How to install vCenter 7 Server Appliance on ESXi host

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In today’s guide, we will install VMware vCenter 7 Server Appliance on the ESXi host. vCenter Server is an advanced server management solution designed to provide a centralized platform for controlling VMware vSphere environments, allowing you to confidently automate and deliver virtual infrastructure across hybrid clouds. In the previous article, we discussed the process of installing vSphere ESXi 7 on physical servers in the data center.

You can pass vSphere 7 instructions Document to understand the new features that come with this excellent virtualization solution that has been trusted by many large and small businesses. vCenter 7 can be deployed on ESXi hosts running version 6.5, 6.7, or 7. It can be used to manage ESXi 6.5, ESXi 6.7 and ESXi 7.0,

Before you start

Before starting the installation, make sure you have a DNS server available and configure the A record and PTR record of the vCenter hostname you want to use. See the following example:

192.168.10.20 vcenter.example.com # DNS record setting

In my setup, I use Active Directory domain name server. This is my DNS A record creation. Don’t forget to also create PTR records.

vCenter instance data storage creation

We will need to set up a data store on the ESXi host where the vCenter instance will be stored. If you haven’t created it yet.

I will choose the VMFS data storage type.

Give the data store a name and choose a disk to create the data store.

Select the partition format for data storage.

Confirm the settings and click Finish.

Agree to erase data and create data storage.

Confirm whether the created data store is available in the data store list.

Install vCenter 7 Server Appliance on the ESXi host

After completing all the basic requirements, it is time to install vCenter 7 Server.But first you need to download the vCenter ISO image from VMware downloads page.

After downloading the file, click on it to install it.

navigation vcsa-ui-installer table of Contents.

then win32 table of Contents.

Click on Installer File to start the installation of vCenter 7.0 Server Appliance.

select”installation“Option is in the next window. If you want to perform an upgrade from an older version of vCenter, select “Upgrade”

You will enter Phase 1, where the process of deploying the vCenter instance to VMware Infrastructure is completed. Click Next to start the first phase.

Accept the terms of the license agreement to continue.

Enter the IP address or vCenter Server name of the ESXi host where the instance will be deployed.

If you are using a self-signed SSL certificate, please accept the certificate warning.

Name your vCenter instance and set a root password.

Choose the deployment size based on the infrastructure requirements you manage.

Select the data store of vCenter Server.

Select the network and set the IP address, gateway and DNS server for vCenter Server. The provided FQDN should be the same as that set in the DNS server, and should match the IP address configured in the DNS server.

Click “Next” after completion, and the actual deployment of Phase 1 should start.

Before proceeding to the next step, please make sure you get the stage 1 successful installation message.

If you are satisfied with the deployment results, click “Continue” to start phase 2.

Start to install vCenter Server. Verify the settings and modify where possible, then click “Next”.

If another vCenter Server is already deployed, create a new domain or join an existing SSO domain.

You can choose to join the VMware Customer Experience Improvement Program (CEIP).

Start the second phase of configuration.

Wait for the second stage configuration to complete, and note down the vCenter Server management URL.

The instance and all services will start automatically after completion. You should be able to log in to the vCenter Server Appliance console and check the service status.This is at the port 5480.