VMware vSphere 5 - Part 1: vCenter Server Installation

Overview/Description
In the majority of today's information systems, the client-server architecture is king. Information systems used to exist in a flat, peer-to-peer model - user accounts were required on every system that resource access was needed, and significant administrative overhead was needed simply to make things work. Today, as the size of a virtual infrastructure grows, the ability to manage the infrastructure from a central location becomes increasingly significant. The client-server architecture has the ability to centralize management of resources and to provide end users and client systems with access to those resources in a simplified manner. vCenter Server is a Windows-based application that serves as a centralized management tool for ESXi hosts and their respective VMs. vCenter Server acts as a proxy that performs tasks on the individual ESXi hosts that have been added as members of a vCenter Server installation. This course will focus on the installation and configuration of vCenter Server.

Target Audience
Anyone wishing to learn the fundamental features, functions, and capabilities of the VMware vSphere product suite collection of products in order to provide a full array of enterprise virtualization functionality; systems engineers, system administrators, vSphere operators and support personnel, and ESXi operators and support personnel. A good understanding of system administration on Microsoft Windows Server 2003 or Microsoft Server 2008 operating systems experience would be of benefit. Experience equivalent to or greater than CompTIA Network+ and with Linux Server operating systems is strongly recommended.

Expected Duration (hours)
2.0

Lesson Objectives

VMware vSphere 5 - Part 1: vCenter Server Installation

identify vCenter Server system requirements

identify the benefits of using the vCenter Server Appliance

recognize how vCenter Server uses specific port numbers

recognize how to manage large numbers of ESXi accounts

recognize the most appropriate method to use when creating the vCenter Server database

recognize how to prepare to install SQL Server 2008 R2

describe the creation of a 64-bit ODBC connection

recognize how to prepare for a vCenter Server installation

identify vCenter installation components

describe a vCenter Server installation