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TonyJK
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Unable to find vCenter Guided Consolidation Plug-in ?

Hi,

We have already installed vCenter Guided Consolidation service on the vCenter 4.1 Server.

However, the vCenter Guided Cosolidation Plug-in is not available in workstation with VI Client installed.

Is there any way to get it installed ?

Thanks

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chadwickking
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Yes we do - I validated and it does work.






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Chad King

VCP-410 | Server+

Twitter: http://twitter.com/cwjking

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chadwickking
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open your vSphere client and click on the Plug-ins drop-down menu. In the new window that opens, look for the Installed vs Available Plug-ins. Ensure that the vCenter Guided Consolidation plug-in is installed.

Once installed, in the vSphere Client, click on the Home menu then on the Guided Consolidation application (or go up to View, to Solutions and Applications, and to Guided Consolidation).

For more information please see:

http://www.virtualizationadmin.com/articles-tutorials/vmware-esx-articles/installation-and-deploymen...

Cheers,

Chad King

VCP-410 | Server+

Twitter:

If you find this or any other answer useful please consider awarding points by marking the answer correct or helpful

Cheers, Chad King VCP4 Twitter: http://twitter.com/cwjking | virtualnoob.wordpress.com If you find this or any other answer useful please consider awarding points by marking the answer correct or helpful
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TonyJK
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Dear Chad,

Thanks for your advice.

I have checked but "vCenter Guided Consoliation" doesn't appear in either "Installed Plug-In" or "Available Plug-Ins".

On the other hand, I have tried the VI Client that installed on the vCenter Server & "vCenter Guided Consolidation" plug-in is installed.

Your advice is soughtl.

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chadwickking
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Hmmm, The point of a plug-in is for to use them from any client - that is a bit odd...

So we have done the following:

Install Plug-Ins

You can install plug-ins using the Plug-in Manager.

Procedure

1 Launch the vSphere Client and log in to a vCenter Server system.

2 Select Plug-ins > Manage Plug-ins.

3 Select the Available tab in the Plug-in Manager dialog box.

4 Click Download and Install for the plug-in you want.

5 Follow the prompts in the installation wizard.

6 After installation is complete, verify that the plug-in is listed under the Installed tab and that it is enabled.

Disable and Enable Plug-Ins

You can disable or enable plug-ins using the Plug-in Manager.

Procedure

1 Launch the vSphere Client and log in to a vCenter Server system.

2 Select Plug-ins > Manage Plug-ins.

3 Select the Installed tab in the Plug-in Manager dialog box.

4 Select Enable to enable a plug-in, or deselect Enable to disable it.

Disabling a plug-in does not remove it from the client. You must uninstall the plug-in to remove it.

Just to be sure on the one that doesnt have you do not see it in Solutions and Applications?

Cheers,

Chad King

VCP-410 | Server+

Twitter:

If you find this or any other answer useful please consider awarding points by marking the answer correct or helpful

Cheers, Chad King VCP4 Twitter: http://twitter.com/cwjking | virtualnoob.wordpress.com If you find this or any other answer useful please consider awarding points by marking the answer correct or helpful
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TonyJK
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Dear Chad,

Yes, you are right. I have followed the steps and "Guided Consolidation" plug-in is installed on the VI client located on the vCenter Server.

However, the plug-in is not available for other machines running VI Client.

Is there any way for me to extract the installation file so that I can redeploy it to other VI Clients ?

Thanks again

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chadwickking
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Yes on the installed machine can you check in the C:\program folder of the vic client - there should be a "guided consolidation plugin" folder that should have the files there.






Cheers,

Chad King

VCP-410 | Server+

Twitter: http://twitter.com/cwjking

If you find this or any other answer useful please consider awarding points by marking the answer correct or helpful

Cheers, Chad King VCP4 Twitter: http://twitter.com/cwjking | virtualnoob.wordpress.com If you find this or any other answer useful please consider awarding points by marking the answer correct or helpful
TonyJK
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Hi,

Thanks for your advice. I find that there are a number of folders under the VI Client folder.

Could it be possible for you to give me the folder that I should use ?

