4/5/2022
Introduction to vSphere and the Software-
Defined Data Center
Module 2
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You Are Here
1. Course Introduction 7. Virtual Machine Management
2. Introduction to vSphere and 8. Resource Management and
the Software-Defined Data Monitoring
Center
9. vSphere HA, vSphere Fault
3. Creating Virtual Machines Tolerance, and Protecting Data
4. vCenter Server 10. vSphere DRS
5. Configuring and Managing 11. vSphere Update Manager
Virtual Networks
6. Configuring and Managing
Virtual Storage
VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage 2-2
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Importance
A vSphere administrator should be familiar with the many components on
which vSphere is based. You should also understand the following
concepts and best practices:
• Virtualization, ESXi, and the virtual machine
• Fundamental vSphere components and use of vSphere in the software-defined
data center
• Use of vSphere clients to administer and manage vSphere environments
VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage 2-3
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Module Lessons
Lesson 1: Overview of vSphere and the Software-Defined Data
Center
Lesson 2: Abstraction: Overview of a Virtual Machine
Lesson 3: Shared Resources: Overview of ESXi
Lesson 4: Centralized Management: Overview of vCenter
Server
VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage 2-4
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Lesson 1: Overview of vSphere
and the Software-Defined Data
Center
2-5
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Learner Objectives
By the end of this lesson, you should be able to meet the following
objectives:
• Understand similarities and differences between physical and virtual machines
• Describe benefits of using virtual machines
• Identify virtual machine files and file extensions
• Describe how a virtual machine is a guest and consumer of host resources
• Explain how vSphere interacts with CPUs, memory, networks, and storage
• Use vSphere clients
• Describe how vSphere fits into the software-defined data center and the cloud
infrastructure
VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage 2-6
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Traditional Architecture
Traditional architecture has inherent
challenges:
• Poor use of physical resources
• High management and maintenance
costs
• High physical infrastructure costs
• Provisioning challenges
• Insufficient failover and poor disaster
protection
Network Storage
VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage 2-7
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Virtual Architecture
Virtual architecture has inherent benefits:
• Expanded use of physical resources
• Reduced management and maintenance costs
• Improved desktop manageability and security
• Increased availability of applications
• Increased operational flexibility
Network Storage
VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage 2-8
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About Virtual Machines
A virtual machine is a software representation of a physical computer
and its components.
The virtualization software converts the physical machine and its
components into files.
Virtual Machine Virtual Machine Components
• Operating system
• VMware Tools™
• Virtual resources, such as:
– CPU and memory
– Network adapters
– Disks and controllers
– Parallel and serial ports
VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage 2-9
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Benefits of Using Virtual Machines
Physical machines Virtual machines
Difficult to move or copy Easy to move or copy
Bound to a specific set of hardware • Encapsulated into files
components • Independent of physical hardware
Often has a short lifecycle Easy to manage
Requires personal contact to upgrade • Isolated from other virtual machines
hardware running on same physical hardware
• Insulated from physical hardware
changes
VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage 2-10
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Types of Virtualization
VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage 2-11
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About the Software-Defined Data Center
In a software-defined data center, all infrastructure is virtualized and the
control of the data center is entirely automated by software. vSphere is
the foundation of the software-defined data center.
Software-Defined Data Center
Cloud Business
Policy-Based Management
and Automation Cloud Automation Cloud Operations
Virtualized Infrastructure
Hybrid Cloud
Abstract and Pool
vCloud Air and vCloud Air
Network Service Provider
Partners
Public Cloud Public Cloud
Compute Abstraction = Network Abstraction = Storage Abstraction =
Server Virtualization Virtual Networking Software-Defined Storage
VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage 2-12
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vSphere and Cloud Computing
Cloud computing leverages the efficient pooling of an on-demand, self-
managed, and virtual infrastructure.
