Adding and configuring an agent-based vCenter server

To add a vCenter server as an agent-based managed server, perform the following tasks:

• Before you begin
• To add an agent-based (Windows) vCenter server
• To configure the agent-based vCenter server in TrueSight Server Automation
• Where to go from here

Before you begin

Ensure that your environment meets the requirements described in Reviewing-minimum-requirements-for-VMware-environments.

To add an agent-based (Windows) vCenter server

1. Install the Windows agent on the vCenter server, as described in Installing-the-RSCD-agent-Windows.

   Note

   Previous versions of TrueSight Server Automation required the installation of a special vCenter agent. That requirement no longer applies, as you now install the Windows agent on the vCenter server.

2. Open the c:\windows\rsc\exports file and edit the permissions. Follow whatever permission guidelines you are using for exports or users or users.local files.
3. Open a command window and run the following command from the system on which NSH is installed:
   agentinfo <vCenterServerHostname>
   The agentinfo command displays various types of information, including an entry for the OS. The OS should be a Microsoft Windows OS and the letters "VC" should be appended on the same line, which signifies that it is a Windows computer with vCenter running on it.
4. From within the TrueSight Server Automation Console, add the server as a managed server to a server group by right-clicking a server group and selecting Add Server.

To configure the agent-based vCenter server in TrueSight Server Automation

You can configure vCenter users in TrueSight Server Automation Console by using the following two methods:

• Configuring vCenter user credentials in Configuring vCenter user credentials in Connection Property Set Instance (PSI).
• Mapping vCenter user credential in RBAC roles, see Enabling multiple users for managing vCenters.

Configuring vCenter user credentials in Connection Property Set Instance (PSI)

1. From within the TrueSight Server Automation Console, select Configuration > Property Dictionary View.
2. Browse the Built-in Property Classes > Connection class.

3. On the Instances  tab, create a Connection instance using the following naming convention: Connection_<nameofVCenterEnrolled>
   For example, if your vCenter server was added into TrueSight Server Automation with the name prodvcs02.example.local, you would name the instance Connection_prodvcs02.example.local. This new instance contains the connection details for the vCenter server.

   Note

   Your user role must have the appropriate RBAC permissions to create or update the Connection instance. Otherwise, the association between the instances will not be created and the server will not be enrolled.
   
   After creation of the connection instance, a connection PSI is automatically created for the server in virtualization and the value of VIRTUAL_ENTITY_CONNECTION is set to the CONNECTION PSI that is created.

4. Set the following properties for the new Connection instance:

   Property	Value
   CONNECTION_URL	Enter the web URL of the SDK of the vCenter server (for example, https://<vCenterServerName>/sdk). Note: This name should match the VMware vCenter server name registered in TrueSight Server Automation.
   CONNECTION_USER	Enter the name of an administrator of VMware vCenter, or another user with required privileges. If you need to provide a domain name with the username, enter it here as <domainName\userName>
   CONNECTION_PASSWORD	Enter the password of the user that is mentioned in the above property. New in 8.9.03.001 Select a value from the Encryption Type list. The list contains two values: BLNative AES 256 By default, BLNative is selected.

5. Save the instance.

Mapping vCenter user credential in RBAC roles

Follow the steps provided in To map multiple vCenter users with TSSA Roles.

To distribute the vCenter configuration object on the vCenter server

Once vCenter users are configured using one of the above mentioned methods you need to perform the following steps:

1. Run an Update Server Properties Job (New > Administration Task > Update Server Properties Job) against the vCenter server.
2. Distribute the vCenter configuration object on the vCenter server:
   1. From the TrueSight Server Automation Console, navigate to the Jobs folder.
   2. Right-click a job group and select New > Administration Task > Distribute Configuration Objects.
   3. Provide a name for the Job and click Next.
   4. Expand the Global Configuration Objects list, select the VMware vCenter Server object, and add it to the Selected Configuration Objects section. Click Next.
   5. On the Targets panel, select the agent installed on the vCenter host.
   6. Click Finish, and execute the job. For details, see Distributing-configuration-objects.

Where to go from here

Now that you have set up the VMware vSphere environment, you are ready to perform various vSphere management tasks, as discussed in Managing-a-VMware-vSphere-environment.