How to Deploy vCenter 7 in VMware Workstation 15 (Part 1)

Deploy vCenter 7 in VMware Workstation, in this blog, I want to deploy VMware vCenter 7 in VMware Workstation 15, so we had to import the appliance from the.OVA template, and then configure the virtual machine as a new vCenter server. I am deploying this vCenter server 7 in a lab environment.

Step by Step Deploying VCSA 7 in VMware Workstation.

Before importing the VM from the .OVA template, first we need to create an A and PTR record in our active directory DNS server for the vCenter. If we didn’t create host a record in DNS manager then the auto-configuration of the vCenter 7 virtual machine will fail. It’s an appliance, you can’t customize the VM as you wish.

You could only increase or reduce the VM resources (for example CPU, Memory) on this appliance.

vCenter Server 7 Requirements

Host A Record

1- Open your DNS Manager Console, Expand your DNS (SRV2019-DC), Expand Forward Lookup Zones, right-click on your local domain(xpertstec.local) and then select New Host (A or AAA)…

2- Type a name and IP address that you want to assign to the vCenter Virtual Machine, Select the Create associated pointer (PTR) record box, also select the Allow any authenticated user to update DNS records with the same owner name box and then click the Add Host button.

3- vCenter Host A record successfully created.

4- Now you can see in the Reverse Lookup Zones.

5- Test your DNS entry by type vcenter.xpertstec.local

VMware vCenter Server 7 deployment procedure on VMware Workstation 15.

Download VMware vCenter 7 from VMware Website

6- After downloading VMware 7, go to your download folder and right-click on VMware-VCSA-all-7.0 ISO file and then select Mount.

7- Deploy vCenter 7, open your DVD/CDROM drive and then open vcsa directory.

8- Deploy vCenter 7 here you can find the VMware vCenter Server Appliance 7.ova file for deployment.

9- Open VMware workstation, then click on File and select Open.

10- Select the VCSA 7 OVA file and then click open.

11- In the import Virtual Machine wizard, select I accept the terms of the license agreement and then click next.

12- Type a name for the virtual appliance; provide a path where you want to store the virtual machine files. This will be the name that we will see in the VMware Workstation inventory and then click next.

13- Here I am going to select the smallest type of appliance that can be deployed, Tiny vCenter Server with Embedded PSC because I am testing in my test lab.

vCenter Networking Configuration

14- In this import virtual machine wizard screen, we need to configure the VCSA settings. What we configure here will be passed on by VMware Workstation 15 to the guest OS, to configure the appliance.
Host Network IP Address Family

Here we are using an IPv4 address or an IPv6 for VCSA 7.
Host Network Mode

The configuration box where we declare if the VCSA should use a DHCP server or a static IP address.
Host Network IP Address

This is the host IP address that the VCSA 7.0 will have after deployment. This must be the IP used when we created the A and PTR records in DNS.
Host Network Prefix

This is the subnet mask for the VCSA. But we can’t just type the subnet mask as we do on a Windows computer.
Host Network Default Gateway

Here you can type the default gateway the appliance.
Host Network DNS Servers

The IP address of the DNS server the appliance will use for name resolution. Multiple IP addresses must be separated by comma.
Host Network Identity

This is the FQDN of the vCenter. The name requires to match the A record we created earlier in DNS.

15- In the SSO Configuration screen, we need to provide the SSO password that we will use to further configure for the appliance.

16- In the System Configuration screen we need to type the root appliance password, this is needed when connecting to the console’s appliance for configuration or troubleshooting.

17- VCSA 7 upgrade configuration.

18- In the Miscellaneous screen, here you can select True from the CEIP enabled option.

19- In the Networking Properties options, we need to provide the FQDM domain name, the domain search path, and then click the Import button.

vCenter 7 Deploying in VMware Wrokstation

20- The import VCSA 7 process in progress, this will take just a few minutes to complete the vCenter 7 OVA.

21- Make sure you connect the Virtual Machine network adapter to the network, so it will connect with the DNS server. If no connectivity to the DNS server is found, you will be getting an error.

22- VCSA 7 deploying in progress.

23- If you want to reconfigure your VCSA appliance settings then Press F2.

24- Type Log in name, password and then press enter.

25- VCSA 7 System Customization.

How to Deploy Vcenter 7.0 in VMware Workstation Second Part