Your VMware
Private Hybrid
Cloud
Cloud Cloud
Foundation
VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage 2-13
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Review of Learner Objectives
You should be able to meet the following objectives:
• Understand similarities and differences between physical and virtual machines
• Describe benefits of using virtual machines
• Identify virtual machine files and file extensions
• Describe how a virtual machine is a guest and consumer of host resources
• Explain how vSphere interacts with CPUs, memory, networks, and storage
• Use vSphere clients
• Describe how vSphere fits into the software-defined data center and the cloud
infrastructure
VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage 2-14
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Lesson 2: Abstraction: Overview
of a Virtual Machine
2-15
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Learner Objectives
By the end of this lesson, you should be able to meet the following
objectives:
• Describe similarities and differences between a physical machine and a virtual
machine
• Identify benefits of using virtual machines
• Highlight that a virtual machine is a set of specification and configuration files
• Recognize that a virtual machine is a guest and consumer of a host and its
resources
• Explain how vSphere interacts with CPUs, memory, networks, and storage
• Navigate vSphere clients and examine VM settings
• Use vSphere Web Client to access and manage your vCenter Server system
and ESXi host
VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage 2-16
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Virtual Machine: Guest and Consumer of ESXi Host
Any application in any OS can run in a virtual machine (guest) and
consume CPU, memory, disk, and network from host-based resources.
VM1 VM2 VM3
vSphere VMkernel
ESXi Host
CPU Memory Disk Network
VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage 2-17
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Physical and Virtual Architecture
Virtualization is a technology that abstracts physical components into
software components and provides solutions to many problems that are
faced by IT staff.
Physical Architecture Virtual Architecture
Application
Operating System vSphere
x64 Architecture x64 Architecture
VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage 2-18
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Physical Resource Sharing
Virtual
Resources
vSphere
x64
Architecture
Physical
Resources
VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage 2-19
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CPU Virtualization
In a physical environment, the operating system assumes the ownership
of all the physical CPUs in the system.
CPU virtualization emphasizes performance and runs directly on the
available CPUs.
Physical Architecture Virtual Architecture
Application
Operating System vSphere
x64 Architecture x64 Architecture
VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage 2-20
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Physical and Virtualized Host Memory Usage
In a physical environment, the operating system assumes the ownership
of all physical memory in the system.
Memory virtualization emphasizes performance and runs directly on the
available RAM.
Physical Architecture Virtual Architecture
Application
1 GB 2 GB 8 GB
Operating System vSphere
x64 Architecture x64 Architecture
VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage 2-21
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Physical and Virtual Networking
Virtual Ethernet adapters and virtual switches are key virtual networking
components.
Physical Architecture
Virtual Architecture
Application
Operating System
Virtual Switch
x64 Architecture
vSphere
x64 Architecture
VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage 2-22
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Physical File Systems and VMFS
VMware vSphere® VMFS enables a distributed storage architecture,
allowing multiple ESXi hosts to read or write to the shared storage
concurrently.
Physical Architecture Virtual Architecture
Application
Operating System vSphere vSphere
x64 Architecture x64 Architecture x64 Architecture
Shared Storage: VMFS,
NTFS, ext4, UFS NFS, vSAN, vSphere
Virtual Volumes
VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage 2-23
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Encapsulation
Virtual machine files are stored in directories on a VMFS, NFS, VMware
vSAN™ and VMware vSphere® Virtual Volumes™ datastore.
VM 1
VM 2
VM 3
Datastore: VMFS, NFS,
vSAN, and vSphere Virtual
Volumes
VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage 2-24
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vSphere Clients
You use VMware Host Client™, vSphere Client, and vSphere Web Client
to interact with a vSphere environment.
ESXi
Host
VMware Host Client
vCenter
Server
vSphere Web Client
Your
Desktop
vSphere Client
VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage 2-25
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vSphere Web Client
vSphere Web Client has the following components:
• Adobe Flex client application running in a browser
• Java server embedded in vCenter Server Appliance 6.5
No dedicated installation-time configuration is needed.
You access vSphere Web Client from vCenter Server Appliance at
[Link]
Client Integration Plug-in is not required.
VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage 2-26
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vSphere Client
HTML-based vSphere Client has no dependence on installing Adobe
Flex.
vSphere Client uses the same Java server as vSphere Web Client.
No dedicated installation-time configuration is needed.
You access vSphere Client from vCenter Server Appliance at
[Link]
VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage 2-27
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VMware Host Client
With VMware Host Client, no dedicated installation-time configuration is
needed.
VMware Host Client is served from ESXi 6.5: [Link]
VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage 2-28
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Review of Learner Objectives
You should be able to meet the following objectives:
• Describe similarities and differences between a physical machine and a virtual
machine
• Identify benefits of using virtual machines
• Highlight that a virtual machine is a set of specification and configuration files
• Recognize that a virtual machine is a guest and consumer of a host and its
resources
• Explain how vSphere interacts with CPUs, memory, networks, and storage
• Navigate vSphere clients and examine VM settings
• Use vSphere Web Client to access and manage your vCenter Server system
and ESXi host
VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage 2-29
© 2017 VMware Inc. All rights reserved.
