Manage Two physical datacenters within same instance of vCenter server

[3dsachin]

Hey Guys,

We have recently deployed vCenter server (Standard) to manger cluster of 3 ESXi hosts. Now, there is another datacenter on same physical location 100 meters apart. This is to request your feedback on managing these datacenters from the same vcenter server instance as compared to costs of having another instance on vcenter server.

The idea is also to have "Always ON' model across both physical sites. Any suggestions please!!!

[IRIX201110141]

These are 2 different questions.

Yes a single vCenter instance can manage >= 1000 Hosts and it doesnt matter if these are located in the same room, building, city. So if you have another campus DC there just use a single vCenter to manage both locations.

Now the other part... how to protect vCenter when is comes to be the top asset

- Protect it like other VM to with Replication, Metro Cluster Setups

- or use VCSA HA. vCenter can be deployed in a Active/Passive Setup with 2 Instances and a witness

Regards,

Joerg

[cloudsuresh]

Hi,

May i know the complete infrastructure configuration and license details of host and guest. It may improve the quality of solution.

[3dsachin]

Two vsphere 6.7 clusters with 4 hosts each. Both 100 m apart with 10g connectivity. Both environments have 100tb san - hp nimble. the aim is to make both Data centres independent and back for each other.

Vcenter standard

vsphere enterprise plus

One way would be to license with verealize operations to balance the workload.

Any thoughts please.

[daphnissov]

The only way to do this would depend on your Nimble's capabilities for cross-site synchronous replication. What would probably be better, easier, and cheaper with less complexity is to simply use replication at a higher level to replicate VMs from each side to the other. If a site is down, failover to the other site. Once first site is recovered, fail back and continue replication. There are a number of products that can do this, but they usually rely upon two vCenters. In short, what you want has a cost, and it's not something you're going to get for "free" or without spending some money. That's just life.

[3dsachin]

Currently Nimble only supports Asynchronous replication.Alternatively, I am thinking of;

A. Create two Datacenters with their own HA\DRS clusters, Physical hosts and VM's.

B. Have Vmware vRealize operations in lieu of second instance of vCenter. This is to automate load balancing between the two clusters.

     However, I am not sure if this can failover entire datacenter cluster to support DCDR?

Although both options have more or less the same cost, any suggestions which is one would be better to spend money on. Thanks