Deploy vCenter Operations Manager from vSphere Web Client

VMware vCenter Operations Manager (a.k.a. vC Ops) is part of the vCenter Operations Management Suite: it provides comprehensive visibility and insights into the performance, capacity and health of your infrastructure.

Even if you are not licensed for vCenter Operations Management Suite Standard, Advanced or even Enterprise you are entitled to vCenter Operations Manager Foundation which is included with every vSphere edition, free of charge and provides the following features:

• proactive smart alerts

• intelligent operations group

• vSphere health monitoring

• self-learning performance analytics

Note: you can compare the various editions of the Suite here.

A default installation of the vSphere Web Client includes a shortcut for deploying and configuring vCenter Operations Manager, which avoid to stage vC Ops installation files before deploying the product. However, you can also install vCenter Operations Manager by downloading and deploying the vApp manually.

On the Home tab of the vSphere Web Client, you can click the vCenter Operations Manager button to start the deployment and configuration process.

The deployment wizard is pre-configured with a URL address for the OVF template. You need a My VMware account to download the template and deploy the vApp.

After reviewing source details and accepting the EULAs, you have to fill destination details for the vApp:

• Name and folder

• Configuration

  • Small (less than 1500 VMs, 4 vCPUs and 16GB for the vApp)

  • Medium (from 1500 to 3000 VMs, 8 vCPUs and 25GB for the vApp)

  • Large (more than 3000 VMs, 16 vCPUs and 34GB for the vApp)

• Resource i.e. where to run the vApp. Note: as you need DRS enabled on the cluster to deploy a resource pool / vApp, you can use a standalone host as explained in KB 2013695.

• Storage (disk format and location/datastore)

• Network (a network pool is automatically created by the process)

To see deployment progress, you have to select “All Users’ Tasks” in the recent tasks pane.

When deployment is finished and the vApp powered on, you can continue and configure vC Ops by clicking on the link “Configure vCenter Operations Manager”: you will be redirected to the administration UI where you can log with the default username/password (admin/admin) to finish the configuration (vCenter registration, etc.).

Note: VMware announced a major rebranding campaign which might confuse a bit licensing and features of each solution/product.

• vRealize Operations Insight 5.8 (already GA since september) is a new suite encompassing vCenter Operations Management Suite Advanced and vCenter Log Insight

• vCenter Operations Manager will be rebranded to vRealize Operation