VMware Cloud Community
reedw
Contributor
Contributor

vCenter 6.5 VCSA Setup

I currently run 6.0 on a standalone windows server blade.  I am trying to test out 6.5 VCSA on another standalone blade but I have read that you should be setting this up virtually.  I only have a vcenter essentials license which means I do not have HA.....

Would you guys suggest that with the extra box I run a version of ESXI on it and put the VCSA on it as a VM?  Or do I just upgrade my windows instance to 6.5 and avoid doing a VCSA?

I tried searching but couldn't find the crazy scenario I have.

Tags (1)
Reply
0 Kudos
9 Replies
virtualg_uk
Leadership
Leadership

I would be using the VCSA for 6.5 There are new features that are only available on the VCSA (and it can now do everything that the Windows VC can do)

So yes, running the VC as a VM is essentially a "best practice" these days. You gain many advantages such as being able to move the VM to another host when you need to patch hardware or snapshot the VM before changes etc (Even if you only have essentials plus licensing)

There is a built in migration tool to upgrade from 5.5 or 6.0 to the VCSA: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uLrIEPiKAFI

I hope this helps


Graham | User Moderator | https://virtualg.uk
Reply
0 Kudos
reedw
Contributor
Contributor

I looked at the upgrade path but I am on a windows that is installed on the hardware, not a vm.  So I guess my question would be to move to the new version would it benefit me to just install ESXi on that hardware instead of Windows and then put VCSA on that host?  The migration helps you move that windows install to a VCSA and put it on a host, not if I am wanting to use the same hardware though.

Reply
0 Kudos
virtualg_uk
Leadership
Leadership

I would migrate the physical VC to the VCSA (Migrate onto one of your existing ESXi hosts)

This will free up the old VC for use for something else (test server, ESXi lab machine etc)


Graham | User Moderator | https://virtualg.uk
Reply
0 Kudos
reedw
Contributor
Contributor

My only other esxi hosts are in the vcenter I am trying to migrate, I don't like the design of having my vcenter running as a vm on a host I am managing by that vcsa....

Reply
0 Kudos
virtualg_uk
Leadership
Leadership

It's a widely adopted design decision (probably 95%) to install the VCSA on hosts that it manages. Your VCSA will gain the full benefits of virtualization this way (vMotion, HA, fewer per-socket backup/monitoring licenses etc etc)

If the host that the VC runs on, fails, then HA will boot it up on another functioning host (HA)

If for some very rare instance where this doesn't happen you can simply import the VCSA onto another host manually an boot it up with a couple of clicks, just like any other VM

This is 100% supported by VMware and encouraged in most scenarios

I hope this helps.


Graham | User Moderator | https://virtualg.uk
Reply
0 Kudos
reedw
Contributor
Contributor

My issue is I have vCenter essentials so I don't have a HA with that license.....

Reply
0 Kudos
virtualg_uk
Leadership
Leadership

I understand, so I suppose the main advantage of putting the VCSA on your existing ESXi cluster is to make available the other server for test/dev/etc. You are also able to leverage the shared storage on your other cluster rather than local storage too?

If your going to want to keep using that existing server then yes installing ESXi and then the VCSA on top will work fine, if you don't need the newer VCSA features then the Windows VC might actually be your best option?

It'll vary based on your exact requirements of course.


Graham | User Moderator | https://virtualg.uk
Reply
0 Kudos
reedw
Contributor
Contributor

If you run VCSA from a host that you are managing how does Updates work?  Like for example what happens when I update the host that the VCSA is running on, do I just wait for the host to update and possibly reboot before I can access my VCSA?

Reply
0 Kudos
virtualg_uk
Leadership
Leadership

Assuming you have 3 hosts, this is what I would do:

Upgrade the VCSA

Determine the host that the VCSA is running on

Upgrade a host that the VCSA is not running on (Host 1)

Power off the VCSA and login to the ESXi host via the vSphere Client which the VCSA was running on.

Migrate the VCSA to the host that you just upgraded (host 1) - Right click the VM -> Migrate

Power on the VCSA

Login to the vSphere Client

Upgrade the other hosts (2 and 3)

Hope this helps


Graham | User Moderator | https://virtualg.uk
Reply
0 Kudos