hosts / 1000 VM's on the appliance this is in the VM Ware documentation.. so I am not trusting what any non-VM Ware site has to say about it, because it's OBVIOUSLY outdated.

As I got a fair amount of hits from this article I want to point that RParker was incorrect in this case. Even today with vCenter Appliance 5.1 the limit is stil 50 VMs and 5 hosts with the embedded database. Yes this is being worked on to be improved. No I do not know when. This is mentioned in the documentation these days:

http://pubs.vmware.com/vsphere-51/topic/com.vmware.vsphere.install.doc/GUID-25FCBA87-5D2F-4CB6-85D7-...

Yes I know this wasn't well documented back then. I had this corrected.

UPDATE: I am updating the article based on the latest info: http://www.yellow-bricks.com/2011/08/10/vcenter-appliance/