Thanks again

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chadwickking
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Not sure why - but I have tested this as well and so have other experts. It seems that the server you install it on is the only place you have access to the plug-in on as you stated. Perhaps this may be different with the enterprise version of converter. I had to test it for myself. Unless someone else can validate for sure - I haven't been able to get around it.






Cheers,

Chad King

VCP-410 | Server+

Twitter: http://twitter.com/cwjking

If you find this or any other answer useful please consider awarding points by marking the answer correct or helpful

Cheers, Chad King VCP4 Twitter: http://twitter.com/cwjking | virtualnoob.wordpress.com If you find this or any other answer useful please consider awarding points by marking the answer correct or helpful
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TonyJK
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Dear Chad,

I have opened a ticket with VMWare Support. I will keep you posted.

Thanks again for your advice.

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TonyJK
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Dear Chad,

VMWare Support asks me to install the "Guided Consoldation Service" from the vCenter Server DVD on my workstation.

However, I get the following error message - "This installation package is not supported by this processor type. Contact your product vendor". After a secod thought, I may get this error message as the DVD should be supposed to be running on 64bit server (vCenter Server).

Your advice is sought.

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chadwickking
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Per Release notes:

Guided Consolidation Enhancements — The Guided Consolidation

service is now a modular plug-in to vCenter Server. This service can be

installed on a different system than vCenter Server, allowing vCenter

Server to perform optimally with lower overheads around consolidation

operations. Guided Consolidation is also able to discover and analyze

systems that run non-English versions of Windows. Guided Consolidation

can concurrently analyze and make consolidation recommendations for up

to 100 physical machines at a given time. See vSphere Basic System Administration.

Looking at the basic sys admin guide obviously you have done this before. I would say go ahead and try it on a 64-bit system if it seems to fail.

Though the PRE-REQS show no limitation to your platform -

One of the following operating systems installed:

  • Windows 2003 Server SP2

  • Windows XP Professional SP3

  • Windows Server 2008 (Ensure that Computer Browser Windows Service is enabled)

  • Windows Vista (Ensure that Computer Browser Windows Service is enabled)

Chapter 8 of page 89 - go ahead and run over it and make sure everything is validated for the install. I am surprised support didnt at least see you through the install - very frustrating IMO.

guided consolidation

http://www.vmware.com/pdf/vsphere4/r40/vsp_40_admin_guide.pdf

I truly hope this helps you.

Cheers,

Chad King

VCP-410 | Server+

Twitter:

If you find this or any other answer useful please consider awarding points by marking the answer correct or helpful

Cheers, Chad King VCP4 Twitter: http://twitter.com/cwjking | virtualnoob.wordpress.com If you find this or any other answer useful please consider awarding points by marking the answer correct or helpful
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TonyJK
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Dear Chad,

VMWare Staff says that Guided Consolidation Plug-In only runs on 64 Bit OS and closed the case.

Do you also run the Guided Consolidation Plug-In on a 64 Bit workstation ? If yes, I guess he may be right.

Regards,

Tony

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chadwickking
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Yes we do - I validated and it does work.






Cheers,

Chad King

VCP-410 | Server+

Twitter: http://twitter.com/cwjking

If you find this or any other answer useful please consider awarding points by marking the answer correct or helpful

Cheers, Chad King VCP4 Twitter: http://twitter.com/cwjking | virtualnoob.wordpress.com If you find this or any other answer useful please consider awarding points by marking the answer correct or helpful
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jeremydixon
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I'm having the exact same issue as the OP.

I have Guided Consolidation installed on my vCenter 4.1 server. On the vCenter server I can see the plugin and ues it just fine. On my own desktop however I dont have it as an option when I go to Manage Plugins.

Didn't see a formal resolution on this thread...

Thanks!

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DSTAVERT
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I would try installing GC from the vCenter install disk.

-- David -- VMware Communities Moderator
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jeremydixon
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Do that on my workstation?

Thanks

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DSTAVERT
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Yes. Just guided consolidation.

-- David -- VMware Communities Moderator
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jeremydixon
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No dice. Wont install. Same error the OP had when he tried to do it.

Was working before but disappeared during an update. Connected to a vCenter VDI 2.5 instance and it loaded some updates. Wonder if that torched it?

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