vCenter Applicance 6.0 installation - WHY via a browser

[abugeja]

Why do VMware insist on using a browser to install and configure the vCenter appliance v6.0. Why cant you deploy it via an OVF on a ESXi host like a normal appliance? So frustrating.

[vijayrana968]

I am sure you would have check this : Unable to find the vCenter Server 6.0 Appliance OVA, OVF, ZIP, or VMDK files on the VMware download ...

You can check this for testing Where is the OVA/OVF for vCenter 6.0 Appliance? | Josh As A Service

[abugeja]

I searched around for sometime I couldn't find any other way to install other than the web based approach. Thanks for this article. I have already extracted the .iso and was able to find the OVF and test it. Thanks!!

The default way to install the appliance should be via an OVF..that's my own view anyway. Installs via browser never go well

[vijayrana968]

Same experience

[abugeja]

reading further it doesn't seem like this is a supported way to install the appliance. Now im concerned especially as I need to deploy it for a production environment.

[vijayrana968]

As you can see, there's clearly mentioned this isn't supported by VMware. I would recommended standard HTML installation for production, the given blog is good for testing.

[abugeja]

i agree and will now be using the HTML installation process which I believe is a backward step in regards the vcenter appliance. Every other appliance you install directly via the ESXi host. Adding HTML infront of it just makes it more complex espically in high security environment where web browsers aren't always available.

[abugeja]

Does anyone know the minimum browser requirements to install the vCenter appliance 6.0? been searching but I cant find the doco around this. Im trying from a Windows 2008 R2 server

[Kahonu84]

vCenter management - WHY via a browser