Lesson 3: Shared Resources:
Overview of ESXi
2-30
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Learner Objectives
By the end of this lesson, you should be able to meet the following
objectives:
• Describe the ESXi host architecture
• Navigate the Direct Console User Interface (DCUI) to configure an ESXi host
• Use the new VMware Host Client to administer an ESXi host
• Configure ESXi host settings
• Discuss user account best practices
VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage 2-31
© 2017 VMware Inc. All rights reserved.
About ESXi Hosts
An ESXi host has the following availability and features:
• Available for purchase with vSphere or as a free, downloadable version
• High security:
– Host-based firewall
– Memory hardening
– Kernel module integrity
– Trusted Platform Module
– UEFI secure boot
– Lockdown modes
• Small disk footprint
• Installable on hard disks, SAN LUNs, USB devices, SD cards, and diskless
hosts
VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage 2-32
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Physical and Virtual Architecture
The ESXi hypervisor provides a virtualization layer that abstracts the
processor, memory, storage, and networking resources of the physical
host and allocates them to multiple virtual machines.
VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage 2-33
© 2017 VMware Inc. All rights reserved.
Configuring an ESXi Host
The DCUI is a text-based user interface with keyboard-only interaction.
VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage 2-34
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Configuring an ESXi Host: Root Access
DCUI enables an administrator to configure root access settings:
• Set a root password (complex passwords only).
• Enable or disable lockdown mode:
– Limits management of the host to vCenter Server.
– Enabled only for hosts managed by vCenter Server.
VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage 2-35
© 2017 VMware Inc. All rights reserved.
Configuring an ESXi Host: Management Network
The DCUI enables you to modify network settings:
• Host name
• IP configuration (IP address, subnet mask, default gateway)
• DNS servers
VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage 2-36
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Configuring an ESXi Host: Other Settings
The DCUI enables an administrator to configure the keyboard layout,
enable troubleshooting services, view support information, and view
system logs.
VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage 2-37
© 2017 VMware Inc. All rights reserved.
Remote Access Settings: Security Profile
The security profile controls remote access to an ESXi host:
• ESXi includes a firewall that is enabled by default.
• The ESXi firewall blocks incoming and outgoing traffic, except for the traffic
that is enabled in the host’s security profile.
• You can customize many essential security settings for an ESXi host through
the Security Profile panel in vSphere Web Client.
• Some services can be managed by the administrator. Some daemons, such as
the DCUI and NTP client processes, can start and stop automatically with the
ESXi host.
VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage 2-38
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Configuring Lockdown Mode
To increase the security of your ESXi hosts, you can put your hosts in
lockdown mode:
• Two lockdown modes are available: Normal and strict.
When you enable normal lockdown mode, no users but vpxuser have
authentication permissions. Also, users cannot perform operations
against the host directly.
vSphere
Web
Client
SSH
session
VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage 2-39
© 2017 VMware Inc. All rights reserved.
Strict Lockdown Mode
In strict lockdown mode, the DCUI service is also stopped.
If the connection to the vCenter Server system is lost and vSphere Web
Client is no longer available, the ESXi host becomes unavailable.
The host can be accessed in this situation only if the VMware vSphere®
ESXi™ Shell and SSH services are enabled and authorized users are
added to the Exception Users list.
vSphere
Web
Client
VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage 2-40
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Managing User Accounts: Best Practices
Exercise care when assigning user accounts to access ESXi hosts or
vCenter Server systems:
• Strictly control root privileges to ESXi hosts.
• Create strong root account passwords that have at least eight characters. Use
special characters, case changes, and numbers. Change passwords
periodically.
• Manage ESXi hosts centrally through the vCenter Server system by using the
appropriate vSphere client.
VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage 2-41
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ESXi Host as an NTP Client
Network Time Protocol (NTP) is a
client-server protocol used to
synchronize a computer’s clock to a NTP
time reference. Server NTP
NTP Server
NTP is important:
Server
• For accurate performance graphs
• For accurate time stamps in log
messages
• So that virtual machines have a source
to synchronize with
An ESXi host can be configured as an
NTP client. It can synchronize time
with an NTP server on the Internet or The NTP client uses
your corporate NTP server. NTP UDP over port 123 to
communicate with
Client the NTP server.
