The document discusses the benefits and features of the vCenter Server Appliance 6.5, which is the new default deployment method. It highlights the operational benefits like quick provisioning, no operating system licenses needed, and unified patching. Key features covered include high availability, backup and restore capabilities, integration with VMware Update Manager, and improvements to the HTML5 vSphere Client. Additional resources for planning an upgrade to vCenter Server 6.5 are also provided.

1. Emad Younis, VMware
Sr. Technical Marketing Engineer
@emad_younis
vCenter Server Appliance
the Default Deployment

2. Agenda
1 vCenter Server Appliance Benefits
2 vCenter Server Appliance Features
3 Additional Resources

3. Presentatore
Emad Younis
Sr. Technical Marketing Engineer, VMware
Personal Blog: www.emadyounis.com
Twitter: @emad_younis

4. Windows vCenter Server News
Announced on Friday 8/25
http://vmwa.re/goodbyewinvc
vCenter Server
6.5

5. vCenter Server Appliance Roadmap
vSphere
5.0 - 5.5
vSphere
6.0
vSphere
6.5
vSphere
Next
• vCenter Server released as an appliance
• Postgres DB support
• Platform Services Controller
• Enhanced Linked Mode
• Scale Parity
• High Availability / File-Based Backup & Restore / Migration Tool
• VUM Integration
• Exceeds Windows vCenter performance
• Photon OS
• vSphere Client
• More new features and enhancements
• Beta now available

6. Operational Benefits of vCenter Server Appliance 6.5
vCenter Server
Appliance
Windows
vCenter Server
Quick Provisioning ✓ ✘
No Operating System / Database Licenses
✓ ✘
Minimal Database Maintenance ✓ ✘
Unified Patching
✓ ✘
Single Point of Support
✓ ✘

7. vCenter Server Appliance 6.5 – The New Default
• Purpose-built Linux OS optimized for virtualization
• Significant reduction in boot and application startup times
• Eliminates dependency on a 3rd party for OS patching
• About 3x performance improvement over vCenter Server 6.5 on Windows
• vCenter Server is the first appliance running Photon OS with more to follow

8. • Important OS vulnerability patches on a monthly release cycle
• Patches available on My VMware Patch Portal
• Security alerts on the VMware Security Page
https://blogs.vmware.com/vsphere/2017/09/monthly-security-patch-program-vcenter-server-
appliance-vcsa.html
VCSA Monthly Patching

9. VMware Update ManagerHTML5 vSphere Client
vCenter High Availability File-Based Backup / Restore
RESTful APIs
Two-Stage DeploymentVCSA Monitoring
vCenter Server Appliance 6.5 Features
For more information on all the new vSphere 6.5 features visit
https://blogs.vmware.com/vsphere/
Appliance Migration Tool

10. vCenter Server Appliance 6.5 Features
>_

11. VCSA Migration – 6.5
• 6.5 support for Windows vCenter 5.5 or 6.0 à 6.5
• Migrations for both embedded and external topologies
• VUM included
• Assumes the identity of the source Windows vCenter (UUID, IP, OS Name)
• Embedded and external Database support: MSSQL, MSSQL Express, Oracle
• Migration Assistant pre-checks
• Option to select historical and performance data
11

12. VCSA Deployment
• Installer support for Windows, Mac, and Linux
• Updated menu: Install, Upgrade, Migrate, Restore
• VMware vSphere Update Manager included
• VCSA and PSC install is a two stage process
• Stage 1 – Deploy OVF
• Stage 2 - Configuration
12
Benefits to 2-Stage Deployment
• Improved validations and checks
• Manual snapshot between stages for rollback
• Create a template for additional deployments

13. CIP Deprecation
• CIP – Client Integration Plugin for vSphere Web Client
– Functions in 6.0
• vCenter / PSC Installation
• file upload to datastore
• OVA/OVF deployment
• Content Library import/export
• Integrated Windows Authentication / SmartCard Login
– CIP Challenges
– In 6.5 CIP is no longer required
• CIP functionality replaced by native browser functions (including for installation)
• SSPI / SmartCard will still require optional plugin called Enhanced Authentication Plugin

14. VCSA CLI Automation

15. VCSA Monitoring
• New vCenter Server Appliance Management
Interface
• Built in monitoring : Network, CPU, and Memory
• Visibility to vPostgres DB
• Remote syslog configuration
• vMon: enhanced watchdog functionality

16. API Explorer
https://FQDN or IP Address of VCSA/apiexplorer

17. Datacenter CLI (DCLI)
https://blogs.vmware.com/vsphere/2016/12/getting-started-datacenter-cli.html

18. Native vCenter Server Appliance Backup & Restore
• Restore vCenter Server instance to a brand
new appliance
• Supports backup/restore of VCSA & PSC
appliances
• Includes embedded and external deployments
• Supported Protocols include:
– HTTP/S
– SCP
– FTP/S
• Option for Encryption
• Restore directly from VCSA ISO

19. Native vCenter High Availability
• VCSA only
– Supports both external and embedded PSC
• Two configuration options: Basic & Advanced
• Active / Passive with Witness
• Required network configuration
– eth0 – public network
– eth1 – private network (added during configuration)
• Automatic failover (Web Client may require re-login)

20. VMware Update Manager (VUM)
Additional Windows VM for VUM
Extra configuration & DB dependency
Sizing and latency considerations
No inherent backup or failover
Integrated and enabled by default
Zero setup; embedded DB
Scalable and low impact on resources
Leverages VCSA HA and backup
VMware Update Manger on Windows VMware Update Manager on VCSA
2-3X
Increase
Migration & Upgrade Support

21. vSphere Web Client (Flex) Improvements
• Included in vSphere 6.5
– Inventory Tree now default
– Home screen reorganized
– “Manage” tab renamed to “Configure”
– Performance improvements for performance
charts
– VM inventory list rollup when > 5000 instead
of 50
And…
LIVE REFRESH!
– vSphere Web Client can now act as the source of truth

22. vSphere Web Client News
Announced on Friday 8/25
http://vmwa.re/goodbyeflash

23. vSphere Client (HTML5 Web Client)
• Benefits
– Clean, modern UI built on VMware's new
Clarity UI standards (to be adopted across our
portfolio)
– No browser plugins to install/manage
– Integrated into vCenter Server for 6.5
– Fully supports Enhanced Linked Mode
– Users of the Fling have raved about its
performance compared to the vSphere Web
Client

24. Fling: vSphere HTML5 Web Client

25. Additional Resources

26. vSphere Central
vspherecentral.vmware.com
• Curated repository of
vSphere resources
including blogs, KBs,
videos, and walkthroughs
• Simple to access and a
single URL to remember
• Conveniently export
resources to PDF for
offline viewing

27. vSphere 6.5 Topology and Upgrade Planning Tool
http://www.vmw.re/65upgradetool
• Online, browser-based tool – no
install necessary
• Walks you through key decisions
when planning and upgrade or
new deployment
• Provides upgrade/deployment
steps along with a diagram and
links to key documentation

28. Lightboard Videos - vSphere YouTube Channel
http://www.vmware.com/go/vsphere65playlist

29. Thank You
#migrate2vcsa
@emad_younis