creating a new cluster in vsphere client

[abhidoeslinux]

I have been assigned a task to create a 2 node rhel cluster in vsphere. I cannot see the 'hosts and clusters' view in my inventory tab of vsphere client. Kindly help. Thanks

[vfk]

You don't have the appropriate permissions, it looks like you have given VM level or Folder Level permission.  When you connect to vSphere, click on VMs and Templates and there you should see VM you have access to.

vfk

[abhidoeslinux]

Thanks for the quick response. I still don't get it. I went through the help document of vsphere. It says it has four views. One of which is hosts and clusters. clicking on which, I ll get a new cluster wizard. I cannot see that button in the client. If you could provide me the step by step procedure, would be very helpful. Thanks.

[vThinkBeyondVM]

When I read your query I exactly thought you are connected to ESXi host through vSphere Client. But then though there might be some issue with permission.

Here is the my input.

1. From screen shot it seems, you are connected to ESXi host from vSphere client. "Hosts & cluster" is not available from ESXi host.

2. Clustering is vCenter server feature, hence you have to have vCenter installed and then connect to vCenter IP by using vSphere client (The way you connected to ESXi host). Finally,  you will need to create cluster and add your ESXi hosts into it.

The cluster that you want to create is host cluster (ie. group of host). Hence Please install vCenter with appropriate licenses and then you can follow documents available for creating cluster.

Please let me know if you need any help.

[SureshKumarMuth]

Two node RHEL cluster is different from vsphere cluster. In order to setup redhat cluster at VM level, I dont think you need to have VC but both nodes of RHEL will be on same host as if you create on the host shown in the screenshot above, if the ESXi host goes down both nodes will go down leading to zero availability.

For ESXi cluster, as Vikas said you have to have vcenter server as it is a vcenter feature provided you need to have multiple esxi servers else it is equivalent to the same above if you have only one ESXi server.

Regards,

Suresh

[vThinkBeyondVM]

I had that doubt but as he was looking for "host & clusters" view, I thought he want to create cluster of ESXi hosts. . If RHEL cluster is similar as that of MSCS (Microsoft cluster service), then you need not to have Vcenter at all. If that is the case,

Refer:Anand Pandit's Blog: How to setup Redhat cluster and GFS2 on RedHat Enterprise Linux 6 on Vmware ESX...

[abhidoeslinux]

Thanks a lot for helping me getting around it. I could have never known its a Vcentre feature. But I have encountered another problem. I am setting up Vcentre server on Windows 8 and its terminating. It says, Vcenter is not supported on this platform. Make sure windows is not running as domain controller. What should i do? Thanks

[vThinkBeyondVM]

It seems windows 8 is desktop operating system & may not be supported for installing vCenter server. You may have to to use Microsoft server operating system.

Can you please let me know which version of vCenter you want to install ? (5.0/5.1/5.5/5.5U1..etc)

If you want to install vCenter server  5.5. or 5.5U1 : You can install in windows server 2008 service pack 2 and above ie. 2008 R2/ 2012/2012 R2 etc.

Please refer :

VMware KB: Minimum system requirements for installing VMware vCenter Server

Let me know if you need any help

[abhidoeslinux]

Thanks Vikas,

Now as I cannot uninstall my desktop OS just to intall a vCentre server, I installed a Microsoft server 2012 as a VM on ESXi. Also installed vsphere client there. And vCentre installation also seemed fine. But, there are few places where i am getting stuck. Its asking for lookup service url, fully qualified domain name etc. I don't know what to enter there as it is my first time I am using vCentre. Please help. Thanks

[vfk]

Giving the issues you are currently facing, it is probably best to use the pre-built vCenter Appliance (VCSA), here is the KB Article for downloading and deploying VCSA

http://kb.vmware.com/selfservice/microsites/search.do?language=en_US&cmd=displayKC&externalId=200761...

[vThinkBeyondVM]

Yes. As "vfk" suggested. Can you please go for VCVA for now? It is far easy to install. Just keep you earlier windows server 2012 machine as it is . We will install on it later.

Just let me know which version of vCenter you are going for ? There are some changes in installation across versions. Hence it is important to know vcenter server.