Some vCenter Server / vCenter Questions

[sexconker]

We currently run ESXi 4.1 unlicensed and will be moving to the ESXi 5 Essentials Kit.

We have 3 physical hosts with 2 CPUs each.

1) Can we install vCenter Server on a VM that lives on one of the physical hosts that vCenter Server will manage? Is this a bad idea?

2) If the physical host that has the VM with vCenter Server goes down, do the other two physical hosts continue to run? Can we still connect to them directly for basic management through vSphere?

3) What is the recommended way to connect to vCenter Server from a workstation? Through a local installation of vSphere 5 or through the Web Client?

4) The only time we would have more than 3 physical hosts is when we buy a new server and retire an old one.  Using the ESXi 5 Essentials Kit license, can we install ESXi 5 Hypervisor on the new server, remove the licenses from the old physical server, and then move the licenses to the new physical server?

5) Since we will never exceed 3 hosts connected to vCenter Server, and we will never exceed 50 VMs, would it be best/easiest to use the vCenter Server Virtual Appliance? Does the ESXi 5 Essentials Kit license allow us to use the vCenter Server Virtual Appliance?

[GreatWhiteTec · Accepted solution]

1- vCenter VM is fine. Not a bad idea. You will actually be able to free up the physical server so you can use it as a host.

2- If the vCenter VM goes down, you can still access all the hosts directly via vSPhere Client.

3- vSphere Client

4- Yes.

5- vCenter appliance does not support Update Manager, and has other turnoffs

[sexconker]

Thank you.

We've been doing updates on our unlicensed ESi 4 hosts through the vCLI.  The update manager would be a nice change.

Does the vSphere Essentials Kit license let us use the update manager?

From the white paper:

VMware vSphere Essentials Kit is all-in-one solution ideal for small offices. It enables consolidation and management of applications to reduce hardware and operating costs—all with a low upfront investment. The VMware vSphere Essentials kit must be purchased along with a one-year subscription to software patches and updates. Support is optional and available on a per-incident basis.

Does this mean we have to pay an annual subscription to get updates?  Or does it mean we have to pay an annual subscription to use the update manager?

[GreatWhiteTec]

Yes. It is included, so if you want to use Update Manager, don't deploy the appliance.

VMware vSphere Essentials for Retail and Branch Offices includes:

• 6P licenses of VMware Hypervisor or VMware Hypervisor for use on up to 3 2P hosts per site
  
• VMware vCenter Server for Essentials (manage up to 3 hosts)
  
• VMware Update Manager
  
• VMware Virtual Machine File System (VMFS)
  
• VMware Symmetric Multi Processing (vSMP)
  
• VMware vCenter Server Agents, with rights to centrally manage from vCenter Server Standard Edition (vCenter Server Standard Edition must be acquired separately)
  

Support will give you access to call VMware for Help on issues as well as patches and updates. Once you buy the kit it will most likely come with 1 year support, so you can use Update Manager right away. If you don;t renew you won;t be allowed to get updates and patches. You will still have VUM but won't receive updates. I'm not a reseller, but that is my understanding. It is worth to get support though.

[sexconker]

Thanks.  The patches are listed publicly on the site and are easily downloadable.  If I can install them via vCLI I don't think I need the support subscription (but will probably keep it since it's so cheap and the Update Manager would be a huge improvement).