ESXi Host
VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage 2-42
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Labs
Lab 1: Installing ESXi
Lab 2: Configuring ESXi Hosts
VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage 2-43
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Lab 1: Installing ESXi
Install ESXi on a VM using your student desktop
1. Access Your Student Desktop
2. Install ESXi
VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage 2-44
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Lab 2: Configuring ESXi Hosts
Configure an ESXi host
1. Examine the Options in the DCUI
2. Configure the Management Network
3. Enable SSH
4. View System Logs
5. Clean Up for the Next Lab
VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage 2-45
© 2017 VMware Inc. All rights reserved.
Review of Learner Objectives
You should be able to meet the following objectives:
• Describe the ESXi host architecture
• Navigate the DCUI to configure an ESXi host
• Use the new VMware Host Client to administer an ESXi host
• Configure ESXi host settings
• Discuss user account best practices
VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage 2-46
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Lesson 4: Centralized
Management: Overview of
vCenter Server
2-47
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Learner Objectives
By the end of this lesson, you should be able to meet the following
objectives:
• Describe the vCenter Server architecture
• Discuss how ESXi hosts communicate with vCenter Server
• Identify the vCenter Server services, components, and modules
• Explain VMware Platform Services Controller™
• Describe the vCenter Server security
VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage 2-48
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About the vCenter Server Management Platform
vCenter Server is a service that acts as a central administration point for
ESXi hosts and their virtual machines connected on a network:
• Runs on Windows or on a Linux-based appliance
• Directs the actions of virtual machines and hosts
vCenter Server
Manage
vSphere vSphere vSphere
VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage 2-49
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vCenter Server Architecture
The diagram shows the supporting components for vCenter Server.
Active Directory Domain
vSphere Clients
vCenter Platform
Server and Services
Additional Controller with
Modules vCenter Single
Database Sign-On
ESXi Host ESXi Host ESXi Host
VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage 2-50
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Additional vCenter Server Services and Interfaces
vCenter Server has additional services and interfaces that provide
important functions.
Distributed Services Single Sign-On PSC
PSC
vSphere Clients
Additional Services: User
Database • vSphere Update Manager
Access vSphere
Server • vRealize Orchestrator Third-Party
Control API Applications
Core Services
REST-Based API
ESXi Management
Tools
vCenter
Server
Database
VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage 2-51
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Platform Services Controller
vCenter Server includes Platform Services Controller:
• Platform Services Controller includes a set of common infrastructure services:
– VMware vCenter® Single Sign-On
– VMware License Server Platform Services
– Lookup Service Controller
– VMware Certificate Authority
– Certificate Store vCenter Server
– VMware Directory Services
• Other features are installed under the vCenter Server component.
• You can install vCenter Server and Platform Services Controller on the same
or different machines.
VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage 2-52
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vCenter Server Services
The vCenter Server group of services contains:
• vCenter Server
• vSphere Web Client (server) Platform Services
• VMware Inventory Service Controller
• vSphere Update Manager
• VMware vSphere® Auto Deploy™ vCenter Server
• VMware vSphere® ESXi™ Dump Collector
• VMware vSphere® Syslog Collector
You cannot distribute these vCenter Server functions across multiple
servers. When you deploy vCenter Server Appliance, all of these
features are included.
VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage 2-53
© 2017 VMware Inc. All rights reserved.
Monitoring the Health and Status of Services and Nodes Across
vCenter Server Systems
vSphere Web Client enables you to monitor the status of all manageable
services and nodes across vCenter Server systems. A list of default
services is available in each vCenter Server instance.
VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage 2-54
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ESXi and vCenter Server Communication
VMware Host Client vSphere Web Client
vCenter Server
vpxd
TCP
443, 9443
vSphere Client
TCP/UDP TCP/UDP
902 902
hostd vpxa
ESXi Host
VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage 2-55
© 2017 VMware Inc. All rights reserved.
Review of Learner Objectives
You should be able to meet the following objectives:
• Describe the vCenter Server architecture
• Discuss how ESXi hosts communicate with vCenter Server
• Identify the vCenter Server services, components, and modules
• Explain Platform Services Controller
• Describe the vCenter Server security
VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage 2-56
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Key Points
• Using virtual machines solves many data center problems.
• Virtual machines are hardware independent.
• Virtual machines share the physical resources of the ESXi host on which they
reside.
• A virtual machine is a set of files that is easy to transfer and back up.
• Virtual machine files are encapsulated into a folder and placed on a datastore.
• The ESXi hypervisor runs directly on the host.
• vSphere abstracts CPU, memory, storage, and networking for virtual machine
use.
Questions?
VMware vSphere: Install, Configure, Manage 2-57
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