How to install vCenter Server 6.5 on Windows Server 2012 R2 with an Embedded Platform Service Controller

VMware vCenter Server provides centralized management of vSphere virtual infrastructure. IT administrators can ensure security and availability, simplify day-to-day tasks, and reduce the complexity of managing virtual infrastructure. VMware vCenter Server 6.5 is latest vSphere product released on 15th November 2016 build version is 4602587 now it is available in VMware website. Last week, I had downloaded the vCenter Server 6.5 and spend my time to prepare this post. In this post, I will show you installation of vCenter Server 6.5 on Windows with an embedded Platform Service Controller step by step. Same as vCenter Server 6.0, we can install vCenter Server and Platform Service Controller on same virtual machine or physical machine or on different virtual machine or physical machine. Here, for lab environment I will install vCenter Server with an Embedded Platform Service controller on VMware Workstation virtual machine. Before going to the start the installation, we make sure vCenter Server 6.5 must meet specific hardware requirements.

Hardware Requirements for vCenter Server and Platform Services Controller on Windows:

	Number of CPUs	Memory
Platform Services Controller	2 CPUs	4 GB RAM
vCenter Server with an Embedded or External Platform Services Controller for a Tiny Environment  (up to 10 Hosts, 100 Virtual Machines)	2 CPUs	10 GB RAM
vCenter Server with an Embedded or External Platform Services Controller for a Small Environment (up to 100 Hosts, 1000 Virtual Machines)	4 CPUs	16 GB RAM
vCenter Server with an Embedded or External Platform Services Controller for a Medium Environment (up to 400 Hosts, 4,000 Virtual Machines)	8 CPUs	24 GB RAM
vCenter Server with an Embedded or External Platform Services Controller for a Large Environment (up to 1,000 Hosts, 10,000 Virtual Machines)	16 CPUs	32 GB RAM
vCenter Server with an Embedded or External Platform Services Controller for X Large Environment (up to 2,000 Hosts, 35,000 Virtual Machines)	24 CPUs	48 GB RAM

 

vCenter Server Minimum Storage Requirements Depending On the Deployment Model:

When you install vCenter Server, your system must meet minimum storage requirements. The storage requirements per folder depend on the deployment model that you decide to install. During installation, you can select a folder other than the default C:\Program Files\VMware folder to install vCenter Server and the Platform Services Controller. You can also select a folder other than the default C:\ProgramData\VMware\vCenterServer\ in which to store data.

VMware vCenter Server 6.0	Program Files	Program Data	System folder (to cache the MSI installer)
vCenter Server with an Embedded Platform Services Controller	6 GB	8 GB	3 GB
vCenter Server with an External Platform Services Controller	6 GB	8 GB	3 GB
External Platform Services Controller	1 GB	2 GB	1 GB

 

Supported host Operating Systems for VMware vCenter Server installation:

Windows Operating System	VMware vCenter Server 6.0
Microsoft Windows Server 2012 R2 64-bit	Yes
Microsoft Windows Server 2012 64-bit	Yes
Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 2 64-bit	Yes
Microsoft Windows Server 2008 Service Pack 1 64-bit	Yes
Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 Service Pack 1 64-bit	Yes
Microsoft Windows Server 2008 R2 64-bit	Yes
Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2 Service Pack 2 64-bit	NO
Microsoft Windows Server 2003 R2 64-bit	NO
Microsoft Windows Server 2003 Service Pack 2 64-bit	NO
Microsoft Windows Server 2003 64-bit	NO
Microsoft Windows Server 2003 32-bit	NO

 

vCenter Server for Windows Database Requirements:

vCenter Server requires a database to store and organize server data. Each vCenter Server instance must have its own database. For environments with up to 20 hosts and 200 virtual machines, you can use the bundled PostgreSQL database that the vCenter Server installer can install and set up for you during the vCenter Server installation. A larger installation requires a supported external database for the size of the environment. But, here I am using the bundled PostgreSQL Database during installation of vCenter Server 6.5 as it is lab environment. If required more information of the Database please go through the below link for your reference.

http://www.vmware.com/resources/compatibility/sim/interop_matrix.php#db&2=431

 vSphere Web Client Software Requirements:

Make sure that your browser supports the vSphere Web Client. The vSphere Web Client 6.5 requires Adobe Flash Player 16 or later. The following supported guest operating systems and browser versions for the vSphere Web Client.

Operating system	Browser
Windows	Microsoft Internet Explorer 10.0.19 and later.Mozilla Firefox 34 and later.Google Chrome 39 and later.
Mac OS	Mozilla Firefox 34 and later.Google Chrome 39 and later.

 

Before you install vCenter Server, download the installer ISO file and mount it to the Windows machine on which you want to perform the installation, and then start the installation wizard. Select vCenter Server for Windows and click Install to begin the installation

Click Next to install vCenter Server 6.5.0

Select I accept the terms of license agreement and click Next

Select Deployment type as, vCenter Server and Embedded Platform Services Controller and click Next

Enter FQDN of vCenter Server system

Enter vCenter Single Sign-On Domain name, password, Site Name and click Next

Select Use Windows Local System Account and click Next

For lab environment, Select Use an embedded database( VMware Postgres) and click Next

Verify the network settings and ports for this deployment and click Next

Keep it default storage location for this deployment and click Next

Its optional to select, Read the Customer Experience Improvement Program details  and click Next

Review all the settings before going to start the installation once and click Install

vCenter Server with an Embedded Platform Services Controller installation is in progress

vCenter Server is successfully installed and click Launch vSphere Web Client

Login with vCenter Single Sign On User (administrator@vsphere.local) and password, then click Login

if you want to login with domain administrator (virtualinfograc/administrator) through vSphere Web Client, we have to click Home and  select Administrator

Click Configuration and select Identity Sources, then click Add

Select Active Directory(Integrated Windows Authentication) and click Next

Select the Domain name (virtualinfograce.com) and click Next

Click Finish to complete

Verify domain name (virtualinfograce.com) is added in Identity Sources and click Global Permissions

Select Manage and click Add

Under Users and Groups, click Add and Assign role as Administrator

Change the Domain (virtualinfograce.com) and select Administrator, click Add and OK

Change the Assigned Role as Administrator and click OK

Verify VIRTUALINFOGRACE.COM\Administrator is added successfully.

Now, open the VMware vSphere Web client and login with domain administrator and check all the optionsVMware vSphere Client on Windows is not available in vCenter Server 6.5. VMware decided to focus on bringing the new vSphere Client (HTML5 based) up to speed as fast as possible, simultaneously offering a great user experience and getting off of Flash.This decision is about VMware trying to provide the best user experience: a fast, reliable, scalable modern interface that allows  user to get work done is they primary goal.  The new vSphere Client is the best way to achieve that goal. Thats it, I hope this is informative for you. Thanks for reading my post……! If you feel worth please share it in social media.