During the installation vCenter server, there is an option two choose a DSN which points to en external database or we can make use of the SQLExpress which is buntled with vCenter Server. This Document describes installation of View Composer keeping database on the SQLExpress instance which is configured automatically during vCenter installation.
Firstly login to the server where VMware vCenter Server is running. Install SQL Server management Studio Express.This software can be downloaded from Microsoft Website. Now open SQL Server Managemet Studio Express (MS SSMSE) login as below.
Now object explorer for the database will be opened. Here you can create a new database but however, view composer does not support windows integrated authentication. Hence new user (SQL user ) need to be defined and map with a new database. Typically such SQL express instance should not have a production DB role. So here I am going to explain creating a new DB and mapping it to the inbuilt SQL admin account named "sa". In our case, by default the "sa" account will be in disabled mode. So as the first step we will enable the account and set a password. On the SQL object explorer - Under 'Security' select the 'Logins'. Right click on 'sa' and go to properties. set password hereand make necessary password enforce policy if required (else uncheck). On the properties window left side click on the status, and grant the permission to connect to database and enable the login. refer below
Right click on the server , go to properties and Change the authentication type to Mixed Modeas below.
Restart the SQL Service
Now the SA account has been enabled for the SQL instance. Disconnect the object explorer and connect to the SQL again using sa account
Now the oject explorer is connected to database using sa credentials. as the final step we need to create a new database that need to use with composer. righ click on the database inventory , and select 'New Database' name the database , and click OK
This will create new database, and since it si created using 'sa' account 'sa' will have complete permission on this DB. So no need to configure tha database permission and user mapping for this DB. If you are creating a new user other than 'sa' then the User should have the permissions and db ownership to the database. We are now done with the database configuration. the left out part is DSN configuration. From the control panel , open ODBC configuration and select system DSN. One DSN would be already available for virtual center. Click "Add" to create one for View Composer. Select 'SQL Native Client' and click finish. On the next page fill in the DSN name , Decription, and Server.
Name can be of any choice. Description is optional and Server should be in the syndax <Hostname>\SQLEXP_VIM
Click next, and choose the authentication and SQL authentication and provide sa credentials. In case new user is defined and mapped database , provide that here.
Chage the default DB to the newly created database.
proceed the wizard through next page with default options and finaly test the data source.
The test should give a successful result as below.
Click OK and finish teh wizard. This will return to the DSN configuration page of ODBC, and both VC and newly cretaed DSN will be lister here as below
Now install View composer, and when it asks for databse, Give the DSN name as 'View Composer' and username as 'sa' and its password. Proceed the wizard and complete the installation
