The current version is not very easy to install, configure and operate from my experience.
I'm looking for new version, but looks like it's be half a year.
What is your definition of easy? Hypervisor's and their management software are inherently complex environments. Get some training.
As for Ver 6, if it happens this year it will likely be September just after VMworld if history is any indication. I wouldn't count on it getting easier though.![]()
For example, easy to uninstall - the current version get error when you uninstall it, you have to run a script comes from VMware support team.
Also regarding performance, you have to run some SQL query from VMware support team to optimize it.
Configuration - agent is required, administrator permission is required.
...etc. I used it half years ago, I just feel pain when I recall it.
That's similar thing on vcops 1.x and early version of 5.x, now it's much better.
Can you tell me more about this uninstall error? I do not know of this. I just verified uninstalling a 5.7.1 Collector, and it uninstalled fine with no errors. I have seen uninstall (and install) problems in some environments where either an endpoint protection tool, like Intel Solidifier, was blocking things, or when MSI files has been manually deleted from the file system.
Regarding installation of the agent - yes, an agent is needed, in order to be able to provide the amount of data and functionality that delivers, across multiple OSes and versions. Since the agent will be providing administrative capabilities on the system (reboot, install patches, uninstall software, etc), you must have administrator/root access to install the agent. You do have the option, though, to use the HTTP agent on Windows systems; this does not require credentials on the machine after the agent is installed. UNIX/Linux/Mac agents also don't require credentials after the agent is installed.
Installation through the Typical Installer (introduced in 5.7) requires only one or two pages of a Wizard. If the SQL, .net and IIS prerequisites are already met, then you just need to provide the license key(s) and select the service account. If the prerequisites are not met, the tool can configure them for you and even install SQL Server for you.
As to the original question: VCM 5.7.2 is planned for general availability in H1 of 2014 - i.e. within the next couple of weeks.
