vCenter Server Appliance 6.5 with External Platform Services Controller

vCenter Server Appliance 6.5 with External Platform Services Controller - Logo

In Today post I will focus on installation of vCenter Server Appliance 6.5 with External Platform Services Controller. As I am working with more complex customer environments there was a need to make my lab a bit more advanced as it was in the past.

Platform Services Controller 6.5 installation

Let’s start with Platform Services Controller 6.5 installation. After ISO download simply start installer using you favorite Operating System. I will use Windows based install.

Platform Services Controller 6.5 installation - Stage 1

  1. Once ISO has mounted start installer. vCenter Server Appliance 6.5 with External Platform Services Controller - 1
  2. In the first step, we are informed that appliance deployment is a two stage process. The first stage is appliance deployment on the ESXi and second stage is a configuration of the deployed appliance. vCenter Server Appliance 6.5 with External Platform Services Controller - 2
  3. As usual, we must accept End User License Agreement. vCenter Server Appliance 6.5 with External Platform Services Controller - 3
  4. Now we must select Platform Services Controller. This will be external Platform Services Controller deployment. vCenter Server Appliance 6.5 with External Platform Services Controller - 4
  5. In the next step, we must provide FQDN or IP address of ESXi host where Platform Services Controller appliance will be deployed. vCenter Server Appliance 6.5 with External Platform Services Controller - 5
  6. If prompted, accept Certificate Warning.
    vCenter Server Appliance 6.5 with External Platform Services Controller - 6
  7. In the next step, we must provide Virtual Machine name with the root password. vCenter Server Appliance 6.5 with External Platform Services Controller - 7
  8. Choose datastore where Virtual Machine will be installed. vCenter Server Appliance 6.5 with External Platform Services Controller - 8
  9. Choose Virtual Machine network. Important - you will need either vSS portgroup or vDS ephemeral PortGroup. vCenter Server Appliance 6.5 with External Platform Services Controller - 9
  10. On the final screen, we see the summary of PSC deployment. vCenter Server Appliance 6.5 with External Platform Services Controller - 10
  11. Click Finish to complete the first stage of the deployment. vCenter Server Appliance 6.5 with External Platform Services Controller - 11
  12. Finally, we completed the first stage of the deployment. vCenter Server Appliance 6.5 with External Platform Services Controller - 12

Platform Services Controller 6.5 installation - Stage 2

Once successfully deployed we can continue with the second stage of Platform Services Controller installation.

  1. On the last screen, click Continue to proceed with the installation. vCenter Server Appliance 6.5 with External Platform Services Controller - 13
  2. Choose if you want to synchronize Time with NTP servers or with ESXi and if you would like to enable SSH access. vCenter Server Appliance 6.5 with External Platform Services Controller - 14
  3. On the next screen, select Create a new SSO domain. vCenter Server Appliance 6.5 with External Platform Services Controller - 15
  4. Choose your SSO domain name, SSO username password and site name. vCenter Server Appliance 6.5 with External Platform Services Controller - 16
  5. If you wish you can join Customer Experience Improvement Program (CEIP). vCenter Server Appliance 6.5 with External Platform Services Controller - 17
  6. On the last screen, we can review settings before finishing the wizard. Click finish to complete second stage deployment. vCenter Server Appliance 6.5 with External Platform Services Controller - 18
  7. After few minutes we have installed **External Platform Services Controller. vCenter Server Appliance 6.5 with External Platform Services Controller - 18

vCenter Server Appliance 6.5 installation

vCenter Server Appliance 6.5 installation - Stage 1

We are almost there. The next step is to install vCenter Server Appliance 6.5 and connect it to External Platform Services Controller deployed previously.

  1. Let’s start the installer again. vCenter Server Appliance 6.5 with External Platform Services Controller - 20
  2. We must accept EULA. vCenter Server Appliance 6.5 with External Platform Services Controller - 21
  3. Next step is quite important. We must select vCenter Server. vCenter Server Appliance 6.5 with External Platform Services Controller - 22
  4. We must provide appliance deployment target. vCenter Server Appliance 6.5 with External Platform Services Controller - 23
  5. We must specify the VM settings for the appliance. vCenter Server Appliance 6.5 with External Platform Services Controller - 24
  6. We must choose vCenter Server deployment size. I will choose Tiny deployment which is sufficient for Lab. vCenter Server Appliance 6.5 with External Platform Services Controller - 25
  7. We must select datastore for vCenter Server Appliance. vCenter Server Appliance 6.5 with External Platform Services Controller - 26
  8. On the last screen, we need to provide IP address, FQDN, Subnet mask, default gateway and DNS server. vCenter Server Appliance 6.5 with External Platform Services Controller - 27
  9. On the last screen, we can review settings which will be used for vCenter Server Appliance configuration. vCenter Server Appliance 6.5 with External Platform Services Controller - 28
  10. Once we click Finish Virtual Machine deployment starts.
  11. After a while, vCenter Server Appliance deployment is finished. vCenter Server Appliance 6.5 with External Platform Services Controller - 29

vCenter Server Appliance 6.5 installation - Stage 2

  1. Click next on the first screen. vCenter Server Appliance 6.5 with External Platform Services Controller - 30
  2. Choose if you wish to enable SSH access and provide NTP server for time synchronization. vCenter Server Appliance 6.5 with External Platform Services Controller - 31
  3. Provide SSO details from previously deployed Platform Services Controller. vCenter Server Appliance 6.5 with External Platform Services Controller - 32
  4. SSO domain settings will be checked and at the last screen, we can review vCenter Server Appliance 6.5 Stage 2 settings. vCenter Server Appliance 6.5 with External Platform Services Controller - 33
  5. Once we click Finish configuration will be applied on vCenter Server Appliance and all services started. vCenter Server Appliance 6.5 with External Platform Services Controller - 34

Summary

We deployed one External Platform Services Controller with vCenter Server Appliance. In my Lab, I will deploy one more Platform Services Controller and one additional vCenter Server Appliance.

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