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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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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